Keeping Pests Out of Your Trash
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right? Well, there’s no reason to limit that expression to just humans—what is vile-smelling to you is just wonderful to pests. While you can bet your bottom dollar that they will do anything and everything to get inside of your trash can, there are many ways in which you can keep them out for good. Join us in our latest blog as we give you some simple ways to keep pests from rummaging through your trash.
Before You Toss
Preventing pests from going through your garbage starts with knowing what is going in your trashcan. For starters, make sure that all of your trash is going in bags before going out to the can; reason being that food scraps give off a stronger scent when not bagged. Second, try not to throw out liquid in these bags, but instead pour them down the drain. Having liquid in trash bags increases the likelihood of a sugary-sweet concoction fermenting in the bottom of the can, which is all you need to bring some curious critters like flies and rodents to feast on what’s inside.
Secure Your Trash
If you have a constant problem of pests getting into your garbage and making a mess before the garbage crew shows up, then there may be a problem in how your garbage is secured. The most common way in which pests get into trash cans is through an unsecured lid or a lid that just doesn’t fit right, so make sure that the lid on the can matches the can itself. If you need some more defense, you can employ the use of some bungee cords to lock down the lid, or even apply a bit or petroleum jelly to the rim of lid itself. Either way, by having an extra layer of security on your cans, you can limit the chances of a pest getting in.
Keep Cans Away
While this tip may not keep the pests out of the can, it can certainly keep pests out your home. Let’s face it: when push comes to shove, you much rather have a few flies pig-out on the trash in your trash can outside than in your kitchen inside, so be sure that your trash cans are at least 10 feet away from your home. If anything, future pests will be attracted to the scent of the trash more-so than what you’re cooking, which makes for a pretty good diversion. However, make sure that your trash is being picked up every week, or else those pests will become much more adventurous!
And for that matter, do not leave tied trash bags inside your home or in the garage! Once the trash is tied, take it right out to the cans outside to reduce the chance of an infestation in your home.
Yet, should your best efforts fail, or if you continue to experience pest problems, know that you can always turn to us for help. Call Tri-County Pest Control today for a free quote!
