How to Maintain a Pest-Free Basement and Attic

Welcome to yet another addition to our series on maintaining a pest-free home! Today, we are focusing on two areas of the house that are utilized in completely different ways by every homeowner: the attic and the basement. Some people like to use these spaces for storing holiday decorations and childhood mementos, while others completely renovate them to become a game or movie room. Many houses don’t even have a basement, so that need is filled by the garage and/or the attic. We don’t know the specifics of your house, but what we do know is that pests love these rooms and will hide in here for as long as possible. No matter how you use these rooms, it’s a good idea to know which kinds of pests favor the space and how to prevent them from making a mess of your home, which is exactly what we’re going to discuss right now!

Common Attic/Basement Pests

Considering the fact that the attic and basement are the respective highest and lowest points of the house, it makes sense that there is such a wide range of pests that will invade these rooms. These lesser-used rooms are attractive to the general pest population for a few reasons. The attic and basement are often darker than the rest of the home, which nocturnal pests greatly favor. These rooms are also usually less populated by humans and pets, and have more moisture than other rooms, so they naturally attract a wide range of pests. That being said, there are four types of pests that seem to be common inhabitants of these rooms regardless of the season or weather patterns.

• Roaches: There’s a reason why animated roaches are always seen scurrying around cartoon attics and basements. They like these rooms in real life because the attic and basement often have damp areas and are darker, so they are the roach’s ideal habitat. Roaches can enter through openings in pipes or drains before seeking out a hiding spot behind objects or in the crawl space. Oriental cockroaches are commonly found in these rooms, as these 1-inch-long pests feed on any organic matter and garbage that they find. 
• Spiders: Spiders need to live where they have a steady food source of insects, but they also need secure shelters to craft their webs or hide behind idle objects. These arachnids prefer to be completely alone in a dark and dry space, and will not begin to lay eggs until they feel safe enough to do so. Cellar spiders, easily mistaken for daddy longlegs, are one of the most common species in the attic and basement.
• Rodents: Since rodents desperately seek warm shelter in the colder months and are capable of climbing up trees and gutters, it’s easy to see how they can invade a vulnerable attic or basement. Rats and mice can chew through just about any household material, so they can easily invade these rooms and find a more secure hiding spot inside. These pests construct their own nests out of scraps that they shred with their teeth, and any loose fabric, paper, and insulation in these rooms will definitely be utilized by nesting rodents.
• Earwigs: These pests are definitely more common in damp spaces, but they can certainly be found in just about any indoor environment if they find a way inside. Earwigs are nocturnal insects that prefer being alone and thrive in humid environments. They eat live and dead organic matter — including other insects — and like to stay in cluttered spaces for more protection. Although earwigs have large pincers on their ends, they won’t attempt to use them on humans unless we actually touch them.

Of course, any invasive pest can find itself in the attic or basement from time to time. There have been cases of ant infestations, wasp nests, and termite colonies in these rooms if they are hardly visited by the residents of a home. However, there is always hope when it comes to pest problems, especially when you receive high-quality pest control services (but more on that later). The common denominator in preventing pests from overtaking your basement and/or attic is awareness. The more times you look around these rooms and ensure that everything is as it should be, the easier it will be to keep it pest-free. There are also some efficient tasks that we recommend doing if you don’t already, as you can never be too careful when it comes to keeping a tidy space and preventing creepy-crawlies from inviting themselves inside. 

Eliminate Moisture

With all the talk of pests that love moisture, one of the more clear first steps is to eliminate all excess moisture in the basement and attic. It can be easy for these rooms to collect moisture and become humid since there’s less ventilation than in other rooms. It’s a good idea to check these spaces after big storms when water damage can naturally develop. If there are any exposed pipes in these spaces, check them often to ensure they aren’t leaking or collecting condensation. Fix any leaks — in the pipes, walls, or ceiling — as soon as possible to eliminate the extra water before the invasive pests find it. For basements and attics that are constantly humid, a dehumidifier may be worth the investment. The goal is to keep these rooms as dry as possible since moisture-loving pests won’t have a good reason to stick around if they don’t have the water they crave.

Clean the Floor

If you’ve been keeping up with this series, this task should come as no surprise. A clean floor is far less likely to attract pests because it doesn’t have all of the random dirt and debris that many of them feed on. Roaches, ants, carpet beetles, and earwigs can find some of their favorite foods on various types of dirtied flooring. The method you use and the amount of time it takes to clean the floor in your attic and basement are dependent on how you use these spaces. For instance, a basement that is now a game room will require more cleaning attention than an attic that is just used as a small storage facility. The most common ways to clean these floors are sweeping, vacuuming, washing, or scrubbing. If you have any furniture in the rooms, make sure to clean the floor underneath every once in a while. We also recommend dusting away any spiderwebs and carefully cleaning the corners of the rooms to remove any pesky spiders.

Keep Food to a Minimum

The specifics of this one are completely dependent on how you utilize your attic and basement. If these rooms are hangout spaces where people enjoy snacks, there is a risk of attracting all kinds of food-loving pests that would otherwise be fully focused on the kitchen. Ants, roaches, rodents, and flies would all love to get a taste of our food. As with any room where you regularly eat, clean up any crumbs and spills after every snack session. We recommend not storing any fresh food or opened bags in the attic and basement because it’s just too easy for pests to sniff out these food sources in these smaller spaces. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s still a good idea to remain vigilant against pests if the only food in these rooms is stored goods. Make sure that every can and preserved food is tightly sealed and elevated above the ground. If you don’t already, check the stored food often for any spills or leaking containers. The older the cans, the more likely they are to split or start oozing. Dispose of any compromised food items immediately, and check the rest of the supplies to ensure they are in pristine condition and without any hungry pests. 

Check The Space 

This is the most general suggestion on the list, but that doesn’t make it any less important. No matter how your household uses the basement and attic, it’s important to check on the state of both spaces every once in a while. You don’t have to check every nook and cranny of the rooms (unless you really want to), as a good visual scan of the space should do the trick. Check for any spiderwebs, rodent nests, droppings, water damage, holes, and new pest problems. If any pipes or walls need to be repaired, get them fixed as soon as possible. This will not only stop pests from finding an easy way inside, it will also protect the house and keep it in tiptop shape. When there is less human and pet activity in any room, it makes it far easier for pests to camp out and continue reproducing. Plus, by getting in the practice of checking your attic and basement for any new problems, you may even gain some peace of mind in knowing that these specialized areas are without any creepy-crawly invaders that escaped your notice.

Declutter Belongings

If you use your attic and basement as your built-in storage facilities, this tip is for you! It’s easy to just throw a few boxes up in the attic and not give them a second thought, but pests will certainly find the vulnerabilities in this tactic. Many pests love clutter, including roaches, rodents, spiders, silverfish, crickets, and earwigs. For this reason alone, try to keep any stored items as organized as possible. Organization is a personal endeavor that some people enjoy way more than others, so the specifics of this are up to you. At the very least, we strongly suggest staying away from using cardboard boxes as your containers. These are often ruined by either water damage or certain pests (silverfish, crickets, termites, roaches, beetles, etc.) that can break through the material. Instead, try using plastic containers with secure lids that will protect your belongings and keep hungry pests out. This is especially important if your attic and basement are just used for storage and not as activity areas, since any amount of clutter will be that much more appealing to pests. 

Seal Entry Points

Yet another tip that is important for every room in the house, finding and sealing off entry points is crucial here. Pests come in all shapes and sizes, but the majority of them can fit through the smallest of holes in a house. It’s easy to miss new holes and cracks in the attic and basement since there are so many variables in these spaces: pipes, vents, stored items, exposed beams and insulation, and so on. When you check on the general state of these rooms as suggested in a previous tip, it’s easy to also be on the lookout for any cracks, gaps, or holes in the walls and floor. Pay special attention to the areas around any windows, doors, pipes, vents, and insulation. You can easily seal small entry points with waterproof caulk. For larger gaps, fill them with steel wool or copper mesh before sealing it with the caulk. There are great online tutorials for the proper filling methods if you want to ensure that you’re doing it correctly.

Guard Your Home With Green

The basement and attic aren’t the most exciting rooms in the home (unless you repurpose them), but they are still important spaces that fulfill certain purposes. As durable as they are, these rooms also aren’t invulnerable to structural problems and pest infestations — and these pests won’t have the courtesy to stay in one spot. Professional pest control is essential to protect the entire home from all kinds of pests, and there is no one better suited for this task than Green Pest Services. Our team of dedicated technicians is prepared to handle all kinds of pest issues, no matter the size or species. We solve pest problems through a combination of thorough inspections, personalized treatment plans, and efficient products. Since all of our treatments are environmentally-friendly and therefore safe for both people and pets, you don’t have to worry about dangerous pesticides coating your home. We leave no stone unturned when it comes to solving pest problems. For a free quote on the most reliable pest control services around, contact our team today!

Citations

Basement bugs & insects. (n.d.). Pest World. Retrieved October 13, 2023, from https://www.pestworld.org/pest-in-the-house/basement/

Common attic bugs, insects, & pests. (n.d.). Pest World. Retrieved October 13, 2023, from https://www.pestworld.org/pest-in-the-house/attic/

Do you have basement bugs?. (n.d.). Terminix. Retrieved October 13, 2023, from https://www.terminix.com/blog/home-garden/basement-bugs/

Guide to attic pests: What pests to look out for, how they get in, and the damage they can do. (n.d.). Extermpro. Retrieved October 13, 2023, from https://www.extermpro.com/guide-to-attic-pests-what-pests-to-look-out-for-how-they-get-in-and-the-damage-they-can-do/

How to get rid of pests in the attic. (2020, September 22). Maggie’s Farm. Retrieved October 13, 2023, from https://maggiesfarmproducts.com/blogs/bug-help/pests-in-the-attic

Simms, D. (2023, October 5). How to get rid of earwigs (2023). Today’s Homeowner. Available at https://todayshomeowner.com/pest-control/guides/how-to-get-rid-of-earwigs/ (Accessed on October 13, 2023).