Taking proactive steps to protect your home against pests is important, but if everyone doesn’t participate, it can be ineffective. Now that the kids are home from school for the summer, what better time to involve the whole family in pest prevention? Have you ever heard the phrase “teamwork makes the dream work?” Well, that statement holds true for preventing pest infestations, too! Like any other task, it works much better when you work together. Here’s how to make preventing pests a family effort:

Start With Education

For any family project to be effective or long-lasting, it has to start with education. Every member of the family has to know why pest prevention is important. Start by explaining the risks of pest infestations. For example, you could explain that certain pests cause damage to the home and personal items, while some carry diseases. This is also a good time to explain that most pests are extremely difficult to get rid of once an infestation is established, making it more effective to avoid them in the first place. When the whole family understands why preventing pests is important, they’re more likely to consistently put in the effort and be mindful of their habits.

Assign Chores to Each Family Member

Much of protecting your home against pests involves keeping it clean and tidy. With a full house and an active family, keeping up with chores should be a group effort. Assign responsibilities to each family member, dividing tasks by rooms or chores. Pay extra attention to rooms where pests are likely to hide, like kitchens, bathrooms, basements and other storage areas. Make each family member responsible for keeping each of these rooms neat, ensuring there’s no clutter and surfaces are wiped down regularly. Along with assigning chores and dividing the responsibilities, you can also create a visual routine or cleaning chart to keep everyone on track.

Talk About Food and Trash

Along with assigning chores, you can also take time to make sure your family’s food and trash habits are optimal for preventing pests. Doing chores is one thing, but making sure no one leaves snacks or leftovers out, crumbs or spills on the floor, or trash piling up is another. Teach your family that most pests invade people’s homes searching for food, and your food and trash are usually the perfect meal. Make sure your kids are tidying up after themselves after eating a snack or a meal by putting their leftovers away in airtight containers, cleaning crumbs and spills, and properly throwing their trash away. On trash day, make sure the trash goes out instead of being left to pile up in the garbage can.

Tackle The Toy Room

While most people don’t usually think about toys when it comes to protecting their home against pests, it’s an important factor to consider. Like the rest of the home, your family should keep playrooms, bedrooms and family rooms clean and tidy—free of clutter, food crumbs and spills. Toys should be regularly inspected for sticky food residue and wiped thoroughly. Wash soft toys in the washing machine and tumble dry them frequently to prevent pests, like bed bugs, from hiding in the seams and stitching. If your child takes their toys outside, to school or traveling, store them in plastic bags and immediately wash them when they return to protect your home from hitchhiking pests.

Plant Herbs Together

Some herbs have natural pest-repellent properties. The strong aroma and essential oils in these herbs are quite unpleasant for pests, making them a good choice for simple pest prevention. Plant some herbs in the yard or even pot them and bring them inside as a family. Not only is this a great way to get everyone together, but gardening can make pest prevention tons of fun! Here are a few examples of herbs commonly used to deter pests:

• Lavender
• Basil
• Rosemary
• Mint
• Thyme 

Entry Point Scavenger Hunts

One of the most effective ways to prevent pests is to make sure they can’t enter your home. This means finding and sealing up entry points. To get the family involved, treat it like a scavenger hunt. Encourage your kids to find the smallest nooks and crannies around your home that pests may be able to squeeze their way through, and seal them up with caulk or mesh. For example, you could ask one child to see if there are any entry points around vents or plumbing pipes, and another child to inspect the siding for cracks. If your kids are a bit older, you can recruit them to help you install weatherstripping around doors and windows. Just make sure searching for and sealing entry points is fun and age-appropriate.

Even if your entire family does their share to prevent pests, pests are sneaky and can still find their way into your home. If you have a pest infestation, reach out to your Des Moines pest control home team here at Pro-Staff!