Noticing a few ants roaming around the house, getting frequent mosquito bites or sighting cockroaches in the kitchen can mean a potential pest infestation at home. These bothersome insects are not only unpleasant to see, but can lead to serious health implications and even affect the structures of your home.
Pest activities happen at your home because they are constantly seeking food, water and shelter. Good housekeeping practices can help keep pests away from home. In this article, we share twelve practical and easy tips to protect your family against pests.
Sweep, vacuum and mop regularly
Most frequently, pests enter your home in an attempt to forage for food. Food debris and water spillages on the floor can become sumptuous meals for pests such as cockroaches, ants and rodents. Homes without regular cleaning may encourage pest activities that can lead to an infestation.
A small piece of food crumbs can invite numerous of these pesky creatures in as short as just five minutes. These pests have an exceptionally sensitive sense of smell or odour receptors and removing dirt off the ground is an essential step in limiting their food sources.
Dispose of the trash correctly
Using a bin with a lid not only keeps trash out of sight but also aids in containing any rotting or pungent smell. It effectively prevents household pests including flies, cockroaches, ants and rodents from reaching food waste, garbage and decaying matter in the bin.
In newer high-rise developments and landed homes, bringing out the trash might be inconvenient since the rubbish chutes are not located within the house. This can lead to the bad habit of not clearing the trash or even leaving them overnight. Besides the type of bins, developing a routine to dispose of the trash regularly helps lower the possibility of having pests scavenging for food at your home.
Store food properly
Proper storage of food keeps them fresh for a longer period of time. In addition, it keeps food items away from pests. Pests carry diseases including Salmonella and E. Coli, which are culprits of food poisoning. Food that has been in contact with pests is no longer safe for consumption by humans. Besides becoming a waste, making an abundance of food available for the pests can actually encourage them to come back for more.
Some pests such as rodents can gnaw through plastic. Therefore, it is necessary to store food including sugar, oats and cereals in good quality air-tight containers. Again, by restricting their food sources, you can achieve a pest-free home.
Seal holes, cracks and crevices
You may have already closed all windows and doors, only to find signs of cockroaches or rodents at home. Pests have high adaptability and flexibility. Most of them can squeeze through tiny gaps and cracks to enter your home. In addition, they may hide, nest and breed in these spaces. An easy way to restrict pests in your home is to cover up entry points by:
Applying plaster or silicone to holes and cracks in the wall
Using a door sweep or threshold to cover up the base of doors
Covering up pipe openings with wire mesh
Installing rubber seals on the sides of the windows
Install insect screens
Ventilation is necessary and it is almost impossible to leave windows and doors shut 24/7 in a humid country like Singapore. Besides, ventilation is key to preventing moisture and mould growth at home. Thankfully, insect screens are available to limit pests' entry while keeping your windows open.
An insect screen comes in a mesh form and is one of the simplest yet most effective methods to prevent flying pests including houseflies, fruit flies and mosquitoes from entering your home. This is even so without compromising the air quality!
Change your bedsheets regularly
Bed bugs are hitchhikers and can be brought home through luggage, bags and clothes. A single bed bug can turn into an infestation quickly due to its speed of reproduction. Moreover, bed bugs can survive up to 2 years even without a blood meal.
You can disrupt the life cycle of bed bugs by changing and washing your bedding at high temperatures. As bed bug eggs hatch between 6 to 10 days, changing your bedsheets, pillow case, blanket and duvet cover on a weekly basis can help in limiting bed bugs at home. Besides, sleeping on clean sheets reduces allergies, asthma and respiratory issues.
Check and clear stagnant water
Did you know? Mosquitoes can breed in water as small as a twenty-cent coin. Mosquitoes are one of the deadliest pests in Singapore as they spread diseases including Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika. According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), there are 30,183 dengue cases as of 12 November 2022.
Protecting the health and safety of your family members and achieving a pest-free home can begin with checking and clearing any stagnant water. Look inside vases, pails, containers and plant saucers to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. Additionally, you may overturn water storage containers to ensure they do not catch water unnecessarily.
Declutter your house
Pests love hiding in dark and humid spots. This makes it difficult to detect the presence of pests at home, hence giving them the opportunity to breed or build their nests. Basements, attics, store rooms, cabinets and cardboard boxes are some examples of their favourite hiding places.
Removing items that you no longer need can eliminate clutter and any potential pest infestations. Furthermore, consider storing and organising your belongings in air-tight containers for easy access and protect them against damage caused by pests.
Fix leaky pipes and prevent moisture
Besides promoting bacteria and mould growth, moisture is essential for pests to survive. Fixing leaky pipes and plumbing issues can eliminate the possibility of pests at home. Furthermore, some insects including centipedes and silverfish may enter your home through pipes, gutters and floor traps.
Finally, some pests thrive in humid and moist environments. Examples include booklice, barklice and silverfish. Getting rid of moisture prevents these pests from invading your home.
Establish pest control
Housekeeping and regular maintenance of your home contribute to a huge part in achieving a pest-free home. Doing your due diligence in pest control and management is a practical approach to protecting your home and loved ones against pest infestations. While there are many home remedies and DIY methods in the market to get rid of pests, establishing a professional pest control programme in place is probably the best way to prevent pest occurrences.
How does pest control work?
Unlike executing pest control on your own, a professional pest control specialist carries out targeted solutions after conducting a comprehensive site inspection. The survey identifies key information including the areas of infestation, the severity of the infestation and the types of pests. This helps ensure that the solutions and chemicals used in the treatment contain the active ingredients required in eliminating the pest and its root causes. Moreover, these experts have undergone numerous trainings and possess the knowledge, skills and experience to treat any pest issues.
Ideally, a pest control programme should commence even before any signs of infestation surface. This effectively protects your property against potential damage (health, mental and structural) caused by pests. Furthermore, delays in treatment often lead to serious complications and consequences.
Allowing a pest control professional to manage your pest worries helps resolve the problem effectively in a shorter time. Discuss your requirements with Bingo Pest and customise an integrated pest management programme to your needs. Call us at 6517 9989 or submit an online enquiry to schedule a free consultation today.
