5 Tips to Keep Your Home Pest-Free this Winter

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Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

Published On

February 13, 2023December 19, 2018

Each winter, as the weather gets cold outside, more and more pests search for shelter inside. Here are pest control experts’ five ways to protect your home against a pest invasion.

1. Seal All Gaps

Weatherization - 2016 - Rubber Weatherstrip — TheDuckBrand’s Max Strength Silicone Weatherstrip Seal covers gaps around windows and doors that let conditioned air escape and outdoor air in.

Seal off every space where pests can enter your home, particularly door frames and windows. Throughout the year, homes expand and contract as the seasons change, and gaps form in door frames and windows; pests enter your home through these voids. Seal them off by replacing the frame or using adhesives or fillers.

2. Store Food in Airtight Containers

3-glass storage — Airtight glass or plastic containers keep food inaccessible — and undesirable — to pests.

Food attracts pests, so always keep your food in airtight containers. This ensures no exposed leftovers are lingering in your home. Moreover, it will be difficult for pests to access the food in your home, and they won’t be attracted to it. In addition, sweep and mop your kitchen regularly to ensure no bits of food are left around.

3. Check the Firewood

woodpile — Firewood attracts bugs — always check it for pests before bringing it inside the home.

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, keeping firewood around is necessary to stay warm. However, it is also one of the best ways for critters to enter your home. This is why it’s important to always inspect firewood before bringing it to your home.
Further, instead of storing the entire firewood stockpile at your home, store it in your backyard, a safe distance from your home. This ensures that critters do not enter your home. Before you do bring a few logs inside the home, check them for bugs.

4. Remember to Vacuum

In the winter, you may have to use the vacuum cleaner more often; after all, this is when most people have an uptick in house guests for holiday celebrations. Vacuuming will help ensure your home is free from any kind of residue, which will keep pests away.

5. Keep Shoes in Storage Boxes

shoes-box — During the winter, place shoes in a box to discourage insects from making them a habitat.

Shoes are often warm and, due to perspiration, they also can contain a humid atmosphere. This becomes the perfect habitat for pests since it is pretty cold outside. For these reasons, spiders and other insects can make shoes their home. That is why it is a good idea to keep shoes in storage boxes during the winter.
If you don’t have the original shoeboxes, don’t worry; a plastic container with a strong seal will do the trick.

It takes little time to make your home pest-proof — just follow these five simple steps.