When winter rolls around, many people are excited for a break from pesky bugs. Unfortunately, some pests aren’t ready to say goodbye. These winter bugs love to escape into your warm and cozy home. Taking the time to bug-proof your space can help you avoid pests this winter. Check out a few tips to help keep winter pests out of your home.
Seal Entry Points
Keeping pests out of your home starts with sealing potential entry points. Bugs can easily squeeze into small spaces including tiny cracks and holes. You’ll want to examine your home for spots where pests can sneak inside.
- Check for and seal any cracks in your home’s foundation, walls, and window or door frames.
- Seal any gaps near areas where utility lines or pipes enter your home.
- Make sure there aren’t any loose shingles or holes on your roof.
- Install door sweeps to eliminate gaps under doors.
- Repair or place damaged door and window screens.
- Consider adding screens to vents and chimneys.
Keep Your Home Clean
Pests settle down in homes if they can find a safe place to hide and food to eat. Taking the time to clean can help to remove attractants, which can help to prevent pest problems.
- Clean up crumbs and spills.
- Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink.
- Store your food and your pet’s food in sealed containers.
- Minimize clutter and avoid storing items in cardboard boxes.
- Vacuum regularly to help remove bugs and their eggs.
- Check for and remove spider webs.
Minimize Moisture
Bugs are likely to hang around your home if they can find a water source. It’s important to minimize moisture in your home and yard to keep pests away.
- Check for and repair any leaky pipes, dripping faucets, or clogged drains.
- Use a fan or dehumidifier to reduce moisture build-up in basements and garages.
- Examine your gutters and ensure they aren’t clogged.
- Ensure downspouts are working correctly and that water is draining away from your home’s foundation.
- Remove items from your yard where water can collect.
Take Care of Your Yard
If pests are attracted to your yard, it won’t be long before they make their way into your home. Pest-proofing your outdoor space can help to prevent indoor bug problems too.
- Remove debris, like leaves and twigs, from your yard.
- Trim vegetation and tree branches so they aren’t touching the side of your home.
- Store firewood several feet away from your house and off the ground.
- Remove any trash from your yard.
- Make sure your trash bins have tight-fitting lids and aren’t kept close to your house.
Be Careful Bringing Items into Your Home
Sometimes pests sneak into your home on items you carry in. It’s important to be on the lookout for hitchhiking bugs when you carry things into your house.
- Before bringing plants into your home, make sure there aren’t any pests on them.
- If your holiday celebrations include decorating a live tree, you’ll want to make sure bugs aren’t hiding in the branches. Using a tree shaker at the tree farm can help to dislodge pests.
- Some pests, like cockroaches, are known to hide in cardboard boxes. Check your shipping packages for pests or signs of their presence before bringing them inside.
- Pantry pests can make their way inside on your groceries. Before purchasing your items, examine food packages for holes or scratches that could warn of an infestation.
Create a Protective Barrier
Pest control products can help to protect your home from bugs. Our plant-based insecticide sprays kill pests on contact and provide residual repellency. To create a protective barrier, you can spray the perimeter of your yard and home with our Yard Bug Spray. You can also spray common entry points with our Home Bug Spray to help deter pests. A plant-based insecticide dust, like our Spider & Insect Dust, can be applied to cracks and crevices where bugs like to hide to help keep pests from hanging out in your home.
Sharing your home with bugs isn’t an ideal way to spend the winter months. With a few preventative measures, you can avoid pests this winter. If you’re dealing with a bug problem, we have your back! For a more environmentally and family-friendly solution, check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products.