No one wants to deal with bugs or other pests spoiling a quiet night at home. Ants, wasps, bats, squirrels, and all other things great and small should stay outside and be admired… from afar. On the flip side of that, dealing with pest chemicals all the time is a hassle. The best way to deal with pest problems is to prevent them from moving in. Follow along with our top pest control tips to avoid unwanted pests.

Turns out curb appeal isn’t just for people — it applies to pests too. The best way to prevent pests, from ants to bats, is to make your home less inviting. Pests look for shelter, food, and water so when you cut off their sources they stop coming over.

First things first, take a walk inside and outside of your home and think like a pest. Does your home look inviting? Make a list of areas that need work and follow our guide below.

Outdoor Pest Control Tips

1. During your walk you might have noticed little openings near your doors and windows or torn window or door screens. These are great openings for pests to come through. Adding weatherstripping, caulking, and new screens (or even patching them) will help prevent pesky invaders.
2. Ensure your gutters are clean and clear of dense debris as that can be an inviting home for bugs. Any dark, damp place with shelter can be a great home for pests.
3. Keep outside debris away from your home including leaves, wood piles, and limbs. Be sure to rake and dispose of piles of leaves and keep firewood piles away from your home and use the oldest wood first as the oldest wood has had time for pests to move in. Trim any limbs that are close to your roof to eliminate any bridges that a squirrel or other pest can use.
4. Dry up any standing water to eliminate water sources for pests and breeding grounds for mosquitoes. If puddles are in your lawn or flower bed, consider filling them in with more dirt. Anything left outside like a child’s toy or a pet’s water bowl should be put away, drained, and cleaned regularly. Rain barrels should have a lid.
5. Any pest from ants to raccoons loves an overflowing garbage can. Outdoor garbage cans should be securely covered and even cleaned if they get too grimy. This is also true for your compost bin.
6. Keep your grill clean and covered. Any leftover food from your Friday night BBQ on or in your grill can be very attractive to creatures of all types.

Indoor Pest Control Tips

1. Keeping your home clean is one of the best lines of defense against pests. Be sure to clean between the small nooks and crannies in the kitchen and wherever else your family eats. Check behind large appliances every now and then for a deeper clean. Crumbs, spills, and sticky spots should be cleaned up quickly.
2. Keep your drains clear. Bugs like cockroaches can come up through drains if they are attracted to the junk that has been building up.
3. Take the trash out regularly, including the bathroom and home office trash bins to avoid creating exciting spots for bugs. Critters like silverfish, termites, and cockroaches all like paper.
4. Deal with leaks when they happen. Any water pools inside should be dried up. Bugs are small and don’t need a lot of water to live. So, time to get on the leaky faucet.
5. Store food in tight, secure containers. If you live in cotton country, you know boll weevils can easily find their way into your flour, sugar, and other pantry items. All food, even pet food, should be in sealed containers so small bugs and other pests can’t smell what could be their next dinner.
6. Set up barriers with spray foam in cracks or other small spaces. Spray cracks near your foundation, driveway, plumbing, and any other small opening in your home where an unwanted visitor can drop (sometimes literally) in.

Get started today by making your home impenetrable and pest free. McCoy’s has everything you need from cleaning supplies to outdoor tools to plumbing supplies. Purchase online and easily pickup in-store today.