Best Pest Control Resolutions for the New Year

It is that time again when we reflect on the past year and look forward to the year ahead. Inevitably, we make resolutions that we hope will move us closer to attaining all our short-term and long-term goals. While you are at it, here are some suggestions of the best pest control resolutions for the new year.

Resolution 1: Keep the Kitchen and Home Free from Food Waste

One of the key attractions of pests in a home is food wastes. Don’t imagine that you have to leave an entire loaf of bread on the kitchen counter in order to attract pests into the home. Far from that. Crumbs and any other food particles are more than sufficient to sustain a pest problem. Pest control professionals in Modesto, CA recommend that you develop a routine of cleaning away any food waste that is generated as you prepare or consume food before you go to sleep or leave for work. This prompt action will limit the chance that pests will thrive within your home.

Resolution 2: Leave No Crack or Crevice Unsealed

Another of the important pest control resolutions for the new year is making sure that no crack or crevice remains unsealed as soon as it is noticed. In fact, AAI Pest Control has observed over the years that homeowners who develop a habit of checking the entire perimeter of the home periodically in order to identify and seal any cracks and crevices have fewer pest infestations than homes where cracks and crevices remain gaping for long. You will do yourself a favor if you also get into the habit of promptly sealing any cracks and crevices that develop in your home.

Resolution 3: Keep the Yard Clean

Pests desire two things, food, and shelter. Deny them those two items and they will stay clear of your home. Keep this in mind as you maintain your yard. Get rid of any dirt, litter and other forms of debris in your yard. It is also helpful to keep the lawn tended and the trees and shrubs well-trimmed. This will go a long way in making your yard less attractive to pests since pests love a cluttered and messy environment.

Resolution 4: Keep Firewood Away from Walls

It is reasonable for you to pile firewood as close to the house as possible because you won’t have a long distance to cover when you need that wood to light a fire during the cold months of the year. However, you also need to be aware that when wood is piled close to, or against an exterior wall then it provides shelter to pests. Those pests can easily jump or crawl from that woodpile into your home. Make this new year the year in which you stop piling wood close to the house. Leave a clearance of at least ten feet between the nearest wall and the woodpile so that you don’t unwittingly make it easy for pests to get into your home. And while we are still on the subject of woodpiles, always shake out any pieces that you are carrying into the home so that the pests trying to hitch a ride fall to the ground and stay outdoors.

Resolution 5: Transition to Plastic Containers

Make a resolution to switch from using cardboard containers for storage to plastic containers that you can seal. This is especially important if you are storing items for several weeks or months. Modesto pest control companies advise that plastic is a better option because pests will find it hard to eat through that material in order to get at the contents inside the containers. Conversely, many pests consider cardboard to be food, while others use it as nesting material. Your home will, therefore, be less of a pest magnet when you start using plastic containers instead of cardboard storage containers.

As you may know, the resolve to stick to your resolutions can wane as the months go by and other demands divert your attention away from the goals you set at the start of the new year. That is why we at AAI Pest Control are waiting to partner with you so that all your pest control resolutions for the new year are implemented. Get in touch today!