How to Maintain a Pest-Free Garage

As we continue our written trek throughout the rooms of a common house in the guided quest to maintaining a pest-free home, we now arrive at the most multi-functional space of any home: the garage. Each house’s garage is used for different purposes, depending on the preferences and organizational patterns of the residents. The garage can be the place to keep your vehicles safe (obviously), store holiday decorations, work out, complete DIY projects, keep your tools, and stash those containers of your children’s clothes and toys that they outgrew but you know they’ll want again one day. However you use your garage space, you likely noticed just how many pests love to be in this area since it’s their first stop from the outdoors. They can go unnoticed for quite some time if they sneak in through the opened garage door and hide in the corners of the area that isn’t cleaned as often as the rooms inside the home. Depending on the species, the garage could have their ideal food, water, and shelter all in one place. The longer that a pest problem remains in your garage, the more likely they are to get inside your home. Let’s discuss four of the most common garage pests before we explore the most efficient ways to keep pests out of your garage for good. 

Common Garage Pests

The garage is a frequent site for pest problems because it is often the most accessible for wandering pests that are looking for a shelter from the outdoors. Just think of how many entry points common pests can have: the big garage door, the door out to the yard, any windows, areas of water damage and leaks, and so on. Plus, the garage generally receives less attention in the cleaning department than the rest of the house, so it’s easier to miss the beginnings of pest issues in here. Whether your garage is packed full of stored items or is solely used to keep your vehicles, it has the potential to be invaded by troublesome pests at any time, and some pests are more commonly found here than others. 

• Spiders: Just about everyone has at least one memorable experience with finding a unnervingly-large spider in the garage. They love this space because it not only provides them with immediate shelter from the outdoors, it’s also a place that they are more likely to find a constant food source with the number of small insects in here. If you find an unusual amount of spiderwebs in the garage, you have a spider problem on your hands.
• Rodents: Rodents are usually motivated to invade the garage by the frigid cold outside, but there is plenty for them to love in here once they are inside. They have their choice of nesting sites, and their favorites include wall voids, idle boxes, and neglected vehicles. Rats and mice are both attracted to dry pet food and grass seed, both of which are often found in the garage. If they gain access to any wiring, there is a potential fire risk once their strong teeth cut through the wires.
• Silverfish: If your garage tends to collect excessive moisture — whether from rainy weather or the plumbing — you may see more silverfish than other garages. These pests love moisture and need it to survive, so they’re often found near puddles and leaks. A silverfish problem can quickly escalate because they lay multiple eggs a day, and their nocturnal schedule gives them the advantage of being active when we’re unaware. Their main food sources include fabric, glue, other insects, and paper.
• Crickets: We often think of crickets as being unseen jukeboxes out in the field, but they are found in garages quite often. They love moisture and warmth, and a well-lit garage at night with both of these qualities will attract them. Crickets lay hundreds of eggs in their lifetimes, so one cricket in the garage could become a lasting problem before you know it. Their incessant chirping is their way of attracting a mate, but this sweet calling will soon turn sour once it’s amplified within the garage every night. 

It’s inevitable that some small pests will stumble into the garage at some point. After all, this space is equipped with a massive door that opens and closes constantly, giving any tiny critter plenty of time to sneak inside. That being said, you don’t have to live with a bunch of pests in the garage just because they invade it more often. If pest problems continue to go unaddressed in the garage, you run the risk of the creepy-crawlies making their way into the rest of the home and causing you even more problems. Preventing pests from taking over your garage doesn’t have to be a daunting process, as all it require is a bit of extra attention and care in how you organize the random memories that are stored in here.

Don’t Use Cardboard

Gone are the days when cardboard boxes were the only option for large storage containers. Since there are plenty of plastic containers available on the market today, we recommend refraining from using cardboard boxes to store anything long-term. When cardboard boxes are left alone for a long time, they will attract all kinds of pests that love this material as a food source or shelter (or both). Roaches, spiders, and rodents are possibly the most common cardboard-loving pests, and they would also enjoy the general environment of a garage if they had the chance to stay. We recommend using sturdy containers with airtight lids to store anything you keep in the garage, including Christmas decorations, childhood mementos, your children’s outgrown clothing, and your parents’ vintage book collection that is too fascinating to give up.

Check the Garage Door Seal

With an opening as large as the traditional garage door, it’s essential to keep an eye on the state of its seal and closure. It won’t do much good in protecting your garage from pests and inclement weather if your garage door doesn’t seal properly when it’s closed. If there is a sizable gap anywhere along the bottom side of the door, any kind of creepy-crawly can make its way through. There are two general goals when it comes to making sure your garage door is properly sealed. One is that you should not see a lot of daylight seeping through during the sunlit hours. Conversely, if you inspect the exterior of your garage door at night and can see a lot of artificial light coming through, many pests will be attracted to this and can easily make their way inside. The second goal is to not have any gap along the bottom of the door. Most garage pests are ground-dwellers, so they can easily make their way inside if there is an opening on their level. If your garage door seal is insufficient or worn out, contact your local garage door experts to replace it as soon as possible. 

Organize Clutter

This is easier said than done, especially when it comes to the sheer amount of “stuff” we cram into the garage. The best way to make the most use of your space and subsequently keep curious pests out of your belongings is to organize everything as best as you can. If you leave everything strewn about in this space, it just makes it that much easier for pests to hide within the clutter. As we mentioned earlier, there are plenty of storage containers in all shapes and sizes available today, so you have your choice of organizational style. We also recommend keeping most items elevated off the floor as much as possible, especially if they’re stored in less durable containers. If your garage is overwhelmingly cluttered at the moment, you can make this a gradual project where you tackle a small section of the garage when you have time. Any kind of progress is still progress. 

Clean the Floor

Autumn wouldn’t be autumn without falling leaves, and this blog series wouldn’t be what it is without mentioning the importance of cleaning the floor. We only include it in every addition to this series because it truly is that important in the quest to prevent pests from invading your home. The garage has even more random floor debris than the rest of the house because of everything that enters from the outside on a daily basis (vehicles, our shoes, pets, yard care equipment, bicycles, etc.) without being cleaned first. There are all kinds of food sources available to pests who invade an unkempt garage, including pet hair, dander, dirt, and crumbs. The two easiest ways to clean your garage floor are sweeping and vacuuming with a large shop vacuum. You don’t have to clean this floor everyday (unless you really want to), as doing it every couple of weeks should suffice. You can also use this time to check for any new pest problems or occupants of your traps to see if you need to schedule immediate professional treatments, but more on that later.

Remove All Spiderwebs

Speaking of handling new pest problems, it’s important to remove any spiderwebs and cobwebs you find in the garage for a couple of reasons. One, and most obviously, leaving any spiderwebs alone encourages spiders to stay put in the garage. Secondly, lone spiderwebs collect a disgusting amount of insect litter and organic debris, which will then attract pests that feed on these kinds of items. Not to mention the fact that spiderwebs are not the most picturesque garage decoration ever! You can easily dust away all spiderwebs and cobwebs with a broom or an extendable duster, then clean it off outside. It’s normal to find some stray webs in your garage every so often, but if you start seeing a huge increase in the number of webs or spiders themselves, it’s a good idea to contact professional pest control to efficiently end this spider problem. 

Seal Cracks and Gaps

This is another one that is important for every room in the house, as any kind of opening in the exterior is easy access for all kinds of pests. The garage can develop a variety of imperfections over time due to its vulnerability to the outside elements, especially around the garage door. Every so often (especially after a big storm), inspect the walls, windows, doors, ceiling, and floor for any new cracks and holes. You can easily seal small ones with waterproof caulk, and close up large ones with steel wool before sealing with caulk. Also, if you have any windows or doors with screens in here, make sure to check those screens for any holes or tears throughout the year. You might not open these as much as the ones inside the house, but it’s still a good idea to keep these rip-free and prevent pests from finding yet another entry point into the garage. Small holes can be patched with extra screen material, but it might be more efficient to replace the whole screen if it’s littered with tears.

Eliminate Standing Water

The garage has a myriad of ways that excessive moisture can accumulate in here, especially if you live in an area that gets a lot of rain throughout the year. If you have a sink, pipes, or a pet’s water dishes in the garage, it’s important to make sure that the space doesn’t have any areas with excess water. Moisture-loving pests such as silverfish, earwigs, and roaches would love to live in a garage that has an unaddressed water issue because it gives them the perfect space to comfortably live and reproduce. Fix any leaks as soon as possible or contact a professional if the problem requires more than a DIY fix. After a sizable rainstorm or snowstorm, check the garage for any signs of water damage and standing water. Also, if you have a sink in the garage, make sure the drain is working properly and there is not excess water sitting in there when it’s not in us. The last thing you need is to give these kinds of pests their own swimming pool!

Keep It Well-Lit

Everyone’s garage is different in terms of the lighting situation. Some have florescent lights that keep the whole space well-lit, while others have a simple overhead light that doesn’t quite reach every corner. This is not a fact you want to hear — especially if you’re reading this at night — but many pests love the dark and will do whatever it takes to invade a garage that isn’t very bright. Some of the most common ones are roaches, spiders, centipedes, rats, and mice. You don’t have to waste electricity by keeping your lights on all day and night, but the idea is to ensure that the space is well-lit whenever the lights are flipped on. If any of your garage light sources go out, try to replace it sooner rather than later. The brighter your garage is, the easier it will be to keep your space pest-free and see any burgeoning pest problems. As a side note, we suggest never going into your garage in the dark. It only takes one time of seeing the glowing eyes of a spider tracking your movements to make a person get into the habit of turning on the light before stepping foot in the garage. 

Guard Your Garage With Green

The garage is a multi-purpose area of the home, but one of those purposes shouldn’t be hosting a horde of pests. Your garage interior and exterior need just as much protection against pests as the rest of the home, and may need extra attention in order to prevent pests from invading the first line of defense before they can get inside the house. Whether you need efficient solutions for a current pest problem or you want to prevent pests from ever getting close to your garage, Green Pest Services has the reliable pest treatments of your dreams. Our technicians are all highly-trained and experienced in solving even the toughest of pest problems. We are dedicated to addressing each pest issue with the utmost care and efficiency, so you never have to worry about our team leaving a pest problem unsolved. Plus, all of our treatments are completely safe for people, pets, and the ecosystem, so you don’t have to deal with the stress of toxic pesticides weighing on your mind. Take back your garage from invasive pests and contact us for more information on our thorough pest control services today!

Citations

Carrick, T. (n.d.). 10 pests that might be living in your garage. Bob Vila. Retrieved October 6, 2023, from https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/10-pests-that-might-be-living-in-your-garage-580419

Common pests & bugs found in the garage. (n.d.). Pest World. Retrieved October 6, 2023, from https://www.pestworld.org/pest-in-the-house/garage/ 

How to keep bugs and pests out of your garage. (2017, May 10). Quality Overhead Door. Retrieved October 6, 2023, from https://www.qualityoverheaddoor.com/blog/keep-bugs-out-garage/

How to keep pests out of your garage. (2021, September 13). Easy Open Door Company Inc. Retrieved October 6, 2023, from https://www.easyopendoor.com/keep-pests-out-of-garage/