Pest control can be expensive and annoying to spend hard-earned money on. While some pest invasions are unavoidable, many can be prevented and dealt with without professional pest control. DIY pest traps, cleaning, and doing your own pest control are just a few ways of spending money on pest control. To learn more about the ways you can save money on pest control, keep reading.
- Cover and protect all food
Leaving food containers partly or entirely open is a great way to invite ants and rodents into your home. While getting rid of sugar ants is usually an easier problem to handle with baits and traps, rodents such as rats and mice can be much harder to deal with. Rodents thrive with a source of food and water, and without protecting your food, they will continue to get into your pantry.
Typically, one rat or mouse can be handled with a trap. However, when the infestation becomes too severe, professional extermination can be pricey. A simple way to avoid these pests from getting into your food is to tightly seal and protect all food. Containers are a great way to keep foods such as cereal and sugar sealed and fresh. Additionally, don’t leave any food out in the open or containers improperly closed.
- Do-it-yourself traps
There are many types of do-it-yourself traps for pests you can make with some simple supplies. Many traps include a sugary and sticky substance or surface to lure and trap pests. Others are contraptions you can build out of a few simple materials or household items.
Creating your own traps is an easy way to save money on buying traps or baits at the store, or having an exterminator come and trap pests the same way you would with your own traps.
- Landscaping
Many pests like to dwell in unkempt lawns. Overgrown grasses and plants provide shelter for many pests, both big and small. Also, a lawn that is cut too short can lead to weak grass, allowing for many pests such as June bugs to take advantage of the soil underneath. But, while most of these pests stay outside, sometimes an unkempt lawn can give pests access inside your home. Unkempt tree branches and shrubbery surrounding your house, especially those that are near windows or other openings, give pests an invitation to enter your home.
To avoid spending money on pest control in your lawn and inside your home, take care of your lawn. Be mindful of how short you cut your grass, trim shrubbery and tree branches that are too close to your home, and maintain the integrity of your soil. A little lawn care can go a long way in saving you from potential costs from pest control.
- Buy supplies on Amazon
If you don’t want to pay a professional to spray the exterior or interior of your home for pest prevention, you can do it yourself. Amazon sells many inexpensive professional-grade sprayers and pesticide solutions to be used around the home. By investing in these supplies and doing the work yourself, you’ll be able to avoid paying a pest control company to come out and spray for you. Just make sure you learn how to properly spray in the exterior and interior of your home, and understand the potential risks of some pesticides — especially if you have pets or kids.
- Keep your house clean
While this tip seems obvious, it’s still extremely important and is essential for anybody who wants to keep pests out of their home. Consistently keeping your home clean is one of the best ways to make your home unwelcoming to any pest. Wipe up any crumbs, take out the trash frequently, and avoid eating in areas outside of the kitchen or downstairs area. The more clean your house is, the less chance you have for food-seeking pests to thrive in your home.
Ultimately, the chances of having pests invade your home really depends on where you live. To learn more about potential pests that can cause problems for you, read more on the most common pests by region.
