Classrooms should be a safe space for children to come to every day to learn. However, children may not feel so safe if they notice a few ants crawling across the floor or see a mouse scurry near their feet. Consider these tips to prevent pests in classrooms at your school.
One main reason pests end up in classrooms is food. Teachers and staff can keep pests out of classrooms by eliminating any food sources, Clemson University stated. Of course, you can host snack time or indoor lunches. However, make sure that all garbage is thrown out by students and that food isn't dropped. Any spills that occur should be cleaned up right away, even if they require janitorial assistance. Small puddles and crumbs can quickly invite in pests and allow them to grow in numbers. You may also consider removing any items that help prepare food, such as microwaves or stoves. Though convenient, these areas can also welcome pests if not cleaned regularly.
Any trash that you have in your classroom should be thrown out at the end of each day. If the hallways have trash bins, ensure that they aren't right outside your door, as trash can also welcome in pests. Make sure that the cleaning staff is discarding of the trash outside and ensuring that it's properly removed from the property so that it doesn't become a safe haven for pests.
Clutter always attracts pests, as it gives them a place to hide. It also encourages dust and lint, which makes for great nesting. Keep your classroom organized, from making sure that the desks and chairs are in a row to having students properly stack their books and any other academic resources at the end of the day. Maintaining a clean classroom is a great form of preventative pest management.
If you spot a crack in a doorway or a hole in a window screen, let your staff know right away, the National Resources Defense Council stated. You may need to contact a janitor to have it fixed, or the school may need to call someone else. Regardless, don't ignore the issue. Turning a blind eye to problems in a classroom can only encourage pests to come in and make themselves at home.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
