You’ve heard of spring cleaning, but do you also practice fall pest control? While you may think of pests as a summer problem, fall is an important time of year to take stock of your prevention approach and save yourself a lot of trouble next year.
Many pests try to get inside during the winter months. This means that during the fall you need to pest-proof your house before they get in. By keeping pests out during the winter, you’ll also be making sure that you don’t see an infestation in the spring. If you aren’t sure where to start, just follow this handy guide to pest prevention in Frisco.
Potential Pest Problems
There are several reasons to keep pests out of your home. Just in case you aren’t convinced, here are a few:
- Pests are a nuisance. Bed bugs can interrupt your sleep and cause itchy bites. Crickets in your walls make noise that can be hard to ignore. Spiders and centipedes have too many legs and can be frightening to encounter at night.
- Pests contaminate food. Pantry pests such as weevils and meal moths can get into food in your pantry and ruin grains and seeds. Cockroaches carry dangerous bacteria from decaying matter into your kitchen. Ants and flies can appear in huge numbers and contaminate food and cooking surfaces.
- Pests damage your home. Termites eat wood, and if they get into your home, they can cause irreparable damage to the wooden structure that supports it. Carpenter ants build their nests inside of wood, so they can also damage the structural integrity of your house as well.
- Pests spread disease. Rodents such as rats and mice carry serious diseases including the bubonic plague and salmonellosis. Mosquitoes are among the most dangerous animals because of diseases like malaria and yellow fever. Ticks can spread Lyme disease and more. Pests are a dangerous invader to have in your home.
Deep Cleaning For Pests
Hopefully, you understand now why preventing pests is so important. What’s next? The best place to start when it comes to pest prevention is a deep clean of your home.
When we say deep clean, we mean it! At least once this fall, you should pull out large appliances like the oven and refrigerator to clean beneath them. Also, clean the inside of these appliances and wipe down the microwave and toaster.
Look through your pantry and make sure that all food is stored in airtight containers made of either glass, metal or hard plastic that pests can’t chew through. Securely store pet food and birdseed as well.
Clean often forgotten areas like under the kitchen and bathroom sink and the backs of cabinets. This might also be a good time to wipe down your garbage can and make sure your dishwasher hasn’t accumulated any gunk.
Stopping Pests From The Outside
Cleaning the house will help you make sure you aren’t attracting pests. After all, most pests come inside seeking food. However, pests also come inside looking for shelter during the cold months of winter. Here are some things you can do to prevent pests from getting in.
- Install door sweeps.
- Make sure every window has a screen.
- Check screens for tears and replace them if necessary.
- Fix holes and cracks in the exterior of your home.
- Purchase vent and chimney covers.
- Clear your yard of debris.
- Checkboxes and furniture for bugs before bringing them inside.
- Inspect your pests after a long day outdoors.
Final Pest Prevention Tips
Cleaning and removing entry points are the main two ways you can avoid pests this winter. In addition to those things, we suggest inspecting your home for any moisture issues such as leaking pipes, storm damage, or bad ventilation.
In addition, All-Safe Pest & Termite offers year-round pest control for homeowners like you. We can come by for routine inspections to help you identify any problem areas or attractive factors. We want your home to be free of pests all year. If you need help protecting your home and family from pests this fall, just give us a call for help.