You expect the four walls of your home to protect you and your family from the outside world. Unfortunately, the outside world can still find a way into your home in the form of pests. Detailed below are common household pests and how to protect against them.
- Mice/Rats
Mice and rats are common pests that are found in homes across the country. These little rodents not only destroy your home and eat your food, but they also carry bacteria and diseases. To protect your home from an invasion of these critters, you need to ensure that all of your screen doors are repaired and possess no holes. Install a door sweep under all doors that lead to the outside. Remove garbage, especially food waste, from your home regularly. Don’t store firewood near your home because they enjoy using these wood piles as shelter.
- Mosquitoes
These flying insects are the most loathed villain during the summer and early fall. Mosquitoes breed quickly and frequently, choosing to lay their eggs in stagnant or standing water. To protect your yard from an invasion of these winged vampires, drain any standing water on your property. Electric bug zappers can be hung around your yard to form a defensive perimeter. Install window screens in all of your windows and replace any screens that are torn. If you need assistance from a professional pest control specialist, contact Mosquito Squad of Greater Indianapolis for a consultation and service estimate.
- Ants
Another summertime menace, ants are more of an annoyance than a threat to your family’s health. To protect your home against these invaders, you have a few options. Use caulk to seal any gaps in your window frames and doors to prevent them from gaining entry. Ant traps can be set out to catch any ants who make it onto your outside windowsill. You can create an organic barrier using peppermint oil, vinegar, cloves/clove oil, and/or cayenne peppers that will act as a natural ant deterrent. There are also ant bait stakes that can be placed in the ground near known areas where ants have been spotted that will kill them before they get into your home.
- Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are an expensive and terrible pest that many homeowners and renters dread to encounter. You can protect your home from bed bugs by being overly cautious regarding things that are brought into your home. Don’t purchase secondhand furniture. Wash any secondhand clothes immediately in hot water. If you use public transportation or ride in someone else’s car, change your clothes as soon as you get home and toss your dirty clothes into plastic bags to be washed.
