With summer finally here, we’re about to begin our annual vigil against pests that are determined to claim squatting rights in our cupboards, the cracks in the tile grout and anywhere else they can find shelter.
When preparing your home for sale, the last thing you want any buyer to see is a line of ants marching between the sugar bowl and the tiniest fissure between the brickwork and kitchen window frame.
Insulating your home from a summer infestation is easier said than done.
The key to meeting the challenge is to understand the fundamental needs of these pests – shelter, food and water.
North America is home to over 700 ant species, and 25 are known to target residential areas for their basic needs. If they set up home with a colony and nest in your backyard, or under your home, you face the challenge of exterminating at least 50,000 of these critters.
To help avoid this scenario, don’t leave food out, especially overnight, because the task of colony worker ants is to find sources of food. At the top of their menu is sugar and carbohydrates.
Here are some tips to keep pests out of your home.
Seal windows – Applying a silicone seal around windows will help keep the critters at bay. Limiting their entry points is a fundamental tactic in limiting their access to food and shelter.
Clean cans: Keep outdoor trash cans tightly sealed and away from the house. Rinse them regularly to remove food odors.
Natural repellents – These can deter some pests, but it won’t get the job done entirely. Inside the home, you can diffuse oils like peppermint, citronella, eucalyptus to help ensure living areas and the kitchen and bathroom are pest-free.
Herbs and plants: Basil, mint and lavender plants are good deterrents, too. Rubbing citrus peels on windowsills, or leaving them near problem areas, will deter ants and flies.
Cleaning vigil – Wiping down countertops and cupboards regularly will guard against the attention of ants and German cockroaches, which reproduce at frightening speed. These cockroaches shed their skin and leave feces that are a potential health risk, especially for those with asthma.
Trim plants – Ensure bushes, shrubs and trees are not pushing against your home, as they tend to be a source of pest infestation, especially around the foundations, sidings and roof.
Empty buckets – You’re going to attract mosquitoes if you allow buckets and pots in the garden to collect water. It’s essential you pour away excess water from outdoor containers after it rains.
Clean gutters: Clogged gutters can collect standing water and debris, becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes.