New Homeowner? Here’s How to Keep Your House Pest-Free

If you are a new homeowner, then you will want to avoid having any disgusting pests inside your home. Pests such as rodents and insects can reduce the value of your property along with transmitting diseases to you or your family pets. Keep reading for our tips to help keep your house pest-free.

Maintain a Clean Home

Don’t attract nasty pests into a home with clutter such as piles of dirty laundry or dishes. Keep your home organized, and make sure to vacuum or mop the floors frequently. Store your foodstuffs in glass or metal containers that rodents cannot chew through easily. When you are storing items such as holiday decorations or clothing, use durable plastic totes rather than cardboard boxes.

Inspect the Items That You Bring Home

You might want to save money by buying used furniture or appliances, but these items can have an infestation of insects or eggs. If you bring home a contaminated couch or stove, then you could have a major infestation of cockroaches within a few weeks. When you do buy used items, make sure to sanitize the items completely to avoid any problems in the future.

Seal Holes and Crevices

Seal the crevices and holes in your home with liquid caulking to keep pests from entering the building’s foundation. Mice can enter tiny holes to live in your home’s walls where the rodents will breed. After a few months, you could have numerous mice because rodents urinate on everything, attracting more mice with the animals’ pheromones.

Keep Your Lawns in Good Condition

If you have a messy lawn with overgrown trees and shrubs, then you are more likely to have pests. Insects and rodents hide in long grass and dense foliage to sneak into a home’s foundation. Make sure to trim long tree branches so that rats and squirrels can’t enter your home’s rooftop to live inside the attics.

Have Professional Termite Prevention

It is essential to prevent a termite infestation in your home because this type of insect consumes cellulose materials such as drywall and hardwood floors. A professional can create termite barriers to keep these wood-eating insects from invading your home. Termite barriers are created along the foundation slabs of a home along with near the pipes where the insects can enter.

Use Natural Substances to Prevent Pest Infestations

You can deter pests from your home by using natural substances such as flowering plants, fragrant herbs and essential oils. Plant herbs and flowers directly outside your home, or use flowerpots for the plants. Oregano, dill and chives are excellent herbs to plant, and you can also use marigolds, tansy or nasturtium flowers. You can spray essential oils mixed with water on your home’s baseboards or windowsills, and great scents to use include citronella, spearmint or orange.