There’s nothing more disgusting and absolutely terrifying than an insect infestation. Having pests that you can’t get rid of in the place you should be feeling the most comfortable is an indication that something is wrong. While there are certain pests that appear through the cracks or plumbing problems, in most cases, pests are a sign of areas that are unclean. If you’ve been unfortunate enough to be suffering from a pest attack, here’s how you can protect your home in the future.

Constant cleanliness is key

Ensuring that your home is always clean is one of the key factors in avoiding an insect infestation. Ants tend to come out when there are lots of crumbs lying around, so making certain that the floors and tabletops are always swept clean without a crumb in sight, will aid in eliminating the probability of insects showing up. You should not keep any food out during the hot summer months as this tends to attract many pests, not just ants. If you happen to see one cockroach, you should always spray the best roach killer you can find to eliminate the damage early on. Spraying the drainage systems and underneath doors will also help prevent the roaches from appearing. However, the best way to avoid roaches is to avoid leaving piles of dirty dishes unwashed, as well as lots of trash that hasn’t been taken out. Any sign of filth or unclean areas left for a long time will make roaches surface eventually. It’s the habits like these that need to be changed entirely.

Seal your doors

While that extra centimeter underneath your door might seem harmless when it comes to intruders, it can still allow an entire army of pests to get through. With any gaps in your home, you’ll be giving pests the chance to find a way in, and so it’s best to seal any possible entrances to prevent the damage from happening. This can be done by installing a sturdy steel or aluminum edge under the door and accompanying it with a sweep for maximum protection. When opting for a sweep, it is best to pick a nylon brush sweep instead of vinyl or neoprene as it tends to work best in preventing bugs from crawling in.

Keep trees and shrubs away from your house

One of the easiest ways for pests to find their way into your home is by coming in through adjacent trees or shrubs from the garden. As most plants or flowers tend to attract pest, it is common to find them nearby. But in order to prevent them from getting into your house, it is best to make sure your plants, trees, and shrubs are growing at a distance from the exterior of your buildings. Another way to eliminate pests such as mosquitoes and bugs is by making sure that there are no pools of water in your garden. Water attracts mosquitoes and bugs and therefore it is best to avoid using pools and fountains. If you find puddles of water collecting in your garden, then there might be a problem with your drainage or you may be over-watering the soil and you should definitely fix that problem in order to prevent mosquitoes from entering into your home.

Attract birds to your garden

One of the best ways to get rid of bugs and insects is by proofing your home naturally. Because most birds feed on insects and bugs, attracting them to your garden will help get rid of the insects, even before they find a way to enter your home. In order to attract birds, you’ll have to set up a bird feeder, have a source of water for them to drink, and constantly change out both to avoid them going bad. There are also many plants you can grow that attract wild birds, so depending on the area you live in and the season, the plants that could be grown will differ. This solution is a great way to not only protect your home from pests, but also makes your garden a whole lot more nature-friendly, with a homey feeling to it that will make you enjoy being in it more frequently.

Having pests in your home can turn into an absolute nightmare. So, in order to prevent these pests from entering and infesting your house with their presence, it is best to be fully prepared from the start, seal all the cracks or empty gaps, and always keep your house clean of clutter, garbage, and any other reason that could cause the place to be infested.