Having pests in the home can pose various dangers to the family. Mice gnaw on wires and increase the risk of electrical fires, cockroaches can increase the likelihood of asthma and silverfish can destroy valuable documents. To avoid any of these occurring in their bedroom, homeowners should be sure to take the following precautions.
Avoid food in the bedroom
Allowing food in the bedroom may invite pests, whether or not falling bits of food are clearly visible. When eating at a desk or in bed, crumbs are inevitable. It’s important to clean the areas that are utilized for meals frequently and thoroughly. If you do keep food in the bedroom, keeping it in air tight containers limits the risk of uninvited guests, though always eating in the kitchen cuts down on the amount of cleaning that is necessary. If there’s nothing to eat, mice and other pests are less likely to make that area their habitat.
Reduce nooks & crannies
Seal the perimeter. If pests can’t get in, they can’t make themselves at home. This Old House warns that most critters need less than a quarter-inch diameterspace to get into a room, so plugging up potential entrances, especially in older homes, is essential. Make sure that all windows have screens, and that the screens don’t have any holes in them. Cracks in walls can be filled with expanding foam or steel wool. Use a flashlight to check the corners and floorboards in the rooms of the house to prevent the potential for pest entry. If your bedroom has hardwood floors, be sure to check for gaps and cracks wider than a quarter-inch.
Keep It Neat
TLC notes that it’s vital to keep all spaces in any house neat and free of clutter, since piles of clothes or boxes make ideal hiding spaces for unwanted guests. Most everyone would hate to find a mouse or spider in their shoe when getting ready for the day. This can also be used as an incentive for keeping bedrooms tidy. Keeping a doormat by the front and back entryways can help to reduce dirt, which in turn reduces the risk of tracking pests into the bedroom.
Keep pets clean
Pets are also a great way for creatures to hitch a ride through the front door and then into the bedroom. Cleaning and drying pet’s paws and fur before allowing them into the house, especially before they get into the bedrooms, can cut down on pesky passengers. Luckily it’s not necessary to give cats and dogs a bath every time they come in from the yard. Special cloths are available at most pet stores that make maintaining the cleanliness of a household animal significantly easier.
If pests do make it into the bedroom, many pest control services such as Truly Nolen offer a free inspection.