During the winter, your home is supposed to be cozy, comfortable, and warm -- a haven to escape the cold and commotion of the outside world. But what happens when your peace and tranquility are shattered by desperate, shelter-seeking pests? You take charge and put a pest control plan in place to protect your home! To that end, Waynes Pest Professionals have organized a winter pest control checklist to help you do just that.

⃞   Eliminate Entry Points

Most of the time, pests enter homes through small cracks and gaps that go unnoticed. So, take some time to look around your home for spaces that you think pests could use to get inside. Then, fill smaller gaps with silicone caulking, and larger openings with steel wool. You may want to consider repairing the hole with carpentry or masonry materials.

Also, add screens to vents and windows to serve as barriers, and fix any damaged screens already in place. You’d be surprised by how many pests use windows and vents to access your home.

⃞   Keep Things Clean and Pristine

Bugs are attracted to mess, to use as both cover and food. So, a big part of preventing an infestation is to keep your home clean. Regularly vacuum and mop floors, and wipe down counters. There’s a 100% chance that there are crumbs and spills that you didn’t notice before.

It’s also important to keep your home free of clutter. Keep everything as organized as possible and properly stored away. There are several pests that are attracted to paper, so we recommend disposing of whatever you don’t necessarily need.

⃞   Don’t Leave Food Out

Pests are basically in search of two things -- shelter and food, and leaving out the latter is like putting a sign on your door that says “PESTS ARE WELCOME HERE.” So, take away the welcome mat and seal your meals. Keep all of your food items closed and stored away.

Also, never leave dirty dishes in your sink for extended periods -- that’s just another smorgasbord of treats for pests. So, do yourself a favor and clean up as soon as you can.

⃞   Keep Trash Covered

One man’s trash is one pest’s treasure. That’s how the saying goes in the pest control world, because pests just love garbage. For this reason, it’s important to keep both your inside and outside trash bins covered and closed. We recommend bins with a lid that lifts when you step on a foot pedal.

⃞   Need Help? Call the Experts at Waynes!

Last, but certainly not least, we suggest calling in for reinforcements if you need help protecting your home from pests. And who better to hire for the job than Waynes? We offer comprehensive and environmentally sound quarterly exterior treatments and as-needed treatments inside your home, all of which means you're free of pests year-round! Give us a call at 866.WAYNES1 or Pulverize Pests Now! We are happy to help!

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