Keep Creepy-Crawlies Out! 7 Quick Halloween Pest Control Tips

Does Halloween have you thinking about ghosts, ghouls, and creepy crawlies? Me too! But while spooky decorations are welcome, real-life pests like spiders, mice, and ants definitely aren’t. The good news is that keeping your home pest-free doesn’t have to be scary. With a few simple pest control tips, you can prevent infestations before they start. Read on for easy ways to protect your San Francisco home from unwanted “trick-or-treaters” of the creepy-crawly kind.

• Seal any cracks around windows, doors, and baseboards - they’re open invitations for bugs.  A few hours with a tube of caulk and some weatherstripping can easily make a huge difference.  This helps with energy efficiency too!

• Watch out for the trash!  Consider freshening indoor cans with soap or vinegar from time to time, and store outdoor bins a few feet from your home if possible, to keep pests at a distance.

• Use airtight containers for pet food and kitchen staples you might keep around for a while.  Glass or plastic containers with tight lids will help keep your food fresh as well as keep hungry insects at bay.

• Declutter storage spaces, since pests love cardboard boxes and stacks of paper.  Try using plastic bins instead, and while you’re swapping the containers, see if you can thin out the contents as well.  At the end of the day, it’ll also be easier to spot future pest problems in a neat space.

• Keep your drains clean - gunk loves to build up there in the kitchen or bathroom.  Martha Stewart recommends you pour boiling water down each drain once a week.  You can also use a vinegar-baking soda mix.  In addition to keeping insects away, you’ll be avoiding bad smells.

• Don’t leave dirty dishes out - even overnight!  Tell your kids we said so.  Even a little food residue is a feast for bugs.  Knock those dishes out right after each meal, or at least run the dishwasher nightly, for a good defense against roaches, ants, and their friends.

• Use diatomaceous earth along potential entry points.  This is a fine powder that’s harmless to humans and most household pets, but deadly to crawling insects.  Sprinkling a thin layer near doors, windows, and baseboards is a simple line of defense.  A light dusting of baking soda or borax can also help.

Keeping pests out of your home doesn’t have to mean hiring an exterminator or using harsh chemicals. With a few simple habits, you can prevent bugs, rodents, and other pests before they ever become a problem. Too late for that? Don't hesitate to reach out - I'd love to recommend a San Francisco professional who can help protect the investment you've made in your home by sending the bugs packing.