10 Pest Control Tips to Follow This Winter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pests are more than just a nuisance. They can be a genuine health hazard to your family! Here are 10 tips for banishing them back to the wilderness this winter.

1. Store Your Goods Carefully

When you’re done with the holiday decorations, don’t put them in cardboard boxes. Secure them in plastic bins or cloth bags to prevent pests from making a meal out of your storage system.

2. Take Out the Garbage

No one likes slipping and sliding on icy driveways to take out the garbage, but all those food debris will attract rodents like crazy. Empty your trash can at least 2-3 times a week.

3. Check Your Foundation

The foundation of your home can sink over the years, so take a flashlight to your basement floor and look for any cracks or fissures where insects are taking advantage of the space.

4. Clean Your Gutters

Standing water is a powerful magnet for pests, and you don’t want to give them any place to breed. Keep your gutters clean, unclogged and ice-free.

5. Don’t Forget the Chimney

Rats, squirrels and raccoons have all been known to seek out the warmth of a blazing fireplace. Install a screen or ventilated grate over your chimney so they can’t scurry inside.

6. Be Careful With Firewood

Like the cardboard boxes that turn into rat buffets, firewood is another breeding ground for insects and rodents. If you don’t have an indoor shed for storage purposes, at least keep it off the ground.

7. Follow the Signs

If you notice any bite marks on your wires or insulation panels, launch a full-on assault to find the culprits. The longer you wait, the more they’ll take root on your property.

8. Seal the Cracks

Not only are they letting in cold drafts, but they’re also entry passages for pests. Put some caulk on your windows, walls and weather stripping to stop infestations and lower your monthly electricity bill.

9. Cover All Dishes

Never leave anything on your kitchen counter. In fact, some people recommend not even leaving food in plastic baggies. Rodents are ingenious, so nothing but Tupperware will do.

10. Hire Exterminators

If all else fails, contact a professional pest control service like ICE Pest Control and Wildlife Removal. They have the equipment to eradicate all the bugs in your home, and they can also give you advice about preventing further infestations in the new year.

These are just 10 tips to keep your property pest-free in the winter. Say goodbye to those niggling beasts once and for all!