The snow is melting, the birds are chirping and the flowers are starting to peak through thawing ground. Yes, spring is finally right around the corner, which means it's the perfect time to break out the mops and rubber gloves for some thorough spring cleaning. While you're at it, you can prep your home to be ready for unwanted spring pests. Follow these tips for home pest control.
Since the kitchen often requires the most in-depth cleaning, it's the first stop on most people's spring cleaning list. This is good news for your pantry, which often sees a rise in Indian meal moths during the spring, according to the University of Minnesota Extension. These pests are bad news for your stored dry goods as they feed on debris from grains and broken kernels. After the winter season, the temperature of the air - and the grains themselves - rise, making them more desirable for the moths. Be sure to do a thorough sweep and clean of your pantry while spring cleaning. Vacuum and wipe every corner and crevice to ensure there isn't a crumb left in sight. Store all dry food items in sealed containers.
Ant control should become a primary concern come springtime and a little bit of proper cleaning will ensure you stay on top of them. According to the University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources, the end of winter and beginning of spring is when the ant populations really start to expand. While deep-cleaning your storage areas, eliminate any source of moisture, mold or water. Household ants will enter your home in search of water and food.
The rise in temperatures and beautiful weather also causes a spike in swarms of stinging pests such as bees and wasps, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. While cleaning your living areas this spring, it's crucial that you check all doors, windows, screens and other openings in your home. While searching for a new place to live, swarms of bees are known to rest on trees and houses while they navigate, according to the IDPH. This means that any tears in your screens or holes in your doors are a welcome invitation for these pests. Sealing all cracks, replacing all broken screens and covering all holes now will prevent bees from entering your home later this spring.
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.
Ants can be a real pain, especially in months with higher temperatures. They literally get into everything, whether it's an outdoor picnic, a party or even just lunch outside. It seems like these little creatures are everywhere and can quickly make a good time go bad. One of their favorite spots is near a barbecue grill, so they can dig into every meal you make. So what's a homeowner to do? Consider these tips to keep ants out if you don't want grilled ant for dinner.
