Most small mammals and insects, such as the House Mouse can squeeze through spaces as small as a coin making it easy to get into homes through cracks and crevices. Once inside the home, pests can cause major problems including tearing insulation, chewing electrical wires, contaminating food and leaving unpleasant odours.

Preventing Pests from Entering Your Home

Seal cracks in your home's exterior to help keep pests like Ants, Spiders and Cockroaches from getting inside. You would be surprised that the size of a hole does not really impact the type of pest you may get in your home because they will almost always find a way inside even through the smallest gaps. This step needs to be done very carefully and intricately.

Be sure all doors and windows are properly sealed with tight-fitting screens and weather stripping. This is a particular favourite entrance place for spiders and other small bugs because often cracks do appear around windows and doors that make perfect places for such insects to enter by.

Remove any piles of debris, stones, bricks, etc., around your home. They serve as a harbourage for pests, especially Rodents.

Minimise Feeding Opportunities

Don't leave uncovered food sitting out. It can attract flies that might land on it and spread harmful bacteria. This includes indoors and outdoors. Make sure rubbish is in the outside bin and not placed around it because bags will be ripped open and the smell will attract all manner of creatures.

Indoors, having rubbish anywhere, even to the smallest grains of sugar can attract insects and particularly rats. Ants are attracted to sugar especially so ensure that any spillages are thoroughly wiped up.

Do not allow pet food to sit out overnight, indoors or outdoors.

Improve your Storage

Consider storing clothing in plastic boxes or pouches to prevent fabric pests from getting to them. Moths are a particular worry here especially for clothes that aren't used very often and stay in a cupboard for long periods of time. Consider storing these away in sealed containers, such as under bed, zip-up storage pouches.

Consider Ventilation Options

Attic and Crawl Space Ventilation is essential. Proper ventilation creates an environment unsuitable for cockroaches and other pests. It also improves the heating and cooling efficiency of the home. Cockroaches like warm, moist areas and because the heat within houses rises, the loft space is likely to be the warmest part of the house, especially in winter.

To read more tips to keep your Home Pest Free visit the DIY Pest Control page.