Top 10 Natural Pest Control Tips
Cockroaches, termites, and ants all have notoriety for being troublesome pests, but they do more than just eat your food and ruin your foundation. Many pests can also carry harmful bacteria and viruses. While you can do things at home to prevent infestations, some instances will require professional assistance from a licensed pest control company.
We cover what you can do to naturally repel pests from your home. We’ll also discuss the environmental impacts of pesticides and the potential health risks that come along with them.
Environmental Impact of Pesticides
Chemical pesticides can affect the environment through water runoff and residue. When these chemicals seep into the ground, they also affect the soil and any plants that grow within the immediate area. Eventually, those chemicals can leak into the Earth’s lakes, streams, and other natural water sources. This can cause major disruptions in aquatic ecosystems and throw the entire food chain out of balance.
Health Risks of Pesticide Exposure
Along with negative effects on the environment, pesticides can also expose humans to a number of health issues. Immediate effects of pesticide exposure can include irritation to the ear, nose, and throat, and the eyes and skin. Pesticide exposure can also cause more serious issues, including blindness or cancer. Pregnant people exposed to pesticides can also give birth to babies with various physical and mental deformities.
Top 10 Natural Pest Control Tips
Before you resort to chemical barriers, there are other things you can do to naturally deter pests from your home. Let’s go over ten of the most common tips right here.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Because your kitchen is where your food is stored, pests are naturally drawn to the various smells that come from the kitchen. If you don’t keep up with your kitchen and you let dishes pile up or the trash sit for too long, you invite potentially disease-carrying bugs into your home. Similarly, food that isn’t closed properly in your pantry allows access to mice, rats, or insect pests.
To prevent bugs or other pests from getting into your kitchen, keep up on the dishes and trash. Utilize secure storage for freestanding foods and store perishable goods in a refrigerator or freezer.
Maintain Your Bathroom Space
Although your bathroom isn’t necessarily a food source for many pests, it is a very moist area. Dark, damp conditions are the ideal space for pests like termites or spiders. However, keeping your bathroom clean and tidy will eliminate many of the hiding spots a spider may use. A clean bathroom will also help you better assess a potential termite issue.
Eliminate Any Standing Water
Mosquitoes are drawn to standing water. It’s important not to leave standing water in buckets or pools outside without properly covering them. While it isn’t necessarily sustainable to drain your pool every time you’re done using it, any buckets can be dumped on the opposite end of your property to draw mosquitoes away from your home.
Proper Fruit and Vegetable Storage
Leaving fruits and vegetables out in the open give pests access to easy food. This includes fruits that are meant to sit at room temperature. While you don’t necessarily need to store these fruits away, you should take care to eat them within an acceptable timeframe to avoid over-ripening.
Keep up With Garbage
Not letting your garbage pile over inside your home is the best way to help prevent bugs, mice, or other pests from taking up residence in your home. Pests love to feast on leftovers and rotting food. By removing these from your home, you remove a pest’s preferred food source.
Maintain Your Garden And Landscape
Keeping up with garden and landscape maintenance is also important for deterring pests, including termites and small mammals that prey on flower and vegetable gardens. Along with maintaining your garden and landscape, you may want to look into adding specific flowers or herbs to the area as a natural pest deterrent.
Store Outdoor Items Outside
Keeping your outdoor items like rakes, shovels, and gardening gloves outside ensures you don’t accidentally bring any bugs in with you. If you don’t already have access to a garage or shed, you may want to consider investing in one for outdoor storage.
Repair Window and Door Screens
The main purpose of a window and door screen is to keep bugs and debris out of your home. If there is noticeable damage to any of the screens on your home, you should repair them right away. You should easily be able to find screen repair kits at any home improvement or hardware store.
Keep Your Home Clutter-Free
While you don’t necessarily need to keep a pristine home, working to keep it free of clutter prevents pests from hiding amongst it all. For pests like mice or spiders, the key to removing the issue is to eliminate as many hiding spaces as possible. When they feel too exposed, they’ll move on to another structure to inhabit.
Seek Help From a Professional
When all else fails, it’s time to call a professional. Luckily, you can explore your options and choose a company that uses less unfriendly chemicals. When making inquiry phone calls, be sure to ask about the type of chemicals they use, if any, and whether or not they’re safe for humans, pets, or plants.
Conclusion
Pests in your home are never a good time. Before calling a professional, you can attempt several different natural pest control options. From doing a deep clean and using essential oils as a repellent to assessing and repairing damage, you can do a lot to prevent pests within your home.
