Categories: Lifestyle

Common Pests Found At Home & How To Prevent Them

Being a homeowner is much more exhausting than most people would think. Sure, you get to live by your own rules, and there are no annoying landlords to deal with, but it also requires a lot of hard work so you could keep the place in good shape over time. You are bound to have problems with plumbing, heating, broken doors and windows, and a lot more. Of all the problems you may face, it is pests that can make your life a living hell.

Leaking pipes and malfunctioning ACs you can deal with, but a pest infestation is a nightmare and getting rid of it isn’t easy. This is one of those situations where prevention is really much better than cure. To help you avoid an infestation, here are some of the most common pests found at homes and how you can prevent them from invading your place.

IMAGE: PEXELS

Mice

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that mice are people’s worst nightmare, and having them at home is enough to drive most people out. The problem with mice is the fact that they are very difficult to get rid of. They are extremely intelligent and capable of maneuvering their way out of traps and any other attempts aiming to kill them. This is why your best way is to prevent them from infesting your home in the first place.

You can start by sealing the exterior parts of your home, no matter how small the opening might be –– mice can bend their bodies through the tiniest of holes. So, make sure your vents, pipes, windows, and entire house are regularly locked and sealed. You also should keep your food sealed and out of reach at all times; leftovers in the open are basically an open invitation for mice and insects, too. Always make sure your food is either in the fridge or in airtight containers.

Insects

Insects like silverfish, cockroaches, and ants are definitely high on the list of pests that can make your life miserable. The worst thing about an insect infestation is that you might find yourself overwhelmed all of a sudden because you didn’t take the necessary precautions. As you can see in this guide from Depestify, silverfish can be extremely annoying as they chew on your books and personal belongings, despite not being harmful to humans like cockroaches or to the house itself like termites.

You can get rid of them by using home remedies like spraying boric acid or cinnamon around your place. You will also need to seal all holes and gaps around your home as those make ways for all sorts of insects to sneak in.

Cockroaches, on the other hand, are terrifying. They are huge, intrusive, and flat out gross. The best way to deal with cockroaches is to take precautions that prevent them from entering your home. You can start by putting boric acid paste around areas where they are usually seen. It is a non-toxic solution that could keep them from infesting your place. Similar home remedies include Listerine, which you should add near cracks and dark corners around your house.

Generally speaking, when it comes to ants and other insects, it is crucial that you seal the gaps and holes around the house. Leave no food on the outside because ants love leftovers and would be all over them. Also, if you face any insect problems, make sure to call pest control as soon as possible to effectively get rid of them.

Termites

Termites are one of the worst problems any homeowner could face because they like to eat through wood, which means the structural integrity of your entire home might be jeopardized –– not to mention your furniture. They also eat paper and cardboard. In short, a termite infestation is disastrous and could cost you a lot of money to fix. This is why the best way to deal with one is to stop it from happening in the first place.

You can do that by trimming the shrubs and bushes around your house to avoid having termites move from there to your place. If you have a basement, you need to make sure it’s properly ventilated since moisture can attract termites as well as mold and fungus. Also, avoid having wood needlessly lying around your place. If you’re not using it, get rid of it or store it somewhere away from moist and dark spots in the place.

Nobody wants to have a pest infestation, but they still happen because people fail to take the necessary measures. Pest infestations can be dangerous to human health in many cases. Plus, they can be very costly to deal with. Your best shot is prevention, so keep our tips in mind and be sure to regularly check your house and close all the gaps and cracks.

If you are interested in even more lifestyle-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.