Spring and summer deliver the weather we’ve yearned for all winter long, but along with these seasons come the creepy, crawly critters we’d rather not welcome into our homes. It might be enticing to deter them with a quick commercial spray or chemical, but don’t give in to temptation. Instead, fight pests the natural way.
Eliminate entry points. Any place air can get in; tiny bugs can enter, too. Repair or replace torn window screens and doors. Make sure thresholds are airtight and use door sweeps or seals when needed. As you batten down the hatches, you’ll get an extra efficiency boost, too. Local home stores are chock full of ideas to eliminate air leaks throughout your home.
Maintain kitchens and bathrooms. Keeping your bathrooms and kitchens sparkling clean means they won’t attract as many insects and spiders. Wipe down hard surfaces regularly with an eco-friendly solution, like those in GreenHouse’s EcoSpirit line and limit foods kept on counters. Make it a point to clean your stovetop daily and don’t let dirty dishes hang around in the sink. If there’s nothing interesting inside, bugs won’t want to come in!
Keep your inside clutter-free and clean. Indoor messiness provides protection for creepy-crawlies that have made it inside despite your best efforts. Keep toys organized, avoid paper pile-ups, vacuum and dust regularly. And wash pet dishes daily; it’s good for them and means food won’t sit out too long. Ongoing cleanings by a service such as GreenHouse Eco-Cleaning can help and provides the peace-of-mind of environmentally safe cleaning your whole household can enjoy.
Take garbage out often. In warm weather months, it’s especially important to take trash outside your home or apartment to eliminate smells that can attract bugs. Recycle frequently as well, taking care to rinse away all food from containers before placing them in bins. Keep outdoor receptacles clean with monthly scrubbing and washings and if bugs become a major issue, try lining cans with large, recycled trash bags before filling them.
Tackle outdoor spaces. If you have an outdoor space that includes green areas, make sure to do an annual spring clean up to reduce debris that could provide safe harbor to unwanted insects or spiders. Keep grass on the shorter side and shrubs pruned. If you relax or entertain outdoors, try planting containers of rosemary around your patio area to deter mosquitoes from joining the party.
Talk to us: When it comes to a pest-free home, what are your eco-friendly tips and tricks? Let us know what works best for you!
image courtesy of Ted van den Bergh/BY CC 2.0