Pest Control: Tips to Help You Minimize Bug Sightings in Your Residence

You have seen your share of bugs in your dwelling and it makes you angry.  You start to think, "Is management doing his or her job?  Why do I keep seeing these bugs?  Where are they coming from?"  Community managers and renters must work together in order to maintain an apartment unit and this includes pest issues.  So what to do?

One.  Know what pests keep showing up and take photos.

By doing this, you can help pest control treat the problem when they arrive.  Leave photos at the leasing office or send to property owners.

Two.  Pinpoint where they might be coming from by removing furniture and appliances from walls and baseboards. 

Check for cracks, small holes, outlets, around piping, along the edges of carpets, and other places you suspect bugs might be coming from.  Seal cracks, holes etc. after those areas have been treated.

Three.  Communicate with management if problem continues.

Sometimes the issue may increase after the property has been sprayed, but does the pest problem begin to die down?  If not, keep in touch with your landlord and be sure you are on a schedule to have your household sprayed often.  If this can't be done on a regular basis from management, take matters in your own hands and search for treatments that will help you get the matter under control.  Save receipts, take photos before and after where bugs show up.  This way if there is an issue later, you will have documented what you had to do to ensure your comfort level in your dwelling.

Four.  Look for signs of bug or rodent feces in things like drawers, corners, cabinets, closets, etc. 

Don't ignore the black or brown crumbs that seem to keep showing up in your drawers, or the weird smell that keeps coming from your closet or a damp place in your home.  Chances are there are some insects or rodents at work leaving behind a trail for their friends to follow to a source of food and water.

Five.  Close your blinds and curtains at night to prevent light from attracting insects into your home.

The more lights you have shining from windows and places outside of your home, the more likely you will see bugs flying around.  When a door or window is open, insects will find their way in, so turn off lights nearby.  Spray an insect repellant before going outside.  Be sure to spray around windows and doorframes not only inside, but outside as well.  Spray in and around crevices.

Six.  Get in a habit of walking and treating your environment periodically.

Note days and times on calendar when you will check your unit and have it treated for bugs.

Seven.  Keep flooring, countertops, tables, and furniture clean.

An area that isn't typically wiped down with a household cleaner will in time attract all sorts of bugs from spiders to dust mites.  Schedule vacuming and dusting in your weekly activities. 

Eight.  Take trash out often.

Don't wait until the bag is filled up when there are food products lingering in it.  Bugs and rodents can detect odors.  Use trash cans and garbage bags that supress odors.  Separate food particles and place in small bags and take out immediately or use garbage disposal.  However, know what the disposal can handle before placing items down drain.  Treat your garbage bags with insect spray and cans.

Nine.  Use air tight containers for storing dry foods and other edibles.

Open bags and containers will attract bugs, so take some time out to separate items that will not be eaten often and place in plastic.

Ten.  Encourage your family to eat primarily in one area and throw food away in a common area.

The more places your family eats and leaves dirty dishware, the more potential issues your household will have with bugs. 

Lastly, you will want to observe the decor in and around your dwelling that might be attracting bugs and rodents as well.  Pine wood, wood chips, and fruit trees are magnets for all sorts of bugs and rodents.

When you are proactive in the upkeep of your household, you will have less insect issues.  Consider favorite pets will also attract insects, so stay up on treating your pet.  Use insect repellants on areas that you or your pet have experienced insect bites.  If you moved from a place that had a serious bug issue, there might be furniture, area carpets, and cardboard boxes that are keeping the problem going in your household, prepare yourself to part with them if after several treatments the insects don't go away.