If you’re like most people, your housecleaning routine ends with feelings of relief, accomplishment, pride and exhaustion. The floors shine, and the toilet sparkles. Even the toaster gleams, but did you look inside? If you didn’t get all the crumbs out yourself, something small and creepy might do the job for you.
Housecleaning is quite a chore, and sometimes it’s impractical to move every appliance and cover every square inch with disinfectant and a toothbrush. Unfortunately, if you neglect the little nooks and crannies for too long, dirt accumulates, and it may become a free smorgasbord for insects like the dreaded German cockroach.
Your Home’s Dirty Little Secrets
Pests love all the obvious lures like dirty dishes, overflowing garbage cans and smelly clothes, but they also love the spots that nobody ever thinks about. Grease, dust, food particles, mold and mildew can hide almost anywhere. Here are a few commonly overlooked areas you may want to investigate.
• Behind and under ovens
• Trash can outer surfaces
• Interiors of toothbrush holders
• Behind refrigerator, refrigerator grills and coils
• Dishwasher interior
• Windowsills and tops of bookcases (check for insect feces)
• Microwave interiors
• Small appliance casings
• Under stove dials and range hoods
• Pantry shelves and bread boxes
• Inside of stored lunchboxes
• Under beds
• Closets and attics
Unexpected Ways You Might Be Attracting Bugs
The problem doesn’t end with a spotless house. To a bug, poorly sealed food is just as alluring as an open container. Dry shelf foods like cereal, cellophane-wrapped cookies or bags of flour are like free buffets. To resolve this issue, store dry goods in sealed, airtight containers. Preventing bugs from accessing dry pet food is tricky; if possible, feed your pets only the amount they’ll eat at one sitting.
Moisture is another common problem. Termites and roaches consider damp areas prime real estate, and leaky faucets or drains as well as standing water are all open houses. Even objects outdoors can extend hearty welcome—wood chips, mulch or firewood stacked near the house can be full of cockroaches and wood-boring insects that may wander in through cracks in your home’s foundation. Make it frustrating for bugs to get inside. Be sure that your yard is well-maintained, and doors and windows are sealed.
We’ll Find Them Wherever They Hide
Even the cleanest homes can be attractive to insects, so don’t be embarrassed if a few bugs set up camp despite your best efforts. We won’t tell anyone. When your Austin home needs effective, reliable pest control, call us to track down and exterminate your uninvited guests. We can even help you figure out why they showed up in the first place and help stop them from coming back. Call us today for a professional evaluation.