Clean Up
A pest infestation is less likely to happen if you have a clean home. There are a lot of pests that are attracted to food, dirt, clutter, and crumbs. Make it a point to keep clutter to a minimum and wash your dishes every day. It’s also important to vacuum and sweep your floors and wipe up any spills immediately to keep pests away.
Keep Food in the Kitchen
Food can very well be the main source of the most common household pests. If food is found in different parts of your home, you can expect rodents and insects to move in. The best practice would be to keep all of the eating inside the kitchen and to wash the dishes immediately after using.
Store Food Properly
Keeping food in the kitchen also includes storing it in air-tight, sealed containers. You will find that pests are easily attracted to open food packages. The same could be said for pet food, as well. To keep pests out, be sure to use sealable bags or plastic storage containers for all food, whether in the pantry, cupboard, or fridge.
Keep Recycling and Garbage Under Control
Rodents and insects love garbage. They also look for recyclables such as empty food containers. These are sure-fire ways of attracting critters. To ensure no pests are making their way to you, it’s a good idea to empty out those garbage and recycling bins, too. Getting your trash picked up weekly is also a great idea.
Put a Lid on It
Your garbage bins should never be left open as these are sure-fire ways of attracting pests. If you have outdoor garbage or recycling bins, keep pests away by ensuring that your bins have a tight-fitting lid. Keeping the lid on at all times means keeping those pesky pests away!
Prune Foliage Near the House
It’s true that food sources attract pests; however, so do plants. Look out for any tree or shrub that is in contact with any side of your house. If there are any, prune them. By leaving some space between your foliage and the house, you can prevent pests from using branches and leaves to find their way inside.
Eliminate Standing Water
If you happen to find any puddles of water in your property, or any containers that might store water, it would be a good idea to empty them out. Spots that collect water can be filled with topsoil. Then, adjust the sprinklers to water those areas at a minimum. Without puddles, mosquitos and other pests won’t have breeding grounds.
Good Property Maintenance
And, one last thing to tie it all together is to perform regular property maintenance in order to keep your house pest-free. The landlord should be regularly updated with the status of gutters, window screens, and even water pipes in the case of leaks. Small as this may seem, they all add up to keeping a pest-free home.
Is your landlord ignoring basic property maintenance? Perhaps it’s time for a new property manager! Both tenants and owners alike know they can trust Real Property Management Anchor for comprehensive property maintenance. Contact us online or call 770-506-1237 for more information.