Pest Control Tips for New Homeowners

If you are a new homeowner, congratulations! There are so many exciting factors in owning a home: placing furniture where you want it, exploring your new neighborhood, creating the perfect backyard space, and having a fresh start. But one of the less fun parts of owning a home, especially if it is your first time, is pest control. It seems overwhelming to be responsible for keeping a pest-free home and knowing when to call in the experts. Here are some ways to do some preventative pest control in a new home.

Initial & Continuous Inspections

Perform your own inspection of the home before all of your belongings are set up to make sure there aren’t any immediate pest concerns. Walk around the house and the yard with a flashlight and look for any signs of a pest or infestation. These signs include:

• Droppings or waste on the wall or floors (dark brown spots)
• Exoskeletons of insects
• Discarded egg cases
• Cobwebs
• Chewed wires
• Holes in the wall or along the baseboards
• Bite marks or holes in any plants
• The sound of scurrying or clawing inside the home
• Dead insects, especially more than one in a small area

If some of these signs are present, it may be wise to already contact pest control to get ahead of any potential big problems. Take note of the locations of any signs so the treatments can be targeted toward the problem areas. After the move-in process is complete, it is helpful to regularly inspect the home, just to make sure there aren’t any pests that have flown (possibly literally) under the radar. 

Cracks and Holes

Another issue to look out for during an inspection is any sort of crack or hole around doors, windows, walls, and the foundation. Small pests, like ants and flies, can clearly fit through cracks, but mice are known to fit through spaces about the width of a wooden pencil! Inspecting the seals on windows and doors is also important to be sure that pests cannot easily enter the home through those openings. 

If the window is still under warranty and the seal looks to be faulty, you can contact the manufacturer to find out about a replacement. Otherwise, windows and doors with broken seals can be fixed if you’re in the mood for a little research and a DIY project. Any small cracks can be easily sealed using sealant that can be purchased at a hardware store. Holes on the outside of the home are basically a welcome wagon for pests, since it is the easiest access point for them. Small holes can be sealed by sticking copper mesh in the hole and applying foam sealant around the opening. 

Torn Screens

Opening a window or door with a screen is great for letting in the fresh air in favorable weather, but the luster fades when a torn screen lets in some unwelcome guests. Small holes and tears can be patched using a piece of the same type of mesh, available at hardware stores. If the gaps are too big for a simple patch job, then it may mean replacing the whole screen with new mesh. There are plenty of tutorials and examples available online if you want to do it yourself.

Leaks

Moisture is another feature that attracts pests that are looking for a water source, which makes leaks an even larger problem. During your own inspection of your new home, as discussed earlier, keep an eye out for leaking pipes or faucets. Any puddle, large or small, that does not have an obvious source needs to be looked into as well. Leaks can attract pests and lead them to make their home in or near the pipes, but it can also lead to extensive damage in the framework of the home if left unfixed. Termites are especially drawn to moist wood, which would mean even more damage to the framework. Be sure to call a plumber if the source of the leak is found and needs to be professionally fixed. 

Deep Clean

While it is more fun to unpack belongings and put them in their spots in the new home, it is important to conduct a big, deep clean before you put things away. This will not only help with peace of mind that everything is sanitized and orderly, but will also give a clean slate for pest control. Pests of all kinds are attracted to mess and food, so eliminating that initial grime on surfaces is a great start to keeping a pest-free home. Wipe down all counters and flat surfaces with a disinfecting wipe, vacuum the carpet and sweep or mop the hard floors, and clean bathroom features like the toilet and shower. A deep clean may be tedious, but there is nothing better than moving into a freshly cleaned home that does not attract pests.

Food Storage

There are countless ways to store food properly today, and there has been a rise in the purchases of attractive and aesthetic food storage containers, thanks to social media. Since there are many products and methods to safely store food, it is personal preference which one you choose. One easy way is to clip all open chip and cereal bags closed, and place inside a zip-top bag for extra protection. Another is to keep opened bags, grains, breads, and tortillas in the fridge, since the fridge and freezer is more secure than a normal cabinet. They are not impenetrable, however, so be sure to enclose all opened food that is in the fridge and freezer. A more visibly pleasing way is to purchase clear acrylic containers with the lids that seal when a button is pushed. Pour the contents of snack bags containing chips, crackers, cereal, or small desserts into the containers and put the lid on, then click it closed before putting it away. 

Pet food should also be stored properly. Cat or dog food, specifically their dry food, is known for attracting pests since it is easy access to good food. The easiest way to store it is by keeping all food and treats in a trash can with a locking lid. It may also help to remove the pet’s food bowl and put it in the same can when they are finished eating. If treats are kept in fancier containers, make sure they have lids with tight seals to prevent anything from getting in and stealing food from your furry friends. 

Trash Management 

Unattended trash is a target for many pests that look for food and sources to make a home, so it is important to take the trash out before it piles up. Some homes do not have the room to store a trash can with a lid, but it is important to stay on top of taking out the trash and keeping the area clean no matter what type of can is in place. For any kitchen trash can, make sure to take the bags out to the outside garbage cans when they are full or especially smelly inside. Spraying an aerosol disinfectant spray inside the trashcan before putting a new trash bag inside can help with odor and bacteria that also attracts pests.

Regular Cleaning & Chores

This one may seem like an obvious byproduct of living in any type of home, but it definitely helps in preventing pests from making themselves comfortable. Piled-up dirty laundry attracts rodents and cockroaches, while dirty dishes left in the sink for weeks can bring about flies, roaches, and ants. Chores are one of the least fun parts of being an independent adult, but it is essential for the wellbeing of everyone living there. It doesn’t have to be as extreme as completing a load of laundry as soon as a shirt is dirty, but it helps to keep the laundry and dish piles low so as not to give pests easy nesting places. Vacuuming or sweeping the floors also keeps the space clean and prevents buildup of dust and dirt.

Trimmed Landscaping

The outside space may be the last part of the home that you are thinking of when you first move in, but it is important to keep up with yard maintenance. Pests come from outside, so any landscaping and debris left unchecked provide a path for pests to enter the house. Keep tree branches and bushes trimmed back from the house, and dispose of any cardboard or old building materials left outside. Cockroaches love cardboard and ants and spiders can use trees to make their way into the house, so it is important to keep the outside space relatively clean, especially in the warmer months. 

Cobwebs & Spiderwebs

This is a small act, but it’s big in its prevention of pests. A cobweb obviously means a spider was there at some point, but it can also mean that other pests are near if they smelled anything interesting caught in the sticky threads. A spiderweb means that a spider is likely still there or recently left, since the web is still “clean.” Use a duster or a broom to easily remove the webs and inspect the area for any stray pests or now-homeless spiders. 

Clothing from Storage

If any clothing was kept in storage for a long time, such as big winter coats, it is helpful to wash them before hanging them in a closet. Pests, especially cockroaches and silverfish, attracted to untouched clothing can nestle themselves in the clothes stored in flimsy containers ,like cardboard boxes. They will even reproduce if there is enough food in the area, which would be the most unwelcome surprise when it’s time to get the seasonal clothes out of storage. If you want to keep the clothes packed, get a plastic container with a locking lid to keep pests out and the clothing nice. 

Contact Pest Control for Regular Services

If there are, thankfully, no current pests, it might still be a good idea to contact pest control early on and schedule quarterly services. Just because there is not a problem now does not mean it will stay that way forever, unfortunately. It helps immensely to have a technician come out and provide preventative treatments to be sure that everything still looks pest-free, and be prepared in case pests try to invite themselves into your beautiful new home. 

Citations

Milbrand, L. (2021, October 1). 13 things in your house that are attracting pests right now. Reader’s Digest. Available at https://www.rd.com/list/things-in-house-attracting-pests/  (Accessed on February 23, 2022). 

Pest control for new homeowners: 11 crucial tips. (2022, January 13). Residence Style. Retrieved February 23, 2022, from https://www.residencestyle.com/pest-control-for-new-homeowners-11-crucial-tips/ 

Stanley, J. (2021, August 25). 25 tips for controlling pests in and around your home. Family Handyman. Available at https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/26-tips-for-controlling-pests-in-and-around-your-home/ (Accessed on February 23, 2022).