Common Winter Household Pests

Common Winter Household Pests

Common winter household pests. When the outside temperature starts to cool many types of pests will start to seek warm shelter within your home or garage.  When pests are successful at keeping this new shelter throughout winter it can create problems in the spring, such as allowing time for a large infestation to build or even damage to your property (personal belongings and/or structural damage).

Common winter house hold pests and where you might find them in your home:

Attics- The attic is a common place for pesky rodents such as mice and squirrels. Both types of rodents can cause some serious and costly damage as well.  Mice love to chew, they like to chew on electrical wires which can cause a major fire risk to your home.  If you have items stored up in the attic, be sure to store them in sealed plastic containers rather than cardboard boxes. Mice will chew on and nest inside cardboard.  Mice can also cause a lot of damage to insulation as it is another place they like to nest inside of.  Plus all the urine and feces. It would need completely replaced.

Bathrooms– the bathroom is a nice place for a cockroach to hang around during winter. They love water and need it for survival.  Be sure to repair leaky pipes and drains are draining properly.   Regularly check under the sink, around the tub and toilet for water leaks.  If you store items under the sink or have a bathroom closet, use sealed plastic containers rather than cardboard boxes.
Kitchen– the kitchen is a common place for many different pests, ants are definitely at the top of the list. Ants can easily invade homes by the thousand and with many possible food and water resources it can seem to happen overnight.  To help avoid finding an army of ants in your kitchen be sure to seal cracks and crevices, repair any water leaks from sinks, dishwashers or refrigerator water dispensers.  Wash dishes after every meal, wipe down counter tops and sweep and mop the floor, do not leave pet food out overnight.
Pantry– the pantry can host home to different pests but specially beetles, Indian meal moths and weevils. These pests can hitch rides home from the grocery store and invade into other products in the pantry. To help keep your pantry pest free do not buy products that have any type of damage to the package. Store food items in sealed plastic containers. Take time (at least twice a year) to clean out your pantry by removing everything, wiping down the shelves, and tossing out any expired and stale foods.   Pay extra attention to spices, flours and nuts.
Bedroom– the bedroom can be a place where you first notice bedbugs as for many people the first sign of bedbugs is irritated bite marks, but be aware that bedbugs are excellent travelers and do not just stay in the bedroom. Bedbugs typically enter the home through secondhand furniture (especially mattresses, box springs and couches) or brought home on luggage from hotels during traveling. If you do buy secondhand furniture be sure to carefully inspect for signs of bedbugs, look for dark spots which could be dried blood or feces from the bedbug, wash clothes and blankets as soon as you get home in hot water and dry on high heat.  Do the same with luggage and items brought home from traveling, all clothes and fabric material should be washed immediately.  If you do find signs of bed bugs or actual bedbugs themselves call your local pest professional as soon as possible.  The longer you wait, the longer they have time to spread and get established in your home.
Basements– Basements tend to be place for storage. Basements can provide the perfect environment for rodents and a plethora of spiders and insects, especially of the basement is on the cluttered side.  Clutter provides many hiding spots or all these pests and material to chew on.  What you need to is keep your basement as clean as possible, repair any leaks to eliminate access to water, store items neatly in plastic containers that seal tightly.  Seal up cracks and crevices with a silicone based caulk.