Where to Start Your Spring Cleaning

According to a 2018 survey commissioned by the Cleaning Institute, 91% of Americans participate in spring cleaning. With so many on board for a spring reset and refresh, people are looking for the best ways to get themselves organized. If you’re wondering where to start, you’re not alone! We recommend breaking up your spring cleaning tasks into two weekends: one for inside the home, and one for outside the home.

Not only is it spring, it’s also National Pest Management month! What better way to  recognize both than to combine your spring cleaning tasks with some handy tips to prevent household pests? We’ve collected our most important home pest control tips below (some might already be on your list of to-dos).

Outside the Home: Weekend No. 1

• Walk around and inspect the exterior of your property. Look for potential pest entry points like cracks and crevices, and seal them with caulk or steel wool.
• Pests are attracted to moisture, so repair any broken sprinkler heads or leaky spickets.
• Remove excess mulch from around your foundation and maintain a 4-inch vertical gap between the soil and wood portions of your home – this will help eliminate insect hideouts.
• As you’re doing your spring yard cleanup, pick up any leaves, litter or debris. Trim back branches and bushes that are getting too close to your home, as many insects live in vegetation and rodents can use branches as highways onto your roof.
• Look around for any possible pest issues, such as wasp nests and ant piles.

Inside the Home: Weekend No. 2

• Deep-clean your kitchen. Store leftover food in sealed containers and thoroughly wipe kitchen counters and cabinets clean. Make sure to get all the crumbs! Pests will search for any morsel of food that they can find.
• Wash the windows, and prevent unwanted insect entry by making sure that your window screens aren’t damaged.
• When’s the last time you cleaned your garbage can? Remove any leftover trash in the receptacle, and make sure your garbage bags close properly.
• Search for and eliminate sources of water in your home, such as leaking faucets and standing water.
• Dust hard-to-reach places (the tops of ceiling fans and the inside of light fixtures), and brush away any spiderwebs you find.
• Remember to inspect your home regularly for signs of a pest problem.

Although taking care of these tasks will definitely help prevent pests, the best pest control methods and treatments are performed by a trusted pest control service technician. If you think you might have a pest problem, don’t wait to address it! Visit www.pestdefense.com or call 855-855-4873.