Pest-Proof Your Home with These Simple Strategies

’Tis the season for spring cleaning, which means opening windows and doors, cleaning cabinets, and moving furniture to clean those often-overlooked places in your home. In the process, you may discover some unwanted visitors: creepy-crawlies.

“The spring brings warmer temperatures and an increase in pest activity as they search for food and water sources,” says Jim Fredericks, a board-certified entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).

Meanwhile, stink bugs, spiders, and termites need a warm hiding space. “Pest prevention should be a part of your spring cleaning list,” he continues. “Fortunately, there are a lot of easy steps you can take to keep pests out.” Here’s how to keep pests where they belong: outside.

Seal entry points

Mice can fit through dime-sized holes, and ants and cockroaches navigate even smaller spaces, says Fredericks.

Since sealing all potential entry points sounds daunting, focus on gaps around doors, windows, and pipes, says Nicole Carpenter, president of Black Pest Prevention in North Carolina.

The rule of thumb is to close gaps larger than a quarter-inch. Use silicone-based caulk for small cracks and steel wool around pipes, she says. Install weather stripping around doors and windows. “For bigger holes in walls or foundations, use expanding foam or hardware cloth to block access,” adds Carpenter.

Fredericks recommends turning out the garage light to see if daylight is leaking in or around the doors, especially in the bottom corners. “If so, it’s time to replace that seal, too,” he notes.

When it comes to windows, replace or repair damaged window screens, and place fine mesh over vents, chimneys and attic openings, recommends Ed Dolshun, vice president of business development and technical director at Catchmaster, which makes pest-management solutions. Install door sweeps, and seal wall and baseboard cracks to keep spiders out.

Clean your kitchen, and secure food

Kitchens are hot spots for pests, including beetles, Indian meal moths, and ants, Fredericks says.

Discard stale or expired pantry items, and store cereal and pasta in airtight containers. Wipe down counters, and sweep your floor to remove crumbs. “Trash should be stored in bins with tight-fitting lids and taken out regularly,” he adds.

Eliminate standing water and repair leaks

Cockroaches and silverfish are attracted to moisture, and mosquitos can breed in as little as a half-inch of standing water in a bottle cap, Fredericks says.

Look under the sink, around appliances, and in the basement to fix any moisture problems. (Consider using a dehumidifier in damp basement or crawl space areas.)

To eliminate mosquitos, remove birdbaths and flowerpots with water trays. Make sure there aren’t any clogged drains.

Don’t forget to clean your gutters to prevent water from pooling around the home’s foundations, Dolshun adds.

Declutter

Rodents nest in dark, cluttered spaces. “The more clutter there is, the more spaces there are to hide,” Frederick says. Instead of cardboard boxes, use plastic bins with secure lids to store items. Clear piles of newspaper and cardboard.

Outside, trim bushes and branches, and store firewood away from the house. Dolshun says wood and yard waste are “bridges” from the outdoors to your home.

Carpenter also recommends keeping your yard manicured since ticks hide in overgrown grasses.

Turn off the lights

Outdoor lights are bug magnets, adds Carpenter. If you prefer leaving the light on all night, instead of using white bulbs, use yellow bulbs, which insects are less attracted to.

Tackling an infestation

If you already have pests, don’t despair: You have several remedies at your disposal. On the natural side, try soaking cotton in peppermint oil and placing it near entry points to deter mice, Dolshun says. Orange and lemon peels near windows and doorways may repel ants and cockroaches.

Carpenter doesn’t recommend citronella candles. “They don’t work,” she says flatly. Likewise, forget ultrasonic repellers. “Mice get used to it quickly, and ants and roaches are not even able to hear,” she explains.

Bait a snap trap with peanut butter to catch mice. If you plan to release them, get out your car keys and drive two to three miles from home to relocate them (in a nonresidential area), which is far enough away to disrupt their scent trail. Those who open the trap in the backyard will get another visit from the same hungry mouse.

Take it from those in the know.