Cockroaches
Cockroaches give most people the creeps, which makes sense. They are gross! Beyond how unsightly they are, they are also a major problem to have around. Cockroaches tend to spread bacteria around the surfaces of your house, and even on your food. Whether they are American, German or Oriental, you’ll want to keep these nasty critters out of your house to prevent illness.
Here are a few things you can do to avoid cockroaches:
In order to avoid cockroaches, follow these tips:
- Seal off any openings on the exterior walls of your property.
- Take out the trash regularly.
- Clean and vacuum your house often.
- Use weather-stripping on your windows and doors.
- Check boxes and packages before bringing them indoors.
- Replace or repair torn door or window screens.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are pretty annoying. Some buzz around you, while others silently land on you and bite you. You are then left with itchy, frustrating bumps. The occasional mosquito bite here and there is bad enough, but once they make their way onto your property it can get a whole lot worse.
On top of how annoying their bites are, they are also pretty dangerous. Mosquitoes have been known to carry diseases that they transmit once they bite you.
In order to avoid mosquitoes in your house and around your property, take these tips into consideration:
- Get rid of any standing water in your home.
- Fill in holes on your property that can fill up with water.
- Turn buckets and other containers upside down so they don’t collect water.
- Keep your grass cut short.
- Remove debris and stumps from your property.
Ants
Ants may seem like a small problem due to their size, but they can become a pretty big issue over time. Keep in mind ants live in colonies. This means when you see a few ants, there are probably a lot more nearby.
There are a few different types of ants you may run into. These commonly include fire, sugar and Argentine. Each of these ants come with their own challenges. Fire ants, for instance, have a tendency to sting pretty viciously.
In order to stop ants from making their way into your home, consider the following tips:
- Use weather-stripping on your doors and windows.
- Rinse your cans and other containers out before throwing them away.
- Cut tree branches and remove overgrown vegetation from your property.
- Ensure your trash can lids stay on tight.
spiders
Many people are afraid of spiders, and this makes a lot of sense. Not only are spiders creepy, but they can also be extremely dangerous. There are a few different spiders that you may find in your home. These include hobo spiders, brown recluses, black widows, American house spiders and wolf spiders. Some of these spiders are relatively harmless, while others are extremely venomous.
Here are a few things you can do to avoid a spider infestation in your home:
- Clear away cobwebs as soon as you notice them.
- Keep your windows and doors closed.
- Remove rock, leaf and wood piles from your property.
- Seal up any cracks in your exterior wall.
- Replace and repair torn window and door screens.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that bite. These brownish-red critters feed off of your blood and can cause you to itch a lot. This itching can eventually lead to infection. Beyond living in your bed, bed bugs can eventually make their way to other parts of your house and live on your furniture.
In order to avoid bed bugs, consider the following tips:
- Purchase primarily new furniture and beds.
- Wash your clothing after you get home from a vacation.
- Wash clothing you purchased at a store as soon as you get home.
- Keep your home clean and vacuumed.
- Wash your sheets regularly.
Rodents
Rodents are a large nuisance—literally. They are the biggest pests that you will experience, and they tend to scurry around your house. Not only are they unsightly, but they also do damage to your home, eat your food and even spread diseases and viruses. They are extremely unsafe to have nesting in your home, so you’ll definitely want to take steps to avoid them.
Here are a few things you can do to stop rodents like rats and mice from nesting in your home:
- Clean and vacuum your home regularly.
- Put away food after you are done eating it.
- Take out your garbage regularly.
- Use your garbage disposal.
Wasps/Hornets
Wasps and hornets are mean and aggressive insects that can cause you a lot of grief. Not only do their stings hurt a lot, but they can also be extremely dangerous—even deadly. Some people are allergic to wasp and hornet stings, and a sting can land them in the hospital. In order to keep your friends, loved ones and yourself safe, make sure to call a company that specializes in pest control in Nashville to get rid of a wasp or hornet nest on your property. They will safely destroy it and take steps to make sure the wasps or hornets don’t return.
Ticks
Ticks are nasty, bloodsucking parasites. While people often think of pets when they think of ticks, they are also happy to feed off of humans. Through their saliva, ticks spread disease—which makes them particularly dangerous. You’ll want to prevent ticks from getting into your house and snacking on you.
Here are a few tips for avoiding ticks:
- Have your pets on a year-round tick control program.
- Keep the grass in your yard short.
- Clean and vacuum your house regularly.
- Check your pets for ticks if they spend time outside.
- Keep shrubs and bushes tidy and cut so they aren’t overgrown.
Termites
Termites can be extremely problematic if they make their way inside of your house. These insects look kind of like common ants, but they can be so much worse for your property. Termites live off of the wood in your home—which means a ton of property damage over time. They also tend to spread pretty quickly, and can eventually number in the thousands! Make sure to call in an expert pest control specialist if you suspect termites are eating away at your home.
Carpenter Ants
Like termites, carpenter ants can do quite a bit of damage to your property. They are one of the largest types of home-invading ants, and they tend to work away at the wood in your house—leading to hundreds or even thousands of dollars-worth of damage. You’ll want to make sure carpenter ants don’t make their way inside.
Here are a few things you can do to avoid carpenter ants:
- Varnish, paint and stain the wood in your home.
- Remove any tree stumps, brush and debris from your property.
- Keep your basement dry.
- Close off any gaps in the roof line.
- Use weather-stripping on your doors and windows.
