No one wants to live in a home where pests are present. If you’ve noticed the signs of pests in your home, you should reach out to a pest control provider as soon as possible. There are many negative effects of pest infestations, including structural damage to homes, as well as health problems and electrical issues. Not to mention that they can be an eyesore.

If pests are active in your home, there are steps that you can take to remove them. If they haven’t found their way in, you can adhere to the following steps in order to prevent them from invading. Consider the following steps:

1. Seal Your Home

Cracks in the foundation and rips in the screens that cover your windows or doors are one of the most common ways that pests find their way into the home. Almost all household pests are small enough to fit through these tiny cracks, even if they may not appear to be. Even gaps beneath the door give pests the chance to sneak in. Don’t allow bugs and other pests to sneak into your home. Fill in cracks and replace any damaged screens as soon as openings are noticed.

2. Keep Things Clean

Most pests are drawn to messy environments. Simply cleaning your home regularly can be a major way to prevent the presence of pests. Not only are pests drawn to messes, but they offer even more hiding places within the home. Keep things organized, remove dust and vacuum floors frequently and, most importantly, never leave food or dirty dishes out for longer than necessary.

3. Store Food In Air-Tight Containers

Leaving out food is the quickest way to bring pests to your home. Ants, cockroaches, and rodents are all drawn to food. Even fresh fruit can draw in pests, and fruit flies start looking for an entrance to your home as soon as fruit reaches ripeness. Your home is no place for dirty dishes or open containers of food. Wash dishes as soon as they are used, and store all unrefrigerated food in air-tight containers.

4. Store Firewood Away From Your Home

Firewood is the home to all sorts of pests, and if you have a fireplace in your home you should keep wood stored away from the home. Wood should be stored at a distance of no less than 20 feet from your house. Before bringing inside any wood or other organic matter, inspect each piece very carefully to ensure that no pests are present.

5. Remove Sources of Moisture

Many types of pests, including cockroaches, prefer moist conditions. Moisture can be found in the home due to many sources, including a dripping roof or leaky pipes, malfunctioning appliances, clothes that are hung inside to dry, and blocked drainage spouts. When showering or cooking make sure to always use exhaust fans to keep as much moisture out of the air as possible.

6. Take Your Trash Out Daily

Your trashcan contains more food sources for pests than anywhere else in the home. When trash is left sitting overnight your home is more susceptible to infestation. Nightime is the most common time during which pests are active. Take your trash out on a frequent basis, and wash the can each time you remove the liner.

Don’t allow your home to become subject to an infestation. These steps are some of the best ways to prevent a pest problem in your home, but no prevention method is fool-proof. If you believe that bugs or other pests may be present in your home, it is important that you get in touch with a pest control provider as quickly as possible.