Are you afraid of bugs, insects and other household pests? Frightened of them or not, you would definitely want to keep pests that you are likely to encounter in Singapore out of your home. But unfortunately, in addition to creating unsanitary conditions and planting itchy bites, insects also have a notorious reputation for spreading diseases.
So, if you want to keep yourself, your children, and your pets healthy, you must devise a bug-proof strategy. Not sure how? We’ll help you! There are over 10 quintillion pests in the world, but you can tackle all of them by taking a few simple steps.
The first step is to understand what attracts creepy crawlies into your home and then take preventive measures to keep them out. In this article, we have laid out some foolproof and eco-friendly ways to keep your home free of pests.
6 Simple Eco-friendly Ways to Pest Proof Your House
Eliminate Hiding Places by Decluttering
Clutter is one of the main attractions for pests. If your personal space is filled with unnecessary things, cockroaches, mice, bed bugs, etc. might find comfortable places to reside in your home. So declutter whenever you get the chance.
Your storage areas, closets, food pantries, and even the garage should only have things you do not often have to use. Sell or donate toys your kids have outgrown, along with extra furniture and clothes you are not wearing anymore. Throw away unused boxes, packaging materials, and damaged luggage or containers.
These can accumulate dust over time, making it difficult to clean them thoroughly. Keeping your home clutter-free is one of the most eco-friendly ways to eliminate hiding and breeding spots for pests and also make it easy for yourself to clean every corner of the house.
Seal All Cracks and Gaps to Limit Entry Points
Identify any cracks and crevices in the house and seal all of them. Consider that some insects are rather tiny, so you shouldn’t disregard even the smallest of holes. Also, make sure to use window screens to stop the entry of pests through your windows.
You must also seal the doors properly. Not only should you keep the doors closed, but you must also use door sweeps at the bottom of the entrances to keep pests from crawling through under your door. Installing an aluminium or steel threshold under the door might also help. On top of that, you need to close all the gaps around windows, doors, and foundations using caulk.
Also, fix dripping pipes and leaks in sinks and tubs. Insects love wet spots and moisture, so the aim should be to reverse any damp environments.
Clean the Kitchen Diligently
Pests are attracted to food particles, and what better place to find food crumbs than the kitchen? This is why kitchens are the hot spot for insects. To prevent yours from becoming one, the best way is to maintain a thorough cleaning routine for the kitchen, which should include cleaning it after each use.
To prevent cockroaches and rats from treating your kitchen like their nocturnal living space, clean kitchen surfaces diligently. Make sure never to leave any food crumbs on the kitchen surfaces.
Also, be careful how you store food. Always keep leftovers in containers with lids and store them in the refrigerator. Dry ingredients and snacks should be sealed properly, and perishables like vegetables and fruits must never be left out on counters and tables. Try cleaning used dishes as soon as possible and sweeping the kitchen floor daily.
Store Garbage Properly and Dispose of Regularly
The trash is a jackpot for pests looking for food. It is easy to mindlessly discard all food remnants, leftovers, and packaging in the garbage. However, insects can be attracted to your home because of garbage.
You can get a trash can with a good lid to stop pests from entering. Remember to rinse takeaway containers before throwing them in the recycle bin. Only throw away meat scraps in the outdoor garbage bin if you know they will be collected within a few hours. Otherwise, the smell of rotting meat will invite unwanted insects to your yard.
Furthermore, you should dispose of garbage daily to help limit house pests. An accumulation of trash over multiple days can facilitate a pest infestation.
Focus on Yard Maintenance
Paying attention to yard maintenance is just as important as cleaning the interiors of your home. If your yard offers food and shelter to insects, a pest infestation is inevitable. Remove fallen debris, dead leaves, and dead branches.
Ensure the drains and gutters are not blocked with debris and leaves to avoid water buildup. Try to remove any pooled water in the yard, as it can result in mosquito breeding. If you have bird baths or fountains, change the water a few times a week.
By ensuring that your yard is safe from insects, you can enjoy your time in the yard in a better way. A bug-free yard also means you will have fewer pests attempting to enter your home.
Be Inviting Towards Natural Predators
What better way to handle pests in an eco-friendly way than allowing the natural food chain to do its part? The pest population will automatically be reduced if your yard feels inviting to natural predators. Rely on the insects’ natural predators for pest control support.
For instance, bats eat a surfeit of pests and bugs, so it may be helpful to have bats around. You can encourage bats by adding a roost or bat house. Different types of birds are also great for pest control in the yard. To be more inviting, add bushes and trees where birds can make nests. Place bird feeders so more birds are attracted to your yard.
Final Takeaway
Even insects as common as cockroaches can pester you with health issues like asthma attacks and allergies. Thankfully, keeping your home free of disease-carrying insects is relatively easy.
All you have to do is ensure the house is not attractive to pests for feeding, breeding, and hiding. How to do that? Well, there are many eco-friendly ways to do so, and the most effective way is to ensure basic hygiene and cleanliness.
Simply keep the house clean at all times and make sure there is no easy access to food for ants, rats, cockroaches, and other pests. You can further lower the chances of pest infestations by decluttering your house and yard to reduce hiding spots. Finally, you can seal all entry points in the house by filling all gaps. You can also try out some eco-friendly pest control methods to tackle the pest problem.
Even after taking all the necessary steps, if you still seem to have a pest infestation, consider taking help from pest control professionals. They would not only help get rid of it but will also guide you on how to keep them away for good.
