7 Easy Tips For DIY Pest Control

A pest infestation is one of every homeowner’s worst nightmares. Whether it's ants, cockroaches, rodents, termites, or any of the other common central Florida pests, you don’t want to see them anywhere in your house. Keeping these pests out of your home doesn’t have to be a complicated, time-consuming process. Here are a few simple tips for preventing pests from entering, infesting, and damaging your house from your local pest control experts at Deans Service. 

1. Keep A Clean Home

One of the most important and easiest things you can do to keep pests out of your home is to keep it clean! A clean, neat house is not only more comfortable for you to live in but is also an unattractive environment for bugs and rodents looking for easily accessible sources of food, and water. Pests also like to find places for shelter where they won’t be disturbed, so the more often you clean, the less likely pests will be able to make their nests around your house. 

A few tidying tasks done consistently and often can help avoid stressful pest infestations now and in the future: 

• Regularly sweep, mop, and vacuum your home, particularly high-traffic areas and spaces where you eat and drink. 
• Clean up spills and messes right away. 
• Use plastic bins for storage instead of cardboard boxes, which are big pest attractors. 
• Wash dishes and other food preparation items every day, and drain dirty dishwater when you’re finished. 
• Try to only eat and drink in specific areas of your home to minimize the risk of spreading food crumbs throughout the house. 
• Wipe down countertops and other kitchen surfaces every day. 
• Dust surfaces and remove cobwebs often. 

2. Store Food Properly

Another important step in DIY pest prevention is making sure food is properly stored in your home. Pests are looking for food that is easily accessible to them, so keeping food put away will help deter pests from entering your home. Any leftovers, baked goods, snacks, etc. should be packed away after you’re done eating in tightly sealed containers made of plastic, metal, or glass. Keep food in your fridge or freezer so it is out of pests’ reach. If you have pets, make sure to store their food in a container. Whether inside or outside, don’t leave pet food sitting out as this is a big draw for all types of pests. 

3. Take Out The Trash Regularly

Garbage that isn’t stored correctly can easily attract some of the worst home invaders like mice, rats, and cockroaches. Emptying your trash can regularly will help to keep these pests out of your home. Also, using a sealable or locking lid trash bin both inside and outside your house will further deter unwanted guests. If pests can’t access trash as a food source, they won’t be interested in your home. 

 4. Seal Off Your Home

In addition to removing food or water sources to attract pests into your home, you need to make sure they don’t have a way to get inside. Cracks, gaps, and holes are all invitations for bugs and rodents to enter your house. Be sure to check around door and window frames, in the garage and crawl spaces, near openings in the siding for vents, pipes, and electrical cords, and around the foundation and roof. If you find any possible points of entry, use caulk, weather stripping, screens, and other similar products to prevent pests from getting in. 

5. Maintain A Tidy Yard

Just like your house, your yard also needs to be kept neat and tidy to deter pest infestations. 

• Tall, unkempt grass, and piles of leaves, sticks, and brush, should be removed. 
• You should also get rid of any standing water in birdbaths, pots, or water bowls for pets, which could appeal to mosquitos and other thirsty pests. 
• Mow your lawn often, and make sure to stack firewood away from your home so any hitchhiking pests won’t be tempted to make their way inside. 
• Also, cut back any tree or shrub branches that rodents might be able to use to climb onto the roof of your home and gain access from there. 

6. Use Plants or Natural Oils To Naturally Repel Pests

DIY pest prevention doesn’t just involve getting rid of things that can attract pests, it also means incorporating plants and essential oils that can naturally repel pests like flies, ants, mosquitos, and even rodents! You can use plants to keep pests at bay both inside and outside your home, including: 

Additionally, essential oils derived from many of the plants above can be mixed in a spray bottle with water and used around the house. Not only will this help deter pests, but it will also make your home smell amazing! To keep it simple, you could also find cleaning products that include natural oils or are scented with herbs like lavender and mint. 

7. Call Professional Exterminators

Lastly, one of the most important home pest control methods is calling a professional exterminator from Deans Service, even before an infestation occurs. An expert can not only remove pests that are already inside, but they can also help identify potential problem areas around your home and give you tips to make sure bugs and rodents stay out. Although you can do a lot with DIY pest prevention, help from a professional offering recurring treatments is definitely worth the cost. When pests make it into your home, you can’t get them out on your own. 

Contact Deans Services For All Your Pest Prevention and Control Needs

If you’re struggling with pest problems in the central Florida area, you need to call the local pest control and prevention experts from Deans Service. Our home pest control program, rodent control, and termite treatments are eco-friendly and have proven results so you can confidently enjoy your home without worrying about unwanted guests scurrying around. If you’re struggling with pests in your yard, we have the know-how to help you get rid of them as well. We also offer a variety of other lawn care, commercial pest control, and shrub care services so all of your outdoor needs are covered. Check out our website to see more information on all of our services, view our special offers, give us a call at 352-515-9826, or fill out our online contact form for a free quote!