There’s a lot to enjoy during the summer months. From garden parties to beach trips to days spent soaking up the sun. However, summer is also the season of pests. There are various reasons for this. For example:
- High temperatures affect the development of pests, helping them to breed easier.
- They have easy access to all of the nutrients they need as plants and flowers are in abundance during this period.
- Longer days (daylight hours) give them plenty of time to feed.
As a result, it’s important that you invest in preventative measures that will help keep those unwanted house guests out of your home. For example, you should:
Keep on top of your home maintenance.
Home maintenance tasks require you to deal with household projects you’ve been putting off. However, they’re essential when it comes to keeping pests at bay. This is because they encourage you to identify (and eradicate) any potential entry points they may be using to gain access to your homes, such as gaps in floorboards or missing roof tiles. Repairing these issues will also help you to protect your home from the elements, which is great news if you’re expecting an onslaught of bad weather (such as summer storms).
Install fly screens.
One of the biggest pest peeves (pun intended) that homeowners deal with is wanting to leave their doors open during the summer to allow in light and a gentle breeze, but also wanting to stop insects from making their way into the home. Thankfully, this can easily be remedied by installing fly Screens in your home. This way, you can enjoy the daily sunshine without being suddenly swarmed with insects!
Clean up after cooking.
Food waste, crumbs and leftovers are big draws for all kinds of pests, given that they can use them as a food source. As a result, if any food is left on your counters, ensure it is covered. You should also make sure that you clean up swiftly after cooking. This is also a great way to keep your home in good condition, as it will always be sparkling clean.
Try natural pest repellants.
While there are certain factors that may lure pests into your home (such as food waste), there are others that will encourage them to keep their distance. For example, you could use pest repellant sprays or products. However, they often contain harsh chemicals that could also impact your own health and wellbeing, meaning it’s better to seek out natural solutions where possible.
For example, orange peels are natural pest repellent, because they contain “a natural insecticide called D-Limonene, that will repel slugs, ants and fruit flies”. This is perhaps why so many pest-repellant candles are citrus-based. Cinnamon is also another natural insect repellent, namely due to the fact that they dislike the strong smell. Cinnamon also contains a chemical compound called eugenol, which is often included in insect repellant. As a result, if you notice a pest infestation in a certain area of your home, try sprinkling a little cinnamon in the area.