We have all had a pesky roommate or have heard a story about someone who has. They get into your stuff, eat your food, make a mess around your house, and are, well, gross. While humans can be reasoned with, rodents and pests cannot. Luckily, most pests can be easily avoided with a bit of precaution! While it may seem tempting to go straight for the poisons and traps, there are better alternatives. If the thought of unwanted pests in your home makes your skin crawl, don’t fret! Here are our top preventative measures to protect your home from rodents and pests:
What is the Best Way to Prevent Pests and Rodents in Your Home?
The best way to prevent pests and rodents is to eliminate food sources, maintain cleanliness, seal any entry points, and reduce overall moisture in and around your home.
Common Household Pests and Rodents You Should Know About
Pests and rodents come in many forms and sizes. Here are the most common household pests in Canada:
- Raccoons
- Bees/wasps
- Spiders
- Cockroaches
- Skunks
- Termites
- Mice/rats
- Silverfish
- Bed bugs
- Flies/fruit flies/drain flies
- Ants
- Maggots
- Centipedes
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5 Effective Ways to Prevent Pests and Rodents in Your Home
Maintaining a pest-free home requires a few minor lifestyle adjustments. Luckily, most of these are easy to incorporate into your life and can be done for minimal cost! By following these steps, you can save yourself the hassle and the pricey bill that comes with hiring an exterminator after pests have formed an infestation.
1. Make your home less appealing to rodents and pests
Like any other living thing, pests look for shelter and food, and a home is prime real estate for them. So, to prevent an unwanted roommate, you’ll need to start by making your indoor and outdoor spaces less inviting for little critters.
Start by removing items that are stacked against the building’s foundation. Rodents and pests are drawn to food and shelter. So, places with secure, small openings are what they look for first. Additionally, please inspect your plants and consider thinning or removing them, as they can be an attractive food source for pests.
2. Locate potential entry points for rodents and pests
Now that you have secured your yard, make sure rodents do not find their way inside. Remember, no crevice is too small; even holes as big as a coin are big enough for rats and mice to sneak into. You can start protecting your home by walking around the exterior, inspecting both the ground and the roofline. Don’t forget rodents are excellent climbers, so don’t neglect high entry points. If you locate these entry points, you can use one of these methods to seal up the crack:
- Stuffing steel wool and then plaster
- Metal weather strips (windows, bottoms of door frames, chimneys)
- Fine mesh metal screening (vents, soffits)
3. Change how you store food
One way to help protect your home from unwanted guests is to store your food in either glass or plastic containers. This way, the smell of the food won’t invite unwanted critters, making your home look like an easy target for pests and rodents.
At the same time, one of the most common offenders is non-perishable items, such as open bags of chips, rice, cereal, crackers, etc. Here are some other examples:
- Fruits and vegetables that are in bowls or outside of the refrigerator
- Open trash/compost bins
- Food and water for your pets that are left out overnight
- Leaky pipes/faucets
Pests such as silverfish, drain flies, fruit flies, and cockroaches are attracted to lingering food particles. Silverfish, for example, can be found in moist areas, like your bathrooms. They can survive on starches and protein-rich items, including grains, vegetables, sugars, and fibres. So keeping everything clean and as dry as possible is crucial to prevent unwanted company.
4. Make sure you aren’t taking pests home
One of the most common reasons people find pests in their homes is that they accidentally bring them in. There are multiple ways you can bring pests into your home, and some pests cling to you more easily than others.
Travel: Bed bugs, in particular, are a huge culprit. Places such as libraries, movie theatres, and public transit, including buses and subways, are just some of the ways people can catch a bed bug. To prevent this, try skipping the seat next time you use public transportation.
The grocery store: Pests such as cockroaches and pantry pests tend to infest homes. Luckily, avoiding this is preventable with a quick look-over of your items. It is essential to be particularly vigilant when taking home cardboard produce boxes or pantry goods purchased in the bulk section!
5. Make sure to maintain your home
According to the Safe Rodent Control Resource Center, three primary steps exist to maintain a pest and rodent-free household:
Pest/Rodent Prevention: The first step involves the steps mentioned previously in this article. We recommend sealing any entry points to your home, maintaining your yard and outdoor spaces, and storing all food securely.
Identify the signs of an infestation: The second step is to look around your home for signs of pests or rodents. Look for small droppings and nesting materials, such as shredded paper or fabric. Remember to look in corners, behind furniture, and in your closets!
Treatment is key: The final step is to address the problem by providing alternative, less harmful methods for removing pests and rodents. Visit the Government of Canada’s website for more information on different traps and how to further protect your home from pests and rodents. Additionally, you can research your local pest control or animal rescue service to retrieve sick or injured animals that have strayed outside your home.
What Ontario homeowners are wondering about Pests and Rodents
What are some homemade remedies to deter rodents and pests?
Typically, strong smells help to repel rodents and pests. There are plenty of ways to protect your home from rodents without breaking the bank or hurting the environment. So, try some of these home remedies to help protect your home:
Cinnamon: Try either sprinkling ground cinnamon or applying pure cinnamon essential oils to trouble spots.
Peppermint Oil: Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them near corners or entry points into your home. For the best effect, replace the cotton balls every few days to keep the scent strong.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Fill a small bowl, then cover it with cling wrap or plastic wrap. Poke small holes into the wrap to create an easy yet effective fruit fly trap.
Garlic: Crush some garlic cloves and apply the paste to areas prone to rodent activity.
Coffee Grounds: Sprinkle coffee grounds along entry points where pests are entering your home, or directly on their nests outside.
What attracts rodents and pests?
Unwanted critters are often attracted to your home because of a few different factors:
- Garbage
- Dirty dishes
- Moisture/Standing Water
- Food Sources
- Clutter and Debris (wood piles, yard waste, etc.)
- Warmth and Shelter
Can pests damage your home?
Yes. They can cause extensive damage to your home’s structure and interior. Not only can they chew through your walls and wiring, but they can also contaminate your food supplies and spread diseases to your household. This is why it is crucial to be proactive and protect your home from unwanted visitors.
Why is protecting your home from rodents and pests important in 2026?
Not only are animals carriers of diseases such as rabies and the deadly Hantavirus, but there has also been a recent increase in the number of sick animals. One of these is a sickness found in raccoons called Distemper, and it is incurable for any raccoon or canine. Therefore, if you have a four-legged friend who is bitten by a sick raccoon and becomes infected, it is unfortunately almost always fatal. Euthanasia is usually the only option.
Distemper attacks the animal’s respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems and is transmissible through the blood or saliva of the infected raccoon. Look out for symptoms such as constant drooling, poor coordination, and being unfazed by human interaction, especially during the daytime.
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Protecting your home from rodents and pests: the key takeaways
Preventing pests and rodents in your home starts with small, consistent habits. By sealing entry points, properly storing food, and maintaining your space, you can avoid costly infestations before they begin. If you’re looking for additional ways to protect your home from rodents and pests, explore home insurance options to safeguard your property from unexpected damage. Contact isure today for a home insurance quote.
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