Jan 19, 2018, 10:19 AM by Clark Pest Control

We’re in the third week of January, and the thumping sound you hear is all those 2018 New Year’s resolutions falling to the wayside. No matter how earnest the intention, many resolutions do tend to be forgotten.

There is one resolution the Clark Man wants to help you keep all year around, however: having a pest-free home. Pest-proofing your home from such potentially destructive and disease-transmitting pests as cockroaches, rodents, and termites can save you time, money, and a whole bunch of headaches down the road.

In California, pest issues can vary by season — with mice, cockroaches, and spiders being prevalent in the fall and winter months, and flies, ants, and ticks being more common once the weather gets warmer. However, there are steps you can take long after those popped corks have fallen silent that will ensure a pest-free New Year.

Here are five tips from the Clark Man to help you pest proof your home and avoid unwanted visitors.

1. Store it properly: When taking down holiday decorations or packing away that vaunted holiday sweater, be sure to pack items with care and keep pests out. Use durable plastic containers with tight-sealing lids to prevent pests in attics, crawlspaces, garages, and sheds from infesting stored items.
2. Clean it completely: Food is one of the main reasons pests are attracted to homes. Clean the kitchen after each and every meal, dispose of garbage regularly, and store food in the pantry in airtight containers.
3. Seal gaps and openings: Install door sweeps on exterior doors, replace weatherstripping around windows and doors, install screens over chimney vents and openings, and seal cracks and crevices on the outside of the home, including areas where utilities and pipes enter. These steps will eliminate space for insects and rodents to enter the home.
4. Declutter: Organize clutter, especially in areas you don’t frequent very often like your attic, garage, sheds, and crawlspaces. Pests, especially cockroaches and spiders, like to establish harborage in areas that are undisturbed by humans.
5. Check the yard: Pest proof the exterior of a home by removing pest hiding spots, including dead bushes, branches, or old, fallen leaves. Make sure to keep grass and shrubs cut and trimmed, and eliminate any standing water.

It’s less expensive to schedule a preventative pest control service than it is to wait to call after you see a mouse or other pest in your home.

If you need a help identifying or correcting pest-conducive conditions around your home, call or text (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) or drop me an email at clarkcares@clarkpest.com.

Until next time I’m the Clark Man, and thanks for helping me keep unwanted pests out of your home and yard.