If you’re a new home or business owner, you might just be discovering how tough it is to keep out the wide array of pests that can invade your Pensacola property. From roaches to rodents to the notorious Florida mosquito, pests are constantly trying to infest your home, your yard, and even your bed (we’re talking about you, bed bugs). Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself and prevent infestation. Let’s talk about what you need to do.
Prevention Steps
While there are tons of different pests in our area, and they’re all attracted to different things, there are a few basic steps you can take that will prevent multiple pests such as:
- Proper Food And Trash Storage: This is probably the single biggest step you can take to protect yourself from pests. Masking the smells from your garbage and your pantry can help deter everything from rodents to roaches to ants and even certain types of wasps. Make sure all your indoor and outdoor trash cans are covered with well-fitted lids at all times. Keep pantry staples in hard plastic containers with airtight lids as well. And always clean dirty dishes immediately.
- Cleaning And Decluttering: Clutter provides hiding places for lots of different pests, including rats and mice, roaches, silverfish, spiders, and even bed bugs. Making sure all clutter is off the floor in your home can help eliminate a lot of hiding spots.
- Vacuuming Frequently: This also can discourage pests from invading your home or business. Not only can it get rid of small crumbs that might attract ants, roaches, etc., but it can also suck up pests themselves. Dust mites, chiggers, ants, bed bugs, and fleas can all get caught up in the vacuum cleaner.
- Clear Outdoor Clutter: This is especially true for wood litter – to avoid attracting rodents, spiders, and especially termites.
- Outdoor Repairs: Another big way you can keep pests out of your home or business is to physically block their entry. Inspect your home or commercial building, sealing up whatever potential entry points you see. Entry points include cracks, holes, gaps between doors and windows, etc. Remember, some pests are tiny and can squeeze their bodies into even tinier spots, so there really isn’t a crack or hole too small for all pests.
- Travel Precautions: A big way to get parasitic pests is to bring them home with you. Things like ticks, fleas, and especially bed bugs will hitch a ride on you, your pets, or your stuff. To avoid this, make sure you’re wearing protective clothing when hiking or picnicking to avoid wilderness bugs like ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes. Speak with your vet about treating your animals for these pests. To avoid bed bugs, be careful when you’re using public transportation or staying in hotels. Check your luggage when returning from travel and wash and dry all clothing in the highest setting possible. Also, avoid secondhand shopping if you can.
What To Do If You Get An Infestation
Unfortunately, even the most fastidious home or business owner can come down with a case of pests. Here in Florida, most pests are active all year or almost all year, so it’s hard to maintain constant vigilance. Further, many pests can just steamroll right over even the toughest prevention methods. Pests are resilient, they’re smart, they’re resourceful, and many pest species are also developing resistance to common household pesticides. That means if you get an infestation, you’re going to need professional home pest control help.
Here at EnSec Pest and Lawn, we’re your one-stop-shop for all your indoor and outdoor pest needs. Our pest control specialties include just about everything endemic to the Pensacola area, including mosquitoes, bed bugs, and termites. We can also help you get a handle on lawn care to avoid attracting new infestations. So give us a call at (850) 821-2215 or visit our contact page to schedule your free estimate today!