There are many benefits to living in an apartment complex. Unfortunately, bugs also find apartments welcoming. Having people living in close proximity and units with shared walls can make it easy for pests to spread and infestations to grow. That’s why it’s important to take steps to prevent pest problems. We’ve made a list of tips to help keep pests out of your apartment.
Seal Entry Points
To keep pests out of your apartment, you need to make sure they can’t find a way inside. Their size allows them to slip through small cracks and holes. Examine your apartment for places where pests could enter. They are likely to sneak indoors via cracks around doors and windows or tears in screens. Loose seals and damaged weather stripping can also provide an entry point. You can work to repair the holes or you can also contact your property manager to see what repairs your lease covers.
Keep Your Apartment Clean
When bugs enter apartments, they are usually looking for something to eat. Keeping your apartment clean will remove potential food sources. Keep your floors and counters free of crumbs and sticky residues. Regularly take your trash out and keep your trash area neat. The food residue on dirty dishes can attract bugs, so avoid leaving dishes in the sink. You’ll also want to keep your pet’s food bowls clean. Pests also enter homes looking for shelter, which clutter can provide. Take time to organize your space to reduce potential hiding spots.
Put Your Food Away
How you store your food can affect whether or not bugs will want to move into your space. Properly store your food so that pests don’t have access to it. Store your pantry items in containers with sealed lids. Place your produce in the refrigerator instead of leaving it on the counter. Don’t leave open snack packages in your cabinets. Instead, transfer the items to a sealed bag or a container. Bugs will feed on pet food too, so place your furry family member’s treats in a sealed container as well.
Minimize Moisture Build-Up
Pests are attracted to homes with sources of moisture, so you’ll want to keep your space as dry as possible. Monitor your pipes, faucets, and appliances for leaks, and work with your property manager to get them fixed. Clean up water spills, keeping the area around sinks, bathtubs, and showers dry. Using the fan in your bathroom can help to minimize moisture build-up as well. Don’t forget to clean up after your pets, and keep the area around their water bowl dry.
Keep Your Outdoor Space Clean
Maintaining your outdoor space can help to keep pests out of your apartment. If you share your outdoor space with other tenants, then your property manager will likely handle lawn care such as cutting your grass. If your lease specifies that this is your responsibility, make sure to keep your grass cut short and trim other vegetation. Remove debris, like fallen leaves, from the area too. Anytime you enjoy a meal outside, make sure to clean up your trash and any food or drink residues.
Contact Your Property Manager
If you’re dealing with pests in your apartment, your first step should be contacting your property manager. Every state has different laws and leases vary, so it’s important to find out what help your property manager can provide. They may have a pest control plan in place or you may be responsible for kicking the pests out of your home. Reporting the problem will not only help you figure out your next steps but also help your neighbors since pests can easily slip between units. This will also be helpful if the problem originated outside of your unit.
Use Pest Control Products
Pest control products can help to kick pests out of your apartment. Depending on the pest you’re dealing with and the severity of the infestation, there are different types of products available.
- Plant-Based Insecticide Sprays: Our plant-based insecticide sprays kill pests and provide residual repellency protection. Sprays are a great option to spot-treat the occasional pest or if you’re only dealing with a few bugs. They also can help to create a protective barrier that will deter pests from entering your home. Our Home Bug Spray can be applied to common entry points, including near doors and windows, to help keep bugs out.
- Insecticide Baits: Baits are ideal if you’re dealing with ants or cockroaches because they target the source of the infestation—the colony or nest. Our No Spill Ant Kill and our Ant Killer Bait allow ants to feed on the bait and return to the colony where they share the bait with other ants. As the bait spreads, ants will continue to die until the infestation is eradicated. Our Roach Killer Gel Bait works similarly, allowing the cockroaches to feed on the bait and return to the nest where they will expose other cockroaches to the bait.
- Insecticide Dusts: Insecticide dusts are also effective against pests and provide long-lasting results. Dusts can be applied to the cracks and crevices where pests are likely to hide as well as spots where bugs can enter your apartment. When bugs walk through the dust, they pick it up on their body, leading to their death. Dusts are ideal for pests that can be tricky to control including bed bugs.
- Traps: For some pests, traps are an effective control method. Our Pantry Moth Trap attracts and kills common moths, and our Fruit Fly Trap attracts and kills fruit flies. Our Spider & Insect Trap utilizes a glue board that works 24/7 to capture spiders and crawling insects.
Bugs may want to become your new roommate, but that doesn’t mean you have to let them move in. Working to make your apartment less welcoming and using the right pest control product can help to keep your space bug-free. If you’re dealing with pests, we’re here to help! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products.