Cleaning Tips to Save Your Home From Pests

     Here at Joshua’s Pest Control, we’re happy to tackle any pest related issue and make sure we’re taking care of you and your home in the best possible way. Our licensed field and office experts, on staff etymologists and trucks filled with products are all at the ready attack even the worst of infestations. There is, however, one key factor in most every treatment that will help to ensure that the job we do works in the most effective manner. And that’s, cleaning. Our team usually refers to it as sanitation. The best sanitation not only discourages pest infestation—it also helps our pest control products work properly. I’m going to provide you with a few tips on how you can practice the best sanitation for various pests.

Ants

     Ants are always in search of two things, water and food. If there is any desirable food or food residue, ants will find it and begin to trail wherever the main source is. If there are any areas of standing water, those thirsty ants will be sure to find it. What we recommend is making sure to clean up any spills and crumbs as soon as they happen, putting food away in sealed containers, and drying up any areas that are known to get wet, like a leaky faucet or a dripping hose. If it’s going to be a few days before we can get out there, and the ants are seemingly taking over your kitchen, then Windex is your best friend. Windex, or any other ammonia based house cleaner helps as an on-contact solution. It also helps break up the pheromone trails of the ants to help stop them from coming back until we can get out there for a more long-term solution.

Cockroaches

     Most people can agree that a roach infestation is something that you NEVER want to happen. Roaches will live off tiny bits of grease and food crumbs that fall behind the cracks and crevices of the stove and under the refrigerator. Cleaning out the pantry and even vacuuming those hard to reach corners is the perfect way to really get those areas you may forget about.  Like ants, they are also concerned about finding water. Cockroaches can live for one month without food but they can only survive a week without water. Really make sure you’re drying out your sink area because those straggling droplets of water, give the roaches life. You will also want to keep your sink clean of dirty dishes because they will immediately find that food and keep surviving. Making sure any and all food areas are clean is crucial in making sure the roaches don’t come back.

Silverfish

     Silverfish have been around since before the dinosaurs, and they will likely be around long after we leave. Keeping them under control is key to ensuring you don’t see one of those creepy crawlies walking across your bathroom or garage. Silverfish aren’t necessarily around areas that are dirty, they like areas that are moist which is why they are commonly found under sinks and around water pipes. They also feed on paper products, which is everywhere! They will go for cardboard boxes, books and many other things we have in our home. Storing your paper products in plastic boxes is one way to help keep them under control. Also making the air dry with a dehumidifier will help create an environment undesirable to the silverfish.

Pantry Moths

     Pantry Moths stow away inside products we bring home from the grocery store. Once introduced to a home pantry, they can infest other foods quickly—even packaging that has never been opened. They can squeeze into unopened boxes and chew through plastic or cellophane bags. They can be found in almost any dry food product that we keep in our kitchen cupboards: grains, legumes, mixes, crackers, chips, etc. This is another pest that may not necessarily be around because of poor sanitation. Placing your grains in sealed, airtight ceramic, glass or hard plastic containers is helpful because the moths are unable to burrow through it. You also want to clean out your cabinet shelves and discard all contaminated food, so when our field expert comes he or she can do a thorough inspection and place control products where they will be most effective.

     Remember, no one knows your home better than you do. If after following these sanitation instructions and having a field expert treat, you’re still seeing pests, please give us a call and we’ll send someone back out for free in between regular services to make sure we can get you taken care of.

Sources: https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-articles/fascinating-cockroach-facts/