Pests crave shelter and out-of-the-way places. Clutter provides the perfect cover. This is why you should keep your home neat and tidy so as not to attract pests like spiders, rodents, cockroaches, earwigs, and silverfish. Not only can they use your clutter to hide in, they can nest in it, chew through it, and leave their urine and droppings in it.
While pests are equal opportunity invaders, in general, clean homes do not have as many pest problems as dirty ones. Cluttered spaces such as basements, storage areas, attics, and garages are the most tempting to critters who just want to hide, breed, and feed in peace.
Pest control technicians in Phoenix can get rid of any pests that do make it inside your home, but it’s always best to prevent them from getting indoors in the first place. Here’s how you can do your part.
Clutter: Why is it So Appealing to Pests?
Pests are primarily seeking the following three things. You could be providing them with these temptations if you have a lot of clutter lying around.
- Shelter: Pests of all kinds will hide in boxes and piles of old clothing, and you won’t likely find them for a while, especially if the clothes are outgrown or seasonal. These items provide them with warmth, especially in winter.
- Water: Leaky pipes and standing water give pests the means to essential survival. This is why you’ll often spot them in cabinets under sinks, and in little-used corners of basements.
- Food: Pests will seek out the tiniest bits of food in clutter – even if those crumbs are invisible to you. Try not to eat lunch in your home office, and keep piles of paper to a minimum. If you do eat at work, vacuum around your desk frequently.
Who’s Hiding in Your Clutter?
Piles of clutter, holes in screens, crumbs on countertops…all of these things will entice pests and increase the likelihood that they’re hiding without your awareness. Here’s a look at the most common pests and the risks they bring:
- Roaches: Roaches are drawn to water sources and cluttered spaces, carrying harmful diseases such as E.coli. Their droppings can also trigger allergy and asthma symptoms in children.
- Mice and Rats: Rodents are harbingers of dozens of diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Not only do they chew through insulation and wires, they spread bacteria with the droppings they leave behind.
- Bed Bugs: It’s easy to unknowingly carry bed bugs into the home in secondhand clothing and on luggage.
Start With One Room
You may feel overwhelmed when thinking about where to start with the decluttering. Make it easy on yourself and tackle one room at a time. By choosing a starting point and working systematically, you’ll be surprised at how quickly the project can go. Be sure to have lots of trash bags and boxes on hand to toss all the broken items and trash into. For items that are in relatively good condition, donate them to area charities.
Start with large items to clear out the room, then tackle the smaller items. Once done with one room, move onto the next, but for your own sanity, stick to one room a day.
Contact Frontino Pest Control in Phoenix, AZ.
If all your efforts to declutter your home prove insufficient and you spot pests anyway, call our experienced Phoenix exterminators today. Just contact us at 602-338-9223 and our Phoenix pest control technicians can come out for an inspection and quote.