Cold weather often drives pests into homes, seeking warmth and shelter from the elements. Among the most troublesome invaders during winter are cockroaches, bed bugs, and rodents. These pests cause property damage and pose significant health risks to humans. Understanding how these pests enter homes, recognising signs of infestation, and opting for residential and commercial pest control services. Taking steps to prevent and eliminate them is important to save yourself from costly damage and stress. Let’s explore the best ways to keep your home pest-free during winter by addressing common infestations and effective strategies for prevention and control.

Best Time to Hire Professional Residential and Commercial Pest Control Services

Some people often choose to go for DIY measures to have effective pest control. However, for severe infestations, professional intervention is always a significant role. You can hence hire licensed pest control companies that are specialised enough to use modern tools for quick control. They even ensure that the infestations do not grow back on your property in the future. Most companies even come up with tailored advice for maintaining a pest-free home.

We all know that winter is one such season that brings unique challenges, not just in the form of cold but in the shape of complex pests. Bed bugs, rodents as well as cockroaches are common pests noticed in commercial and residential properties with a considerable population. Identifying their infestation signs is the first proactive step towards their elimination. Nevertheless, you can opt for solutions such as sealing entry points and maintaining cleanliness.

Cockroaches: The Resilient Winter Invaders. How do they get into Homes during winter?

Cockroaches can endure terrible conditions and are very tough. In winter, they commonly come into houses through cracks, window and door openings, water/gas or electricity pipelines, and also on grocery bags or packaging we bring inside. It is difficult to perform cockroach control as they are so small and adaptable.

Signs of Infestation

Being nocturnal, if you see one during the day, it usually means a bad infestation. Key signs include:

• Coffee-ground-like or black-pepper-like droppings.
• Fresh skins or egg shells lingering in dark, damp spots.
• A sour, oily smell where they infest.

How to Spot Cockroaches?

You can see cockroaches in warm, moist places such as the sink corner as well as behind appliances and basements. Shine a flashlight and look for droppings, live insects, or egg cases.

Ways to Help Keep Them Away and Get Rid of Them?

• Seal entry points altogether. You can crack cracks and gaps around doors, windows, as well as pipes.
• Remove food waste, oil, and stagnant water.
• Use bait around cockroach pathways to stop them from entering your premises.
• If you have a terrible infestation, resorting to professional pest control is advisable.

Winter Hitchhikers: Bed Bugs

How do Bed Bugs get into Homes during the winter?

Bed bugs are infamous for scuttling into our homes on us. They are commonly transported in suitcases and winter clothes or other used home goods in winter. They can also transmit information between tenants in a multi-unit building through the wall.

Signs of Bugs Infestation

These vermin are tiny and elusive, but their presence can be detected by signs such as:

• Bite marks on exposed skin, red and itchy.
• Stains of blood or dark spots (droppings) on bed linen or in the mattress.
• Mattress seams or furniture cracks with areas that have shed skins or dead bed bugs.

How to Spot Bed Bugs?

Carefully check mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture. Search folds as well as seams for tiny rust-coloured stains or live bugs.

How to Stop Bed Bugs and Get Rid of Them?

• Examine Luggage and Furniture: Check things properly before bringing them indoors.
• Frequent Washing: To eliminate bed bugs and eggs, wash items using hot water.
• Encapsulated Mattresses: Use a bed bug-resistant cover on the mattress to keep them out.

Attack of Mice: The Winter Visitors You Don’t Want

Why Rodents Come into the House in winter?

Rodents like mice, rats, or even squirrels look for a warm and cosy place to hence make nests during the cold months. They enter homes through tiny holes, cracks, or openings in the foundation, walls, or attic.

Signs of Rodent Infestation

Here are some signs that rodents are present:

• Gnawed marks on furniture, walls, or wiring.
• Small, hard, dark pellets resembling pea-sized droppings.
• Scratching sounds coming from the walls, ceilings, or attic.
• Nests made from torn paper or cloth.

How to Spot Rodents?

Look for faeces, chew marks, or oily smear marks on walls or along baseboards. Rodents hence leave visible remnants of their path by repeatedly travelling the same route.

How to Keep Them Out and Get Rid of Them?

• Seal Entry Points: Use steel wool to block gaps and holes, then secure them with caulk.
• Place Traps: Set snap traps or live traps where rodents are active.
• Proper Food Storage: Keep food in airtight containers and clean up crumbs promptly.

General Winter Pest Prevention Tips

1. Seal Your Home

Identify any areas where insects and pests might enter your home, and seal those areas with caulk, weather stripping, or steel wool. Pay close attention to doors, windows, vents as well as pipes. This tip can work best for efficient rodent control.

• Maintain Cleanliness

Pests are attracted to rubbish, dirt, and clutter. Furthermore, regular vacuuming, decluttering, and promptly disposing of garbage can keep your home free from pests.

• Reduce Moisture

Make your home less attractive to pests by fixing leaky pipes and unclogging drains. Use dehumidifiers in damp areas such as basements and bathrooms.

• Inspect Storage Areas

Pests often hide in boxes, attics, or basements. Check these places frequently for evidence of infestation and organise items in plastic containers with lids.

Protect Your Property with Expert MVO Pest Control Solutions

Pests can turn your peaceful environment into a nightmare, whether it’s your cosy home or bustling workplace. MVO Pest Control specializes in top-notch residential and commercial pest control services, offering targeted solutions for every pest problem. From rodent control to keep your property rodent-free to bed bug control for a peaceful night’s sleep and cockroach control to maintain a hygienic space, we’ve got you covered.