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5 New Years Resolutions to Help You Avoid Pest Problems in 2021
2020 was a good year… for pests. With so many people living, working, and spending time at home, the generous supply of food consumed and waste generated became an attractive opportunity for bugs and rodents to eat, drink, and multiply.
Here are 5 New Year’s resolutions to help keep your home free from pests in 2021.
1. “I will declutter my home, so cockroaches and mice will leave me alone.”
Any pest control professional will tell you that reducing clutter is one of the most effective ways to reduce and prevent pest infestations. Clutter provides ample hiding place for pests like mice, roaches, and bed bugs, which love to build their nests inside those nooks and crannies.
The start of a new year is a perfect time to clean out unused or unnecessary items from your pantry, closets, basement, and other storage spaces, and replace cardboard boxes with airtight plastic bins that prevent pests from getting in.
2. “I will clean my kitchen every day, to keep all the hungry pests away.”
When pests invade your home, the kitchen is usually the first place you’ll find them since they’re attracted to sources of food and water.
To prevent pests like rats, roaches, and flies from turning your kitchen into their home in 2021, get into the habit of cleaning up crumbs and wiping away food particles after every meal. Avoid leaving fruits and vegetables out on tables and counters, and store perishables in airtight containers.
3. “I will keep lids on garbage cans tightly, and dispose of kitchen trash nightly.”
Many pests have a stronger sense of smell than humans do. The odor that comes from food waste in your kitchen trashcan creates a chemical signal in the air, telling various insects and rodents that it’s time for dinner. If left alone for days, the smell can even attract pests from outside your home or from neighboring apartments.
Make a commitment to take your kitchen trash outside every night and keep a tight lid on trash cans to prevent odor from leaking out and attracting pests.
4. “I will store firewood outside my house in the winter, so the bugs hiding inside cannot enter.”
If you want to enjoy a warm fireplace this winter but hate finding bugs in your home, find a place outdoors to store your firewood. Many pests that normally live outside, like spiders, beetles, wood roaches, sowbugs, pillbugs, wasps, ants, and flies, may hide or overwinter in firewood.
Store your firewood on a rack to keep it dry and elevated, away from grass or soil and at least 20 feet away from your home. When you’re ready to light up your fireplace, only bring in what you’re planning to burn.
5. “I will seal up holes and cracks in my house, so nothing gets in, not even a mouse.”
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Stop pests from invading your home in 2021 by sealing up holes, cracks, and crevices that provide potential entry points. Make a list of potential problem areas under windows and doors, along the foundation, roof, attic, and vents, and around holes used for electric, gas, and plumbing lines.
Install door sweeps on the bottom of exterior doors to block the gap between the floor and the door. Use caulk to seal small cracks and crevices along walls and fill larger gaps with steel wool and foam before covering the openings with fine wire mesh.
About MMPC: Eco-Friendly Pest Solutions
Need a bit of professional help? MMPC is the highest-rated pest control company in the Tri-State Area. We have over 25 years of experience providing friendly, professional, and high-quality pest control services in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
In addition to pest inspection, treatment, and proofing services, we also offer free pest identification. Send us a picture, video, or physical specimen of your mystery pest, and our entomologists will tell you what it is and provide treatment recommendations.
Learn more about Free Pest ID services here.