Have you ever seen those creepy little pests crawling around your house? The ones that make you paranoid and are always at the back of your mind. It sure isn’t a pleasant thought, is it? So what can you do to keep your precious home safe from those pesky bugs?

While you can always find ways to get rid of them and discover workable pest solutions, we believe—as the famous saying goes—prevention is better than cure. Rather than waiting to take action until those uninvited guests invade your home, go on offense to prevent pest problems from occurring in the first place. Understanding the pest’s habitat, food supplies, and breeding grounds is essential for effective pest control.

So, if you want to discover some solid tips to keep your house completely safe and pest-free, you’re in the right place. But first, let’s start with some common types of bugs that can invade your home to deal with them effectively.

Some Types of Pests To Watch Out For

Termites

Termites are common household pests in Arkansas, especially during the summer. In the spring, many termite species swarm, leaving their nests for the first time to venture out into the open. If these pests have entered your home, you might not always notice a swarm, but if you do, it’s a sign that there’s an infestation in or near your home, and it’s time for termite treatment.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches can infiltrate your home from any outside source that provides them with food. For example, they can tag along in grocery bags, trash, leftover food, and other items. They also like to enter sneakily through pipes, sewer lines, and other small openings, so make sure to look out for them.

Fall Bugs

Stink bugs, boxelder bugs, and lady beetles are among this group of insects. You may notice these bugs clamoring outside your home, trying to get in, especially if your house receives a lot of sunshine. They can be a true nuisance, even if they do not cause damage to your home.

Rodents

If left unchecked, rodent infestations can do severe damage to your home. You might be a little surprised to hear this, but rodents can reside between ceilings and walls and might eventually lead to entire drywall removal. The worst part? Most insurance policies do not cover damage caused by rodents! We’re sure this is enough to convince you about the importance of rodent control.

Now that you know what to watch out for, let’s get straight to ways to protect your house from these troublesome pests.

1.   Keep Your House Clean

As obvious as it may sound, you cannot expect to battle any bugs or pests if you fail to clean your house correctly. So why don’t we begin with some tips to clean your house properly?

Control Your Trash

Managing waste is undoubtedly one of the most efficient strategies to keep pests away. However, it’s better to utilize the kitchen trashcan rather than fill containers throughout your house. It’s essential that you empty and sterilize the can every few days to ensure waste doesn’t become a breeding ground for insects.

Clean Up After Every Meal

After a long tiring day, it can sometimes be challenging to be at the top of your game with cleaning. But hear us out; the longer you keep food out on your table or your counters, the more likely it is to become a target of pests. To remove the food source in your home, try to clean up after yourself as soon as possible.

If you don’t have time to clean your dishes thoroughly, however, a fast rinse will remove most of the food residue. If you get complacent with such cleanings, it won’t be long before you encounter cockroaches or spider infestations in your kitchen.

Clean Any Crumbs

Use a moist cloth to wipe crumbs off any flat surfaces, including your cabinets and countertops, and discard them into the rubbish while you clean your kitchen. Pests love crumbs, especially in difficult-to-reach spots, so be extra attentive to swiping them away from small spaces, such as the gap between the stove and the wall. Don’t forget to clean up any food leftovers that may have accumulated in your drain as well.

2.   Clean Your Yard

If you thought that cleaning the interior of your house was enough, you might be in for a surprise; A yard surrounded by a heavy coating of leaves might become an open invitation for all kinds of pests and bugs. To prevent this from happening, remove the debris from your yard as often as possible, especially when plants begin to decay, and leaves begin to fill the land. You should also prune any tree limbs or shrubs that contact your house. This aids in the removal of “bridges” that pests can use to access your home and readily gain entry.

3.   Block Any Entry Points

Pests can enter your home even through the tiniest cracks. Here are some of the areas you should definitely keep an eye out for:

Windows and Doors

Examine the areas surrounding your windows and doors. Grab a bottle of silicone caulk and squeeze it into any gaps or locations where you can see through to the outside. Allow 1 hour for the caulk to cure and fill in the gaps, preventing insects from creeping in.

Loose Or Worn-Out Screens

Consider changing your screen if it has become twisted over time or if the material has become fragile. Given their tiny size, pests might enter your home more easily if your screens are loose or damaged.

Attic Vents

Many modern homes with attics include side vents to help with roof ventilation. A little hole in the mesh linked to the vents could end up becoming an involuntary invitation to pests. Inspect attic vents for damage occasionally if it is safe to do so. If you own a two-story home, have someone assist you with the inspection procedure.

Dryer Vent

Examine the damper to ensure it is not broken. To do so, check whether the flaps on the dryer vent outside are clean and lint-free, the flaps are not broken or falling apart, and they sit flush with the vent cap. If the dryer vent cap appears old and worn, it should be replaced. Ensuring the condition of your drying vent can prove to be a form of mice control because one of the most common ways mice enter homes is through the dryer vent.

4.   Try Home Remedies

Whether you have a current pest problem to address or simply want to be cautious, try these DIY methods as a form of affordable pest control to protect your house:

Use Mint

Mint is a natural repellent for ants, mosquitoes, spiders, and mice. To make a homemade spray, combine 10-20 drops of peppermint oil into a cup of water in a spray container. Moreover, you can also add 1 cup of crushed mint leaves to 2 cups of boiling water. Allow the liquid to cool for a few minutes before filtering and placing it into a spray bottle.

It would be best to spray the mixture anywhere you spot any pests, paying specific attention to entry points such as vents, doorways, and windows. If you don’t want to put in too much effort, simply using mint tea bags is also quite effective. You just need to heat it in a kettle. Once the bags are nicely soaked, place one in each corner of the affected rooms.

Turn To Vinegar

The plus point about vinegar is that it is not only an effective bug killer, but it attracts insects, and you can use this property to your advantage. Wipe off surfaces where you notice them, as well as areas prone to bugs with white vinegar. The acetic acid in vinegar is also particularly toxic for spiders, so you may find this hack useful if spider infestation is your issue. Mix water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio and spray in parts of the house where spiders are likely to reside. This effective remedy can be used both indoors and outdoors, depending on where pests are present.

Grow A Basil Plant

This particularly pungent herb works as a natural insect repellant. Basil is easy to cultivate both indoors and outside. To keep the pests away, place basil plants on windowsills or other entry points outside your home. You can also put dried basil in muslin pouches and place them in trouble spots throughout the house if you can’t grow a plant on your own.

5.   Use Proper Lighting

Yes, you heard that right. This may sound a little bizarre but replacing ordinary mercury vapor lights with high-pressure sodium vapor or halogen lights can effectively decrease flying insects and pests inside your house. Bugs are less attracted to bulbs with pink, yellow, or orange colors.

If it’s possible, you should also relocate your light bulbs. While it is typical to mount lights on exterior walls near doors, it is better if you place the lights on a pole further away from your home. This way, most insects will be attracted to the pole rather than your home. Just ensure that enough light reaches the door to keep the area well-lit for safety.

6.   Reach Out To Experts

Sure, you can manage a bug or two with some DIY tips, but if things start escalating and everything else fails, it’s time to let a professional pest control company cater to your pest problems. In case you are looking for pest control services in Arkansas, we at Flex Pest Control have you covered.

Our experts offer effective pest control services on-demand, empowering you to live a pest and stress-free life. We help you get rid of ants, cockroaches, wasps, and spiders, among other types of pests. Plus, we offer customized pest control services in line with your needs. Isn’t that just what you want?

The Best Pest Control In Arkansas

If you find your home infested with a variety of pests, you’re probably already planning how to get rid of them. The good news is that pest management doesn’t always have to entail using toxic chemicals; there are plenty of natural ways to reclaim your house from a pest invasion.

The tips we mentioned—including cleaning, blocking entry points, DIYs, and proper lighting—can help you effectively handle a few bugs around your house. However, if you would rather keep your hands off those little nuisances, don’t hesitate and give Flex Pest Control a call today to stop those creepy-crawlies from destroying your home (and peace of mind) any further!

Don’t forget to check out our special offers!