Pests are incredibly picky, whether or not you would believe it. A pest’s instincts will lead it to an environment where it is likely to thrive and unlikely to be preyed upon. So while you might find a spider in your home and think, “Hey, you belong outside,” the spider is thinking, “Actually, you’ve created a perfect home for me right here!”
Our goal at Earthwise Pest Management isn’t to get rid of all the bugs and critters in the universe — they typically serve an important role in nature, after all! Our goal is, instead, to help keep them out of your home or commercial building. In today’s blog, we’ll be discussing some things you might be doing that are attracting pests to your space and how to fix the problem.
Of course, if the pest problem persists, give us a call. As your Sacramento pest control company, we are proud to offer reliable and effective pest control services to the Greater Sacramento area to keep pests out of your hair.
13 Things You’re Doing To Attract Pests
1. Not Cleaning Up Food Messes
Whether you spill a few granules of sugar while baking or drop an entire casserole as it comes out of the oven, it is imperative that you thoroughly clean up food messes when they happen. Lingering food is one of the main attractors of pests and even just leaving it for a few hours can alert hungry pests that the feast is ready.
2. Keeping Old Fruit On Your Countertops
Fruit flies are a major nuisance and difficult to get rid of once a few show up. Make sure to eat the fruits and veggies in that fruit basket before they begin to go bad. If you don’t get to them in time, throw them away. Make sure that you have a trash can with a lid or tie the old fruit in a grocery bag before throwing them away to prevent fruit flies from simply gathering around your trash can.
3. Not Sweeping On A Regular Basis
Even if you clean up messes after they occur, you are bound to miss a few crumbs here and there. It is a good idea to regularly sweep and vacuum the entire house, but especially areas where food is common, such as the kitchen and the dining table. Clean your floors every few days, and make sure to mop if things are feeling a little sticky.
4. Leaving Dishes In The Sink
Even if your counters and floors are clean, there still might be some food lingering on the dishes in your sink. Make sure to thoroughly rinse pots, pans, plates, and the like if you’re not going to either wash them or put them in the dishwasher immediately after use.
5. Not Calling A Plumber About That Dripping Faucet
Just like us, pests need water. A slow-dripping faucet or small leak inside or outside of your home can attract rodents, mosquitos, wasps, and countless other pests. If you notice a leak anywhere on your property, make sure to take care of it as soon as possible. Not only will this help with your water bill, but can also prevent a pest problem from manifesting.
6. Not Installing The Best HVAC System For Your Home
Similarly to the last point, bugs and pests usually enjoy humid environments. Some bugs, like termites, will seek out soggy parts of the home to call their own. If you have an old HVAC system, one that was not properly installed, or one that is not powerful enough for your home, you might be dealing with too much moisture in the air. This moisture can accumulate in places like the attic and attract pests you might not even know are there until it’s too late. Have an HVAC technician perform an inspection to see if you can make any improvements.
7. Waiting Until Trash Day To Take Out The Garbage
It’s no secret that bugs like flies and gnats love being close to your garbage can. All of that old food is like a little paradise for these annoying pests. The best way to keep bugs away from your trash can is to not allow the trash in the house to pile up. When the bag is almost full, tie it tightly and take it outside. If you notice any food residue on the trashcan itself, make sure to wipe it off with a disinfectant wipe. A trash can with a lid can also help to keep pests away.
8. Keeping Papers Around The House
Many of us have a stack of magazines, mail, or other important papers that we rarely touch. This can become the perfect hideaway for certain pests including silverfish and cockroaches. These insects eat paper thanks to its protein and starch contents. If you have stacks of papers lying around the home office, make sure to put them into airtight storage containers.
9. Not Brushing Fido or Fluffy
Cats and dogs who spend time outside are bound to bring in a few pests — and not just ticks and fleas! Other pests can get caught in their fur and hitch a ride inside. Make sure to regularly inspect your pets for bugs and brush them as soon as they come inside This is especially important for long-haired pets.
10. Not Inspecting Your Pet Food
Speaking of pets, many pet foods attract (or sometimes come with!) pests. Specifically, Indian meal moths or pantry moths love feeding off of the grain in birdseed and dog food. Because these industries do not have as strict of regulation as the human food industries, it is not uncommon for bags of pet food and bird seed to already be infested with adult moths, larvae, or eggs. Thoroughly check the bags for signs of pest entry such as small holes, as well as for eggs and webbing which could indicate you are bringing a future moth infestation to your home.
11. Keeping Your Home Warm And Dry
Alright, this one you can’t really avoid. Pests, just like us, seek out shelter, During the cold or wet months, your warm and dry home is the perfect haven for them. While you don’t necessarily want to remove the roof from your home and avoid turning on the heater, you can do things to ensure that pests cannot enter your cozy house. This includes sealing up any cracks, recaulking windows and door frames, and installing weather stripping around doors. Make sure to inspect your garage extra closely, as many homeowners have cracks or openings around the garage door.
12. Allowing Stagnant Water To Remain In Your Yard
If you’re tired of mosquitos buzzing around your backyard, take a look at your surroundings. After such a rainy season here in Sacramento, it’s likely that there are bucks, kid’s toys, or even low areas in the grass that have not yet dried out. Get rid of any puddles or pools of water in your backyard to avoid creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
13. Keeping Wood Piles Near Your Home
Wood piles are great for when you want to light the fireplace or roast marshmallows over the fire pit. They are also like a hotel for termites, centipedes, beetles, pillbugs, and some less-than-desirable spiders like the black widow and the brown recluse. The closer your firewood pile is to your home, the more likely it is that the little bugs will wander right through your door. Keep your wood pile as far away from your home as possible and be sure to call our Sacramento pest control company to learn how to prevent bugs from getting into your wood.
Got Pest Problems? Give Us A Call!
If you’re looking for a way to get rid of pests in your home and keep them out, give Earthwise Pest Management a call! We are your Top Rated Local® pest control company in Sacramento, and we can handle just about any pest problem from termites to bed bugs to rodents and more.
Notice that none of the above say that you have pests because you’re not spraying poison around your home. At Earthwise, we limit our use of pesticides for two reasons. First, pesticides, though sometimes effective in the right situation, are not great for you, your family, our employees, or the environment. We will use them when we need to, but ultimately try to find other ways to handle the problem. Secondly, pesticides only temporarily solve the issue. Before you know it, those pests will be right back where they started.
We use a method of pest control called Integrated Pest Management. This process involves solving many of the problems listed above. We discover why the pests are attracted to your property and how they got inside in the first place. Then, we work with you to eliminate these vulnerabilities and ensure that pests don’t even want to set foot on your property in the first place.
To start your journey to a pest-free home, give us a call or fill out one of our contact forms! We’d love to be the Sacramento pest control company you can trust to get the job done.