Apart from humans, there are more than 1.5 million types of species that live among us. Ten quadrillion ants are living in the world, at all point in time. Some of them are harmless, while others are not.
You might not realize this, but various insects and bugs might be thriving in your home. Some of them may even cause ailments and allergies if you let them make a colony inside your house!
Here is how you can stop such nasty bugs from making a colony inside your house.
Keep a lookout for insects
The first step to stopping insects from making your home their sanctuary is to make sure that they don’t mark their territory in your house, to begin with. This is why you must keep a lookout for them. Some insects are easier to spot. For instance, mosquitos can fly and hence can be detected easily. Ants always send out a scout trope to gauge friendliness of an area before settling in. So, even if you see an ant or two in your house, it means it is time to invest in pest-proofing.
Do your research. Learn all the familiar places where the different house bugs may live in your house. For instance, ants and termites love firewood. Therefore, if you have a fireplace, make sure that you store all the wood at least 20-30 feet away from your house. Similarly, standing water breeds mosquitos. So, if you have a yard which has a bird bath, make sure you keep changing its water to prevent mosquitos from making it their home.
Use bed bug sprays
Bed bugs are the worst. The idea that small little insects are crawling around the one piece of furniture that you are exposed to the most is a scary thought. However, bed bugs may or may persist in every house. Certain climates and locations make homes more vulnerable to bed bugs while others don’t. Still, to be on the safe side, it is better to use a bed bug spray on all your furniture.
Install a fine-mesh screen
If insects can enter your house, they are bound to find places to live in. The best prevention is to stop them from entering your home in the first place. Windows are one of the most common ways for insects to find a way into your home. Does this mean you should always keep your windows shut, to keep the bugs out? Well, this method is quite impractical. After all, when the weather gets too hot, you need proper air circulation to breathe. Not to mention that fresh air is essential for a healthy life.
So, what should you do to prevent windows from being the ultimate outlet for insects? You can install fine mesh screens in them. The mesh in such screens is so fine that they help in preventing the entry of most insects. However, make sure you check for tears in the screen regularly. Promptly repair any damages that are present to ensure that the screens remain functional.
Take out your garbage as often as you can
Nothing attracts insects like stinky garbage. If you can smell the rotting garbage even a bit, one thing is for certain-all the bugs nearby can smell it too! Insects are much more sensitive to odor than humans. Therefore, it is essential to take out your garbage, long before they begin smelling. Rather than throwing the trash directly in the can, always use a plastic bag and tie it up when you through it in the trash bin. This reduces the smell from being spread and hence helps keep insects at bay. While you are at it, also make sure that you treat your recycling bin with utmost care. This is the trash can that attracts insects like no other. This is because it is home to all the sweet stuff, whether it be soda cans or beer bottles. Always rinse each bottle carefully before throwing them in the recycling bin.
Keep your house clean
The best way to prevent nasty bugs from making a colony in your home as well as destroy any colonies that do exist is by cleaning your home regularly. Bugs thrive in messy areas. By keeping your abode clean, you will always know if there is an insect infestation that needs your attention.
Make sure to clean any crumbs that might fall to the ground or on the furniture after you eat. Vacuum each part of your house at least once a week and seal all your trash even if you are not throwing it out at that moment in time.
There are certain types of clutter that nasty bugs love. For instance, cockroaches are attracted to the smell of paper and look for dark areas to make their homes. So, if you have a cluttered bookshelf with stacks of bags, magazines or boxes, such places will attract the bugs. Always organize such items and clean the area beneath and around them thoroughly.
Don’t Let Dirty Laundry Pile Up
Bed bugs love dirty clothes.
One thing you can do to decrease the chances of getting infested with bed bugs is to wash your dirty laundry frequently. Experiments have shown that bed bugs are drawn to the human odor in your dirty clothes.
Washing your clothes, sheets, and blankets more often will reduce the chances of providing bed bugs with a nest.
If you don’t have enough time to do your laundry frequently, use a laundry service provider like J & G Laundromatto handle all of the dirty work for you.
Know when to call for help
Sometimes, despite giving it your best shot, you will find yourself unable to deal with the insect infestation. You need to know when it is time to accept defeat against the nasty creatures. Does this mean it is time to pack and look for a new house? Absolutely not! It just means that the issue has gone far beyond your scope. At such a time, you should consult a professional service to disinfect your house for you. Whether it be termites or cockroaches, a pest professional is equipped with the tools needed to eliminate them all. Use their services to make your home bug free once again.
Closing thought
Your home should only be yours. There is nothing wrong with living in harmony with specific bugs that persist in yards and gardens. But, when it comes to insects that can cause you and your family harm, you need to take swift action promptly. This is a battle you can’t lose.
