Dirty Dishes
Being pest-free and leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight are two things that don’t go very well with each other. Know that postponing doing dishes in the morning is an inviting option for both you and several other insects and pests, including cockroaches, ants, fruit flies, flies, etc., who find your leftover food crumbs delicious. Instead of trying to get rid of these pest types once they’ve invaded your kitchen, avoid giving them a chance for adequate nourishment that attracts them to it in the first place.
Clogged Rain Gutters
The living conditions of a typical clogged rain gutter (moist, protected, and, more often than not, full of leaves) are favorable and attractive to pests like ants and cockroaches, besides other insects. But the conditions are not enough to keep them out of your home, and any slight crack, a gap in the siding, or a small entryway is all they need to enter your home from there.
Open Garage Or Basement Doors
The fact that not many pests require open doors or windows to enter your home does not make them any less of an enticing option. Small animals, birds, rodents, and other critters and insects, including squirrels, cats, spiders, rats, wild animals, etc., have an easy way in, with open or unsealed doors to your basement, when searching for shelter and food. The same is the case for unsealed windows in the garage and attics, making accessing your house relatively easy.
Trash And Recyclables
Though trash and garbage, in general, are appealing to several pests, the horror does not go away by simply making sure that you empty the bin regularly. The layer of grime, dirt, etc., which accumulates over time inside your recycling bin, is also equally a bright option for flies and cockroaches especially. Therefore, besides your garbage clearing routine, also make sure you clean the bin itself. You may further increase the sanitation by rinsing the items thoroughly before tossing them inside or using covers and bin bags that are properly sealed and changed frequently.
Crumbs
Just like the smell of food forces you out of your room, the smell of leftover or spilled crumbs forces bugs and insects to go out and about, searching for food inside your home. However, to leave behind crumbs does not require you to be a messy eater; minor negligence and laziness to clear a spill or sticky food stains, etc., from countertops and tables, are enough to entice the entire crowd of bugs, particularly ants.
Sweet Items And Beverages
Not just a piece of cake, but sweet alcoholic beverages like wine and beer are favorites for a multitude of insect and bug types. The sweet and slight fermenting smell of wine and beer is most tempting to insects like butterflies, flies, beetles, ants, etc. Therefore, keeping these in sealed bottles and avoiding spills will keep you far away from bug issues. Similarly, keeping other sweet items like honey, sugar, etc., in a sealed container is a good way to avoid unwanted wasps and ants from crawling around.
Conclusion
To discourage insects from entering your house is a far better option at keeping the unwanted critters and insects away than eliminating them actively every time you notice an infestation. Like humans, insects also look for favorable living conditions, such as stick bugs looking for warmth in winter days, ants looking for food to bring back to their colonies, rodents looking for a water source, etc. And, so simple as it sounds, if you do not provide any of these to the insects, you will naturally lose appeal to them, resulting in fewer unwanted guests over time.
