Spring is here and that means warm weather, shorts, flowers blooming, and pollen…lots of pollen. But with spring here, that also means the return of some of your least favorite spring pests too, making spring pest control essential for comfortable living.
With the seasonal shift, insects and other pests that were more dormant in the winter begin to emerge looking for homes, food, and mates. As you start your spring cleaning, it is a perfect time for you to also take steps to help prevent pests from making their way into your home. Here are some of our best tips for effective spring pest control!
Areas to Watch for Spring Pests
Just like you have that favorite restaurant that you like to go to, spring pests also have places that they love to congregate. So as you are making your spring cleaning to do list, here are a couple of places to pay special attention to in order to keep pests away.
Basements
Spiders and rodents are just two examples of pests that can make themselves at home in your basement. The main reason behind this is because basements tend to have dark corners and areas of clutter that provide perfect hiding spots for spring pests. Take the time to go through your belongings and eliminate clutter wherever possible. Another thing you can do to prevent spring pests from gathering in your basement is to avoid using cardboard boxes and instead opting for plastic bins with secure lids instead. It is also extremely important for you to seal an cracks or crevices that pests can use to get into your home. Mice and other rodents can fit through a dime sized opening while other spring pests only need a crack that is paper thin to enter.
Outdoor Patios and Areas
Taking stock of your home’s outdoor perimeter for any damage that may have occurred during the winter is important too. Make sure to clean out any clogged gutters and downspouts before the spring showers begin. You may also need to repair torn screens, weather stripping, and loose mortar around the foundation of your home in order to keep these spring pests out of your home.
While you are inspecting the outside of your home it is also important for you to pay attention to your landscaping too. Make sure to trim any branches and bushes away from the house. These are easy access points for spring pests to find their way into your home and wreak havoc.
Kitchens
Ants and other spring pests are known for invading kitchens because this space provides them with easy access to both food and water. Although you may take the time to ensure any sticky surfaces are wiped up and overly ripe fruit isn’t sitting out on your counters, there are still a few key things you can do to avoid pests from marching one by one into your kitchen.
You’ll want to start by removing all of the items from your cabinets and pantry and discard any out of date items. After this wipe down the inside of your cabinets to make sure there is nothing in there that would attract these pests. It is also important for you to pull out any appliances from the wall so you can vacuum and sweep up any dust, dirt, and crumbs that you might see. Doing all of these and regularly cleaning your kitchen counters and floors will help to keep spring pests from entering your kitchen.
Bathrooms
Many spring pests are attracted to moisture, which is why you may find them crawling in your bathroom. Make sure that you check under your sink and around your toilet and tub to make sure that there are no moisture issues from leaky faucets and pipes.
Fighting Off Spring Pests
By paying attention to these key areas in your home you are taking steps to ensure that spring pests can’t find their way into your home. However what happens if the pests have already made their way inside? If this is the case, all of the items listed above become all that more important and there are a few other key things you should do to help rid your home of these pesky insects.
1. Keep things clean
After the cold of winter, spring is the best time to clear out any potential dirt and clutter that has gathered during the winter months. Extra junk means that there are more areas for spring pests to hide and make your home their own! Keeping your home clean and tidy throughout the year will help to keep these unwanted house guests out.
2. Monitor Food and Waste
During spring, these pests are on the lookout for food, water, and shelter. One way to keep these spring pests out and away from your home is too be mindful of how you store their potential food sources. Making sure to keep your food stored in air tight containers (this means pet food too) and that all trash receptacles are sealed will help reduce the chance of spring pests from milling around.
3. Control Moisture
The transition into spring typically comes with a lot of moisture. From rain, and snow to runoff and overflow, spring pests are drawn to water for one of two reasons: they either need a drinking source or they thrive in a moist environment. Leaky pipes, blocked gutters, and pools of water attract many different pests and while you can’t control the weather, you can make sure to keep your gutters clean and make sure your plumbing is running correctly.
4. Trust the Professionals
Pest management can be difficult if you don’t know what to expect. While some pests are a nuisance year round, other pests become much more active in the spring. This can be for numerous reasons, one of which includes mating. Our team at Sigma Pest knows just what to look for when it comes to locating and preventing these spring pests from infesting your home. As we head into the months of spring and summer, give our team a call for more information about how we can help keep your home safe from these unwanted guests.
