Many New Year’s resolutions revolve around diet and exercise – fitness. Equally, pest control should be seen as a central part of fitness for your property. By Paul Bates

Your five pest-prevention resolutions for 2022

1 Declutter
Pests such as mice and cockroaches love clutter because it gives them a place to hide and nest. Clutter often also means food, especially in kitchens.

Declutter your kitchen, cellar, attic, storage areas, etc. Remove and recycle unused and unnecessary items and make sure edible items are stored in airtight plastic boxes.

2 Clean
This applies to the whole property, but especially any kitchen areas. Pests love kitchens because there is often food – on the floor, on worktops, in cupboards, under the toaster, etc. There are also plenty of places to hide – behind kickboards, under fridges, etc. Kitchens also have easy access points – around pipes etc. (see our recent rodent control video.)

Regularly clean and vacuum your kitchen. If there are crumbs on the floor or fat on your work surface, clean it up. The same goes for sitting rooms and office desks.

3 Deal with your rubbish
The smell of rotting food is like nectar to a pest – think of it as a dinner invitation.

Make sure your bin lids fit tightly to ensure the smell stays inside the bin. Also, don’t let rubbish and recycling build up. Instead, make the effort to remove it every day to sealed outside bins.

4 Tidy garden areas
It’s winter and while you are not spending much time in your garden pests are!

Make sure you tidy compost heaps, piles of leave, wood piles, etc. and ensure they are kept well away from your property. Try to see it from the perspective of a rat. Think about what they want – food, water, harbourage – and, if you remove this, they will move elsewhere.

5 Stop access
Our buildings are full of holes – doorways, under eaves, around pipes, badly fitting windows, etc. If a pest is attracted to your property, they will try to find a way in.

Look for access points and then seal them. This might mean door sweeps for gaps under doors, cement or wire wool around window frames and pipes, and interceptors in drainpipes. 

A sensible solution is to get a professional to survey your home or business premises. They will know where to look and what is the best method to keep the pests out. 

Have a happy, pest free 2022!

Award-winning Cleankill Pest Control deals with ‘distress’ pests such as wasps, fleas and bedbugs as well as preventative maintenance against public health pests such as mice, rats, cockroaches and pest birds such as pigeons and seagulls. The company prides itself on a fast and efficient service and aims to be recognised as a market leader for innovation, ‘green’ and new pest control techniques.

Launched in 1995, Cleankill Pest Control has grown year on year and now has several thousand clients throughout London, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, the South East and across the UK. Cleankill is the only pest control company in England to achieve a Gold Investors in People accreditation.

For more information go to www.cleankill.co.uk or email info@cleankill.co.uk to a free survey or price comparison.