Winter winds are blowing in which means it's time to jump in and get on top of our winter
quarterly pest control.
Not all pests go dormant during the cold winter months.
They like to try to move to the inside of your business or home to stay warm.
These can include rodents, spiders, cockroaches and more.
So in order to keep our homes and businesses pest free it's important to do a quarterly
pest control Treatment.
So to kick things off we're gonna begin on the outside.
so first up if you didn't seal cracks and crevices during your fall treatment now is
a perfect time to do so.
Make sure to pay close attention and check areas where utilities and pipes enter into
the structure.
Mice can fit through holes the size of a dime so you'll want to use exclusion fabric or
copper mesh to repair these entry points into your home or business.
This is also a great time to replace loose or missing weather stripping.
Not only will help keep your home warmer during the winter, but it will help keep pests out.
Also check your window screens for any damage and repair those, and install a door sweep
to entry doors.
You'll also want to install screen vents on chimneys.
Make sure to clean out your gutters and drains This is going to help prevent water from building
up and accumulating and attracting any sort of pest activity.
If you use firewood make sure to store it at least 20 feet away from the structure and
off the ground if at all possible.
Mice, ants, rodents, raccoons, opossums, termites, and many other insects like to make nests
in firewood piles, and if your wood pile is too close to a building it helps those pests
get easier access.
If you're bringing firewood indoors make sure to inspect every log looking for hitchhiker
pests.
Shake and knock off the logs to remove as many pests as possible before bringing indoors.
Never store firewood indoors if at all possible.
When you do bring it in burn the wood immediately to keep as many pests as possible from making
your home their own.
We also recommend applying an outdoor perimeter spray.
You'll want to use a residual insecticide like those found in our general pest control
kits.
This will create a barrier around the structure to help prevent pests from getting on the
inside.
Depending on the product, you should apply a liquid and set signed around the exterior
or perimeter every 30 to 90 days.
Make sure to always refer to the product label to know how to apply the product properly.
If it's below freezing you should not apply or spray outdoors.
The ground will not absorb the insecticide and it will produce a runoff, something we
don't want.
Now that we've covered the outside, let's move to the inside and discuss the things
to keep in mind and do there for your winter quarterly pest control treatment.
You can and most certainly should spray indoors if you see any kind of pest activity.
Focus on cracks and crevices around door frames, window frames, and other entry points into
your structure.
Using both a liquid insecticide and an insecticide dust creates a barrier to keep pests out,
both of which are included in our general pest control kits.
Next, make sure you have pest monitors down around the home to help monitor for invading
pests.
if you notice any pest activity, you can treat early and prevent a big infestation in the
future.
Rats in mice love making homes in clutter, so another step to prevent pests during the
winter is to reduce the amount of clutter in storage areas, attics, and crawl spaces.
Make sure to use plastic storage bins instead of cardboard, which is very attractive to
many of these types of pests.
You'll want to store these boxes and storage bins off the floor if at all possible.
You'll also want to reduce the amount of moisture indoors.
Most pests require food and water to live.
By reducing moisture pests will find your home or structure less attractive.
Repair any leaky pipes or clogged drains that you might have and also keep basements, attics,
and crawl spaces dry and well-ventilated.
If you like to decorate for the holiday season, be vigilant when bringing decor inside out
of storage areas and check them for any type of unwanted pests that might be lurking in
them.
If you're buying or bringing in live Christmas trees, wreaths, or garlands, you want to check
these thoroughly and shake them out well to keep any spiders, moths, or any other kind
of pests from gaining entry.
If you're getting decorations out of storage areas, we recommend that you unpack the storage
boxes outdoors.
Inspect the boxes or bins for signs of pest infestations including gnaw marks, droppings,
or even live pests.
When you're going to store your decorations after the holidays, it's best to put them
in plastic storage bins with secure lids.
This is gonna help keep from finding a surprise when unboxing decorations the following year.
If you're traveling or having guests over for the holidays, one thing that you want
to keep an eye out for and prevent are bedbugs.
Do my Own dot com has several resources on bed bug prevention while traveling.
Make sure to check out our full bed bug guide and travel articles on this matter.
If you're staying in hotels, guest homes, or at a family member's home be sure to check
the beds for signs of bedbug activity.
When you return home, unpack your suitcase outside and immediately wash your clothing
items to help prevent bringing bedbugs back into your home.
If you're having guests over, using mattress encasement and bed bug monitors can help identify
and prevent an infestation in your home.
And the holiday season in this time of year is always full of food.
If you're bringing in fresh fruits or vegetables, you may unknowingly bring in fruit flies so
keep an eye out for them and prevent that if at all possible.
Keep food and leftovers in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly.
Thoroughly clean and sanitize your kitchen after each meal to help keep fruit flies to
a minimum.
These are the main things that you want to keep in mind and consider during the winter
months so that you can keep your home and businesses pest free.
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