by Bridget Webber

Created on: July 08, 2008   Last Updated: July 09, 2008

All that crawl, slither and sometimes even fly are not necessarily welcome in the average home. If you find yourself plagued by uninvited wee beasties, or simply want to protect your home from a possible invasion then there are certain measures which you can take to help you to accomplish your goal.

THE BASICS

The first place to begin is by not unintentionally making your dwelling an attractive living space for insects and other pests. Pests tend to love damp places, particularly those with water about, so fix any leaks or drips where you are able.

Pests are also particularly happy when they discover a ready made restaurant where a tasty feast is laid out waiting for them. Spillages and dropped items of food provide pests with an ideal opportunity to dine out at your expense. So remember to clean up crumbs and dropped items as they occur before they are discovered by intruders of the scaly, furry or tough bodied variety.

Places where many of us tend to ignore until its time for a spring clean are down the sides of kitchen cupboards and behind the fridge and oven. Sometimes lost food particles in these places can treat pests with lunches for a long time before they are finally discovered, so it is worth being extra vigilant if you are concerned.

Garbage is a terrific siren for pests as the aroma wafts under their little noses enticingly. For this reason it is sensible to take garbage out of the house as soon as is possible, and to make sure that it is stored securely when outside also to protect interest from pests near your abode.

This is also true when you are disposing of unwanted food items. Don't be tempted to put meat, fish or cheese in your compost as it will attract a variety of pests, as well as creating a nasty pong!

Back in the kitchen be sure to do your washing up regularly and to store food items safely and securely with lids tightly fastened. Wipe the outsides of jars that are sticky and regularly give your cupboards a clean to prevent small items of spilled food from staying in situ for too long.

Animal dishes left on the floor with the remains of your pets meal in need to be cleaned and not left on display overnight. Even dried cat food can be attractive to rodents and slugs, should they find a way into your home.

Pets sometimes bring pests into the house themselves. Fleas, ticks, lice and harvest mites can be prevented by the use of treatment purchased from a veterinary surgery.

To keep other pests out in the first place seal up any possible entry points

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