Pests are every homeowner’s enemy. They are messy, unsightly, and incredibly tough to eliminate. They come in various species, each with a unique way to pester homeowners, from spreading infectious diseases, destroying properties, and contaminating food. No matter how much you despise them, they always find a way to invade your property and disrupt your peaceful life.
Exploring the Internet will give you thousands of search results on ways to get rid of pests. These solutions may vary from eco-friendly pest treatments, homemade insect repellents, and pest control guides. Apart from these techniques, pest control companies offer fast and easy solutions to banish pests from your property. These include mosquito control services that vow not only to kill mosquitoes but also protect your family from the diseases they carry.
Pest prevention should be every homeowner’s priority. But these strategies will end up useless if you keep making bad habits that encourage pest infestations. Before you spray another bottle of insecticide around the house, it’s better to understand the reasons pests keep returning to your property. That being said, here are the bad housekeeping habits to avoid attracting pests.
Leaving food behind
Whether it’s a small crumb of bread or an entire plate of dinner, the habit of leaving the food exposed is a quick invitation for pests to invade your home. Nothing is more attractive to pests than keeping the food left in the open. It is their nature to find a shelter where they can easily find the source of their food. As long as they smell it, they will surely find their way towards it.
According to Vanderbilt University, insects have an exceptional sense of smell. Industrious insects such as ants have about 400 odorant receptors, while fruit flies have 61. This amazing ability helps them track their source of food even from a hundred meters away. Even rodents such as rats and mice have a highly developed sense of smell that helps them sniff out food.
To prevent sharing your food with unwanted guests, it’s important to do regular cleaning and ensure all food sources are enclosed in airtight containers or stored in the refrigerator. If your family has a habit of leaving unfinished food on the table, find a way to properly handle leftover foods. You may also consider having an organized disposal system to prevent unwanted dishes from decomposing around your house.
Forgetting about cleaning
There will be moments when you’re tired to clean the house because you’re busy or too tired to move. But a messy house is like setting yourself up for pest infestation. Pests thrive in dirty, messy, and damp environments. Rodents, ants, mosquitoes, and cockroaches are attracted to messy areas since they make great hiding spots. So the more clutter a room has, the easier for them to multiply.
Whether you’re fond of cleaning, it’s important to observe regular cleaning habits if you’re really keen to keep the pesky creatures out of your home. Procrastinating cleaning is an example of a bad housekeeping habit. It paves the way for more clutter, which can be a source of shelter, food, and water for pests.
You can start by taking out the trash regularly, removing scattered items on the floor, putting dirty clothes in the laundry after wearing, and washing the dishes immediately instead of letting them wait in the sink. These simple habits can make a difference in keeping a house pest-free. For extra measure, observe sanitation and hygiene standards to limit pest activities and issues related to health and food safety.
Ignoring house repairs
Pests can enter even through the tiniest cracks, while rodents can easily squeeze their tiny bodies in small holes. No matter how small an entryway is, pests will always find their way inside your home. They are very sneaky creatures and take advantage of damaged parts of your home as their gateway.
If your home has wall cracks, broken doors and windows, and ceiling holes, then it’s time to take action. Home defects can also be a sign of infestation, which risks your overall foundation. To prevent this, seal all holes and possible entryways around the house. Inspecting the pipes and doing plumbing repairs will reduce leaks and moisture, attracting pests that prefer damp areas.
For most people, the habits above are difficult to break. There will be times when you’re doing them unconsciously without realizing their consequences. Now you’re aware of their real repercussions, it’s time to focus on developing good housekeeping habits. In the end, being aware of your activities can save money and frustrations in the long run.
