Spring Cleaning Tips To Avoid Spring Pests

Now that spring has sprung, if you’re like most folks, you’ll be turning your attention to doing a little spring cleaning. Raking up the yard, cleaning out the garage, and getting rid of the piles of accumulated stuff that has gathered in every corner of your home will give you a fresh start to the warm weather season ahead. So take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then, take a peek at the following list of to-do’s that will not only help you get your home spic and span, but help you keep all those household pests at bay as well.

Tips for the KITCHEN

One pest that loves to invade kitchens in spring is ants. They do this because kitchens are the most likely place they will find food. While you may think your kitchen is already clean, take note that there may be hidden sources of food for ants and other pests that are out of sight, out of mind.

• Remove all items from your pantry and cabinets, and discard out-of-date or stale items. Things like spices and flours tend to attract pantry pests such as beetles, moths and ants.

• Wipe down the inside of all of your cabinets and consider installing fresh shelf paper.

• Pull out all appliances and vacuum behind them.

• Scrub down your kitchen counters and the floor with a pail full of dish liquid and warm water.

Tips for the BATHROOM

Pests that love to invade bathrooms include silverfish and cockroaches. These insects love moisture, so eliminating sources of moisture in your bathroom will go a long way to making it a less inviting environment for these and other moisture-loving pests.

• These pests can’t survive longer than a week without water. So make sure there are no wet areas around your bathroom fixtures. Fix any leaks you find, and use fans or dehumidifiers to dry out the air.

• Thoroughly clean your shower curtain (or install a new one).

• Take all items out of your medicine cabinet and wipe the shelves down.

Tips for the BASEMENT

Rodents and spiders are the pests that love to encroach upon basement spaces. The main reason for this is that basements tend to have dark corners and lots of clutter to hide behind or inside.

• Sort through your belongings and discard, sell or donate unwanted items.

• Replace paper or cardboard storage containers with hard plastic a tight fitting lids.

• Seal up any gaps or cracks you find in your basement walls.

Tips for OUTSIDE

There are many steps you can take to make the outside of your home less inviting to spring pests.

• Remove all lawn clutter and weeds.

• Trim bushes and trees back away from your home.

• Clear out gutters and downspouts.

• Repair any damaged areas to the outside of your home.

While these steps will help you keep pests at bay, if you are finding that pests have already made their way inside, consider reaching out to a professional pest control company. Here at Russell’s Pest Control, we can take care of pest elimination and prevention for you, so you can sit back and enjoy your spring.