The Ultimate Guide to Preventing Pests in Your Home

With warm weather approaching, you might start seeing some unwelcome friends in your home. If you see any kind of bugs in you apartment, please immediately notify the leasing office so that we can have your apartment treated right away before it becomes a bigger issue.

We have a pest control company that comes out to the property every Wednesday to treat requested units only. If you are in need of services please contact the office at 763-754-1992 before the end of the business day on Tuesday for Wednesday service.

Please review these tips on how to help prevent insect pests from becoming a problem in your home.

• Wipe Out Pests' Food Supply An important first step in preventing pests in your home is cleaning. Clean up any spills or spatters immediately so that they do not provide food for foraging pests such as ants and roaches. Grease and other spillage should not be allowed to accumulate on the sides of ranges and refrigerators.
  

• Remove Trash Frequently Keep trash containers lined with plastic trash bags. Take out the trash frequently to eliminate the accumulation of garbage, which attracts insects and mice.
  

• Lose Those Paper Grocery Bags Many people store paper grocery bags under the sink, or between the refrigerator and range. This practice Invites insect pests, which love to hide in the folds of the paper bags. All paper bags and similar articles should be discarded; it is okay to keep just a few for immediate use.
  

• Do Not Stop at the Kitchen Pest problems can start in any room of the home; keep all areas clean and neat to deprive pests of food and hiding places. Food and drinks, when carried into the living room or bedroom and left to stand, create attractions for insect pests.
  

• Haven't Used it in Months? Cereal products and similar food items that are not being used should be periodically discarded, since they invite insect pests. Often, an insect infestation such as Indian-meal moths is traced to a package of bread crumbs or stuffing mix that has not been used since last Thanksgiving!
  

• Store Food in Tightly Closed Containers Many insect pests can wriggle or chew their way into even closed packages. For this reason, it is best to store dry foods like flour, pasta and cereal products in tightly-sealed metal or glass containers. Storing some products in the refrigerator will help to prevent an infestation.
  

• Watch Out for Hitchhikers Bed bugs have been a growing problem over the past 10 years plus. These biting pests often enter homes by hitchhiking on used furniture or on mattresses. Bed bugs are initially hard to find, which makes it almost impossible to guarantee the used item is clear of an infestation. Bed bugs may also come home with you in your luggage after domestic and international traveling. Upon returning, launder all items as soon as possible to kill any hitchhiking bugs. Luggage should be thoroughly vacuumed out, and if possible, steam cleaned. If bed bugs are suspected where you are lodging, report it to management immediately.

Summary

The first and most important step in keeping pests from invading homes is to keep things as clean, neat and organized as possible. Food products should not be stored for a long time; buy only as much as you will use within a couple of weeks and avoid clutter wherever possible.