Cleaning tips to prevent pests in your home

Home cleaning is a chore that can feel like a burden, but it’s an essential part of home maintenance. Without taking the time to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of your home, you could be a risk of pests, from bugs being brought in from the garden to flies making their way in through open windows and doors. Luckily, with a few cleaning hacks and routines, you can keep your home pest-free all year-round. These are some of our top cleaning tips to keep your home clean and tidy without any hassle.

Prioritise the kitchen surfaces

The kitchen is an area of the home that can quickly attract pests, from dried goods in the cupboard that can draw in pantry beetles and weevils, to fruit on the countertops to spillages that can attract fruit flies. We use the kitchen every day, so it’s no surprise that it can become messy quickly.

But the best approach to avoid messes that attract pests is to prioritise a quick 5-minute wipe down at the end of each day to minimise the clutter. Rinse off your dishes after each meal and wipe around the sink to prevent fruit flies in the drain. It’s also worth remembering to sanitise the countertops to get rid of any spillages or ingredients left over from cooking.

Deep clean the carpets

Regular vacuuming of any carpeted areas of your home is enough to get rid of surface dirt and debris, but over time, dirt can get pushed into the carpet. As a result, carpets can be breeding grounds for allergens and pests, such as dust mites and carpet beetles, so keeping them thoroughly clean is essential. It’s worth investing in a thorough carpet clean ever three to four months, in addition to vacuuming several times a week, to keep them clean and to avoid pests from thriving.

Minimise moisture build-up

Some pests are attracted to water, which makes areas of your home such as the bathroom a prime location for them. Wiping down surfaces after you’ve used them, such as the shower and sink each morning, will help to prevent bugs and mould.

But this isn’t enough to thoroughly sanitise the area, so it’s a good idea to spray down your sink, shower enclosure or the rim of your bath, and your toilet each day with disinfectant to keep them germ-free and to prevent pests from breeding. Be sure to check less obvious locations in your bathroom too, such as the pipework beneath your sink or behind the toilet, as these can be damp and can attract cockroaches and woodlice.

Vacuum your sofa

You likely sit on your sofa regularly, but did you consider that it could be a hiding spot for bugs and pests? There’s a good chance that your upholstery is a prime location for the likes of carpet beetles, as these small bugs feed on keratin, a protein found in hair and fur – so homes with pets are particularly prone to them, without even realising.

Carpet beetles can chew through the fabric of your sofa and leave small holes in the upholstery of chairs and other items of furniture, so it’s a good idea to regularly vacuum down the sides of the seats and along the backs of the sofa and armchairs where hair and dust can accumulate. Every few months, it can also be worthwhile investing in a professional sofa clean to ensure that bugs are removed, while also maintaining the look of your upholstery.

Keep rooms well ventilated

It’s not just surfaces you need to keep clean in your home but also the air you’re breathing in each and every day. It’s a good idea to get into the habit of opening up the windows in your home each morning to let fresh air circulate, but if your budget allows, investing in a HVAC unit can also be highly effective at cleaning the air, reducing allergens and dust, and minimising odours which will help to repel pests like flies.

In summary

Maintaining a clean, tidy home is an ongoing task, and no matter how clean your home is, there’s always the risk that pests will find their way in. But, by taking time to consider the areas of the home that we often forget, such as down the sides of the sofa and behind the sink, we can stay on top of the issue. The best way to prevent pests and bugs in the home is to create an unhospitable environment for them – with these tips, your home will continue to be a great environment for you and your family, without the risk of it appealing to pests.

Need further advice on how best to keep your home or business clean? Get in touch with the team at Apple Clean who will be happy to help.