Nothing ruins a picnic like a line of ants. Nothing ruins a barbecue like a swarm of mosquitoes. And nothing ruins a morning like a spider, cockroach, or mouse lurking in your house.

Nobody wants these pests around but very often folks don’t have a clear understanding of steps to take that will keep them at bay. The principles are pretty simple, and even though we’re sharing them as tips for the summer, many of these actions can be implemented all year long to discourage unwanted bugs and critters.

Tip 1: Block Entry to Your Home
Your first strategy is to make pests work hard to get inside. The more difficult their entry, the less likely they are to come inside. (This principle applies to home security, too!) Examine screens for rips, tears, and holes and repair damages. Look for gaps around doors and windows for gaps. Replace worn window stripping and fill gaps with a quality sealant.

Tip 2: Clean Your Kitchen
Open food on your countertops or floors is like a smorgasbord to insects and animals. Shut down the buffet and turn off the homing beacon by making sure they have nothing to eat in your kitchen and dining areas. Put food away immediately after you’re finished with it, clean your counters, and sweep floors. Rinse cookware and dishes; don’t let them sit dirty overnight. Take trash out regularly, and make sure bags, containers, and boxes containing food are tightly sealed.

Tip 3: Eat Your Fruits and Veggies
This one is closely related to tip 2: don’t let fruits and veggies become too ripe on your counter. All manner of flying insects such as houseflies, gnats, and fruit flies will invite themselves inside, and can easily get inside the brief time a door is open. Believe me, you don’t want the grief associated with dealing of any of them!

Tip 4: Drain Standing Water
Stagnant water provides an ideal environment for mosquito reproduction. It’s a big, fat invitation for them to start a family of say, a few hundred offspring. Pools of collected water are easy to overlook, so regularly walk around your property to check spots like areas near rain spouts and moist areas under leaves. Look for leaks around your air conditioning compressor. Pick up debris that may have blown into your yard, and toys that may have been left out, as they often collect rain and sprinkler water.

Tip 5: Maintain Your Yard
Speaking of leaves, it’s a good idea to remove piles that may have collected around your property. Exercise caution when removing; spiders and a great many insects live in and under dead leaves year ‘round. Also, trim grass and bushes regularly to prevent overgrowth that can accommodate pests and their nests. FYI: you’ll also need to remove weeds; they aren’t just unsightly, but often are the home of undesirables such as ticks.

Tip 6: Store Firewood Properly
Do you keep firewood in your yard? Be sure to stack it away from your house and shed. Five feet should be the minimum, but farther is better. The same is true for spare lumber. Why? Termites! They make homes in the wood, and often bridge the gap to your house and make homes there, too! Use a rack, if possible, even when storing wood away from structures.

Tip 7: Wait to Throw Scraps Outdoors
Avoid taking meat scraps to your outside garbage receptacle more than 48 hours before trash pickup. The smell of rotting meat attracts insects and animals to your yard. Some of them (like raccoons and dogs) are quite skilled at getting inside garbage containers.

Tip 8: Inspect Swings and Outdoor Furniture
Spiders love to build webs and lay eggs in difficult-to-reach areas. Chains, the inside edge of pipes, and under seats are popular spots for them to take up residence. Check regularly for spider webs and egg sacks inside chain links and corners of your swing sets and outdoor furniture. If found, remove them immediately.

Tip 9: Don’t Bring the Outside In
Designating certain items for outdoor use and others for inside is a good idea. This practice prevents pests from hitchhiking from place to place. However, it’s often not practical (or possible) to own “two of everything.” If an item is used indoors and out, be sure to wipe it thoroughly before bringing it into the house.

Tip 10: Use a Pest Control Service
You can do a lot to prevent damage and distress from pests, but the ultimate defense is to contract a reputable local pest control service to regularly inspect and spray for bugs and rodents. 

With decades of experience, KC Pest Control is ready and able to work with you to not only keep pests away this summer, but throughout the year. Contact us at (405) 679-8729 today to arrange a free property inspection, list of recommendations, and price quote.