Personalized service starts with a thorough inspection to find target areas and potential entry points. Aptive’s year-round treatments ensure your home will be protected from pests throughout the year. We make pest control convenient for your lifestyle. The experts at Aptive are passionate about protecting Cincinnati homes from damaging pests. Controlling infestations is as easy as contacting your local Aptive branch. Call us today to get a free quote and book your first appointment.

The first step in preventing pests from entering your home is learning what attracts them. A few small changes in your habits can help make your home less interesting to bugs and rodents. You can start by making sure that all pantry foods are stored in metal or glass containers that pests can’t chew through.

Sweeping and vacuuming regularly helps clean up crumbs that become easy food sources for cockroaches and rodents. If possible, it also helps to eat only in one or two rooms so that there’s less space to clean. Finally, change garbage bags as soon as they’re full and store them away from your house until they’re picked up.

Many households compost to help the environment by reducing waste. However, while it’s good for the soil, composting can attract pests to your home or garden. To avoid a potential infestation, follow these composting tips:

If you’re composting outside, bury the waste several inches in the ground to hide it from rodents and other scavengers. If you use a dedicated bin, make sure its lid closes tightly. If you’re using a container outside, block its opening with sticks, rocks or wire. You can partially hide the smell from pests by pouring dirt or dried leaves on top of the composting material.

Ants are a common spring pest almost everywhere. As these tiny insects reemerge, you’ll see lines of them marching along sidewalks, driveways and maybe even your kitchen floor. Other pests you’ll probably see more in the spring include wasps and rodents.

Summer is the time for yard and garden pests. Slugs and snails thrive in wet soil after heavy rains. Wasps and yellow jackets frequently disrupt picnics and cookouts, building nests under roofs and in garages. More time spent outdoors also means a higher risk of pets and people picking up fleas or ticks.

The shorter days and cooler weather in fall can drive some pests indoors. Mice can squeeze through tiny holes to enter walls and build nests. Spiders also look for dark, cluttered corners to build nests where they can catch other insects as prey. Cockroaches remain active almost all year but might prefer to be in sheds, garages or homes during the colder months.

It’s common for many pests to overwinter out of sight, but that doesn’t make them less of a problem. Rodents, in particular, can damage wiring and furniture as they build nests for the winter. Spiders and roaches that have come indoors will continue to hunt and scavenge—you might see them in your kitchen, attic or basement. Even fleas that were accidentally carried inside might try to survive the winter on furniture or carpets.