What Should I Do to Stop Pests?

Head off pest invasions by keeping them out of your house in the first place. Dreamstime/TNS

By Paul F. P. Pogue From Ask Angi

Spring is a lovely time to open your house and invite things in after a long, cold winter: sunshine, leafy smells, fresh air. But these good things aren’t the only visitors gearing up to drop by. Spring is also prime time for pests to find their home in your home and set themselves up for as long as possible. The combination of warm weather, moisture and homes opening up more often provide ideal circumstances for these unwanted guests to drop in. Here are some tips to keep pests from invading your space and what to do if they show up:

1. Don’t Invite Them In

The most effective pest control is making sure they never get close. Pests such as rodents and insects are drawn to the scent of food, and a spring home presents plenty of invitations. Keep your kitchen clean and free of scraps or random food. Keep leftovers in tightly sealed containers.

Check around your house, especially the kitchen, for potential points of entry where pests might slip in. Insects only need the tiniest of cracks to get into many places. Use a flashlight and carefully check for holes, gaps between walls or ceilings, the areas around utility lines and vents, window and door seals, and foundation or siding gaps. Anywhere you find such holes, seal them up. Expanding foam sealant, weatherstripping and caulk are excellent solutions for many such problems.

Don’t overlook your attic or basement; these offer many good entry points for pests ranging from ants to raccoons. Copper wire mesh, available at most hardware stores, can cover up larger holes.