If there is one thing that both tenants and property managers can agree on, it’s that dealing with pests is the worst.  Pests aren’t only a nuisance; they can cause serious health problems while cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars to combat.  Given all that is at stake, both experienced tenants and professional property managers understand the need to keep pests at bay.

With that goal in mind, doing the things listed below can significantly help stop most pest problems before they start.

VACUUM:

Food crumbs, dust, and organic particles like dead skin and hair can quickly accumulate in the fibers of carpeting, which can then become the perfect way to attract ants, dust mites, and other insects.  Vacuuming often is a very simple and easy way to keep pests away.

WASH THE CURTAINS:

Washing your curtains twice a year can really help eliminate dust and mites that have been collecting on the fabric.  Curtains should be washed in hot water, and if possible a sanitation mode on the washing machine should be used.  Besides washing twice a year, curtains can be vacuumed once a month to keep them from becoming to enticing to pests and to cut down on allergens in the home.

CLEAN OFF THE WEBS:

Many exterminators agree that one of the best solutions for keeping a space spider-free is to be efficient and consistent with knocking down webs. Spiders, like most of us, don’t enjoy having to build a new home every day, and will eventually move on when it becomes obvious that the property is not a safe place for them to set up house.

WASH THE SHEETS:

Bed sheets need to be washed on the “hot” cycle at least once every two weeks, and sometimes more frequently, to eliminate allergens in the home and keep other pests away as well.

NO CLUTTER:

Large amounts of clutter allow spiders, bed bugs, and other pests a safe place to create a home.  Once an infestation occurs, it can be very difficult to treat so keeping a property clutter free from the beginning is one of the easiest ways to keep insects and mice from moving in.

SECONDHAND PROBLEMS:

Purchasing upholstered items secondhand can be a good way to save money, but it can also be a very easy way to introduce pests into a home.  The best way to mitigate infestation risk is by buying new furniture or purchasing used items from people you know and trust.

Proper and regular cleaning can go a long way in preventing rest problems, but experienced property managers like Martin Feinberg understand that pests can find their way into the best kept properties.  If that happens tenants need to let their landlords know as soon as possible so that remedies can be discussed and applied.  The longer a pest problem goes untreated, the more likely a costly infestation will occur.