How to Keep Pests Out of the House

By keeping pests out of the house, you not only save money on pest control solutions, but you can also rest assured that your home is free of parasites and health hazards. Here are tips on how to keep ants, cockroaches, spiders, fleas, flies, moths, mice and other pests from infiltrating your home.

Things You'll Need

• Powdered boric acid
• Caulk and grout
• Door and window insulation strips

Instructions

1. Seal the house. In the same way you would make sure that your heating and cooling doesn't seep through cracks and gaps around your doors and windows, patch up any openings that will allow insects and other pests to enter your home. Use caulk, grout and decorative trim to seal holes or gaps between the wall and the floor (the favorite entry points of ants, roaches and mice). Use insulation strips around doors and windows to block entry of tiny insects.

2. Discourage cockroaches from taking refuge in your home. Dust boric acid powder where they tend to hide, like in the basement and in dark corners of the bathroom, and under kitchen appliances and cabinets. Boric acid also kills those that have already managed to come in.

3. Do not feed them. Pests come to your home to feed and reproduce. Cut off their food and water supply, and they won't have reason to stay. Keep the bathrooms and kitchens clean and dry. Refrain from leaving food in the open; keep edibles in tightly sealed containers. Wipe off any food particles and spills from countertops, stovetops and floors. Use kitchen trash bins with tight lids not only to prevent odors, but also to hinder pest infiltration. Dispose of garbage promptly.

4. Do not bring them in. Pests can enter your home by hitchhiking on cardboard boxes and other containers that you bring in. Inspect containers and old hand-me-down items that may have become a home for insects and other pests.

5. Store only clean clothes. Launder clothes and apparel before storing them to remove food particles and perspiration that attracts moths. Keep seasonal clothes in sealed plastic bins or airtight storage bags. Use moth repellents if necessary.

6. Keep the house clean and tidy. Pests thrive in dark and damp hiding places. Refrain from storing cardboard and paper products where cockroaches and silverfish can feed on them. Clean out storage areas regularly. Rearrange the furniture to clean corners that have been unreachable for a long time.

Tips & Warnings

• One of the best ways for pests to enter your home is to hitchhike on firewood. Refrain from storing firewood inside your home for extended periods of time.

• When applying boric acid powder, wear a dust mask and gloves to minimize exposure.

• Naphthalene balls are hazardous to your health. Use organic moth repellents instead, like cedar chips or lavender and eucalyptus oils.

Resources

• WV University: Household Integrated Pest Management