House & Garden

6 Clever Tricks for Keeping Pests Out of Your Home

The thought of pests in the home sends shivers up most of our spines. Can you imagine creepy crawlies in the kitchen? Or, rats in the attic? No, thank you! Unfortunately, a pest infestation is more prevalent than you may think. Especially if you don’t have the right prevention methods in place. We’re going to look at some ingenious tips and tricks, for keeping pests out of your home.

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  1. Block Any Gaps

Uninvited guests can get through the smallest of gaps in any home. A mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a ten pence coin! It’s important to make sure there are no spaces for pests to crawl through. Go around the outside of your home and look for any cracks or holes. You can block them up with most standard filler products. Don’t forget to check basement and loft spaces, along with gaps around pipes.

 

  1. Keep it Clean

It may sound like an obvious one, but keeping your home clean can make all the difference. We’re sure most of you follow this rule anyway! However, there are some little things you can do to make sure it’s even less pest friendly. Make sure you take the trash out as often as possible while keeping a lid on any garbage cans. Wipe down all of your surfaces as soon as you’ve finished using them. Especially if you’ve been cutting up anything sticky or sweet. A clean home is far less appealing to pests.

 

  1. Natural Repellants

There are plenty of natural ways to keep pests out of your home. Cinnamon, lemon peel, garlic, chalk, and cucumber are just some homemade ways to put those critters off. White wine vinegar is great in a spray bottle, as it will deter ants and other creepy crawlies. Put some of these natural repellents to use, to keep pests out.

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  1. Cut Trees Back

Have you got anything growing close to your home? This acts as a walkway for most pests, so get rid of it. Tree or bush branches leading up to your window are a no-go. Both insects and rodents will use these to get into your home. Make sure there’s nothing growing that they can use to get into attics or basements either. Keeping your garden clean and tidy will help even more.

 

  1. Attics and Basements

These are prime breeding grounds for uninvited guests, so keep them clean and dry. Pest control companies can actually put certain prevention methods in place for these rooms. Grating, cruelty-free traps and damp control devices, for example. Keep an eye on your attic and basement, as these are the most common places to see pests.

 

  1. Natural Predators

One of the best ways to keep pests out of your home is to encourage natural predators. It’s the circle of life! Birds and bats will prey on small insects and sometimes even rodents, so invite them into your garden or home. Bat and bird boxes are easy to build, and can work wonders for your potential pest problem.

 

Hopefully, you’ve now got some ideas of how to stop these critters from entering your home. Put a few of these into place and you should never have to deal with a pest problem again. Phew!

 

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