There are tons of pros to dwelling in a big city, such as easy access to shops, public transportation, and restaurants, as well as a never-ending supply of things to do. It is possible, however, to encounter unwanted visitors if you live in an apartment complex with hundreds or even thousands of other people. Pests in big cities are a fact of life for many people, regardless of where they live.
Roaches, ants, spiders, mites, and bed bugs are just a few of the pests that may do serious damage to your home and spread disease. An experienced pest management company is your best bet for removing these bugs. Before you hire a pest control company, apply these pest control tips and tricks for urban dwellers to keep your home pest-free and disease-free.
Reduce Moisture
Infestation of pests, particularly termites, can be attributed to the presence of moisture in the home. You can keep termites at bay by reducing the amount of moisture in your apartment. A dehumidifier can be beneficial if you dwell in a humid area. In the summer, you can utilize the air conditioner to keep your home cool and dry by running it frequently throughout the day.
Properly Store Your Food
Food is the primary motivation for a pest to break into your house. Pests can identify leftover food or meals that haven’t been properly preserved because of their enhanced sense of smell. The first step to keeping pests away from your home is to ensure that food is properly sealed in containers and that there are no food scraps lying around.
Keep Your Kitchen Spotless
A dirty, moist environment is ideal for pests. Keep your kitchen’s counters, stovetop, racks, and drawers clean to reduce pest invasion. Clean them using a disinfecting cleaner regularly.
Check for Leaks
Keep an eye out for the leaks and damage in your apartment. Pests thrive under decaying roofs and wet walls, ideal environments for termites. Do not procrastinate to fix and seal any leaks, and be sure to check your home’s dark corners and basements frequently. These are the first places insects will gather if you don’t pay attention to them.
Take out Trash Regularly
As with removing food waste, you’ll want to empty your garbage cans at least once every two days and place them in a sealed bag. Sugary and sticky chemicals found in cans and bottles are also a haven for pests. Pests can’t get into your recyclables if you wash them first.
Keep the Bathroom Tidy
Maintain a dry and clean bathroom environment. Every other day, clean the toilet with a toilet cleaner. To keep the sink clean, use a powerful bathroom cleaner at least once a week. Maintain a dry and moss-free shower curtain. Ensure the drain is always capped and free of hair and soap scum. For a longer period of time, the bathroom will remain sanitary and pest-free if these simple steps are followed.
Declutter Your Apartment
Even if you’ve hired a termite or bed bug exterminator, you must declutter your home. Make sure to keep an eye out for outdated magazines and newspapers that may be harboring unwanted pests like termites. To avoid spreading pests to other sections of your house, never move anything stored in a pest-infested room to other parts of your apartment.
Seal Cracks with Caulk
Despite pests’ primary motivation to find food in your house, the most common entry point for them is a hole or crack in your home’s exterior. Preventing pest infestations can be as simple as looking for possible entry points and blocking them with caulk. It’s also a good idea to do this every few months.
Get Rid of Stagnant Water
Stagnant water is an optimum breeding ground for insects like mosquitoes. Maintaining a clean and sanitary environment surrounding your apartment is essential to preventing mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria.
When not in use, keep your bathroom buckets dry. In the kitchen, the same holds true. You don’t need to keep a water container under your air conditioner if it eliminates water. As soon as the water reaches its destination, look into other options like installing a pipe to quickly remove it. Empty and sanitize the container daily. Ensure there is no stagnant water around or inside your home.
Control Bed Bug Infestation
To get rid of bed bugs from your apartment, follow the tips below.
- Vacuuming your entire house, including your furniture, rugs, and other soft furnishings will help remove bed bugs, nymphs, and eggs from the environment.
- Remove the bed sheet and clean the entire mattress as well. Throw vacuum bag in a trash can or dumpster.
- It’s best if you use hot water to wash your bedding. Temperatures greater than 46 degrees Fahrenheit kill bed bugs.
- To get rid of bed bugs, you need to do a weekly bedsheet change.
- You probably will not succeed in getting rid of all of the bedbugs from your mattresses and upholstered furnishings simply by vacuuming them. Steam cleaning is the best way to get rid of all the creepy crawlies that lurk beneath your mattress and sofa.
Check Your Pets and Clothes
The pests that many people fail to notice are the ones that are often too little to be detected at first glance. Clothing, baggage, and even pets can bring ticks and bedbugs home. They’re elusive, but they’re also a problem. Stay on the lookout for any indicators of infestation or infestations by conducting regular inspections.
Store Fruits and Veggies Properly
Insects like flies and mosquitoes are drawn to overripe fruits and vegetables. Refrigerate fresh fruits as soon as possible after cutting and ripening. Pests like fruit flies are innocuous but overripe, and decaying fruits can also attract larger pests like house flies and even cockroaches that are hard to get rid of.
Install Nets on Your Windows
Remove any potential entry points for flying and crawling bugs. Install screens on all of your windows to keep them free of unwanted guests. In addition to providing ventilation, these nets will keep pests at bay. There may be damaged windows or glasses that need to be repaired to keep insects from getting in. If you find any problems with any doors, make repairs as needed to make your efforts more effective.
Use Pest Control Solutions
Another good way to minimize pest infestations is to put defenses around your apartment. Sprays, zappers, and sticky paper all work well. There are some easy DIY solutions as well. Check them out below.
- Essential Oil: Sprinkle essential oil over clothes and other household objects for fantastic results. But do not apply it directly to the skin as it can cause damage. You can use tea tree, lemon, lavender, or even orange essential oils. A spray bottle and vinegar are all you need, together with the essential oil.
- Orange and Vinegar: Vinegar can help keep ants and other insects away. Simply soak orange peels in vinegar for two weeks. Next, pour the mixture into a spray bottle for a non-toxic pest repellant.
- DIY Bed Bug Spray: You can make your own bed bug spray using 15 drops each of peppermint and lavender oil in 100 ml water. Spray this daily on contaminated parts of your apartment until bed bug indications diminish.
- Lemon and Clove: Cloves and lemony scents are mosquitoes’ pet peeves. Combine them for a natural pest repellant at home. Simply put a few cloves in the lemons and place them in a pest-prone area. This will keep mosquitoes away from your apartment.
Final Words
A proactive strategy and the appropriate solutions can help ensure that pests don’t get in the way of living your best urban life. Keeping an eye out for pests regularly and responding quickly to problems will help keep them at bay.
Let us hear how these strategies worked out for you. Professional pest control services can also be hired if these measures fail to keep pests at bay in your apartment.