Cockroaches
Cockroaches come in different sizes and different types, but what they all have in common is they are nasty. Not only are they gross to look at, but they are also known to spread illnesses. As cockroaches move about your house, they contaminate surfaces and your food. This, in turn, spreads bacteria and viruses.
If you are looking to avoid an infestation of cockroaches, take the following steps:
- Keep your home clean and vacuum regularly.
- Keep your basement dry.
- Place weather-stripping around your doors and windows.
- Check any packages you receive before bringing them indoors.
- Check the exterior of your home for cockroaches.
Mosquitoes
While all pests are annoying, mosquitoes can be particularly irritating because they can fly. These pesky insects are sometimes annoyingly loud with their buzzing and are other times quiet enough to sneak up on you and bite you without you even noticing. Either way, they leave frustrating bites that itch. On top of that, mosquitoes are known worldwide for their ability to spread diseases and viruses.
In order to avoid a mosquito infestation on your property, do these things:
- Keep your grass cut short.
- Remove any standing water inside your home.
- Fill in any holes in the yard that collect water.
- Turn buckets and other containers outside upside down.
- Remove stumps and debris from your property.
Ants
If you’ve seen an anthill outside, you know how many ants there often are in a colony. Keep in mind that there are even more inside of the hill itself! Ants can become a real problem over time, and they can get into your food, cause illness and cause structural damage to your home. On top of all of that, certain types of ants (like fire ants) are pretty aggressive and are known for how bad their stings are.
In order to avoid ants invading your home, consider these tips:
- Put away food after you are done and close food containers.
- Use weather-stripping on your windows and doors.
- Close off any openings that lead to the exterior of your house.
- Remove branches and overgrown vegetation.
- Rinse out cans and other containers before tossing them.
spiders
Spiders often make their homes in the corners of your house. Because of this, you may not notice them at first. Over time, though, their webs can spread and become larger. They can also multiply and create an infestation.
There are different types of spiders that include brown recluses, American house spiders, black widows, long-bodied cellar spiders and more. Some of these spiders are relatively safe, while others have bites that can cause major harm.
In order to avoid spiders, follow these tips:
- Close any gaps that lead to the exterior of your home.
- Keep your windows and doors closed.
- Repair or replace torn window screens.
- Get rid of spider webs as they appear.
- Remove debris from your yard, such as rock piles and branches.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are bloodsucking little bugs that cause you to itch. These annoying bugs make their home in your bed (as the name implies), but they can also make their way around the rest of your house.
In order to avoid bed bugs, take the following tips into consideration:
- Don’t purchase used furniture or beds.
- Clean your house regularly and vacuum.
- Clean your sheets often and thoroughly.
- Clean any clothing you buy at the store when you bring it home.
- Wash your clothes as soon as you return from a trip.
Rodents
Whether they are roof rats, Norway rats or mice, you’ll find that rodents are all a nuisance. They tend to eat your food, cause damage to your home and more. Beyond that, rodents are known for carrying diseases and viruses. Because of this, you’ll want to remove rodents from your house as soon as you notice an infestation.
In order to avoid rodents in the first place, take the following tips into consideration:
- Put away food when you are done eating.
- Take out your trash often.
- Clean and vacuum your home regularly.
- Call a pest control specialist in Phoenix as soon as you see rodents in your house.
Wasps/Hornets
Wasps and hornets are known for their nasty stings and how aggressive they can be. Not only do these stings hurt a lot, but for some people these stings can be fatal. That is why you’ll want to make sure to take care of wasps and hornets as soon as you notice them making a home on your property.
While there are ways to address a wasp or hornet infestation yourself, it is often a good idea to hire a professional to handle the issue for you. They can safely remove the nest and ensure the wasps or hornets do not return.
Ticks
Ticks can attach to not only your pets, but you as well. They live off of your blood, and can be brought into your home by your pets and rodents that may also infest your home. Ticks are particularly dangerous not because of their bite, but because of the diseases that they spread. Some of these illnesses can be serious and long-lasting.
In order to avoid ticks making their way into your home, consider the following tips:
- Use a tick control program for your pets.
- Check your pets for ticks when they return from spending time outside.
- Remove wooded areas from your property.
- Vacuum and clean your home regularly.
- Cut bushes, your lawn and dense vegetation in your yard.
Termites AND Carpenter Ants
Termites and carpenter ants have something in common—they can do a lot of damage to your property. Termites live off of the wood in your home, and they spread a lot. Actually, you may end up with thousands of termites in your walls if the problem isn’t addressed quickly!
When it comes to termites and carpenter ants, make sure you hire a professional company that handles pest control in Phoenix to ensure you destroy the entire infestation. You don’t want to risk missing any termites or carpenter ants.
In order to stop carpenter ants from getting into your house in the first place, follow these tips:
- Use weather-stripping on windows and doors.
- Remove wood and debris from your yard.
- Close off any cracks in your walls.
- Varnish, paint and stain the wood in your home.
