Apartments residents can do a number of things to help prevent pest problems. First and foremost is to eliminate sources of food and moisture. Contact the management if there are any leaks inside your unit. Moisture can attract and create a hospitable environment for a number of insect pests. Springtails are especially attracted to moisture and can reproduce in large numbers when there is a leak.
Secondly, sources of food must be eliminated. Remove garbage daily or every other day. Keep spills and crumbs cleaned up. If you are recycling cans or plastic bottles, make sure that these items are rinsed well and remove them as frequently as you remove garbage. Kitchen counters and stoves should be wiped down after use. Cleaning these areas and removing garbage eliminates food sources that will attract ants and cockroaches to the area.
Third, closets, pantries, and cabinets should be kept clean and orderly. Pests like cardboard, plastic sacks, and clutter as nesting and harborage sites. Clutter is difficult to treat and offers pests many small niches in which to hide and reproduce. Keep clothing in baskets and wash on a regular basis to prevent piles of clothing from building up. Other items that can serve as harborage and nesting sites include magazines, newspapers, boxes, and stacks or sheets of paper, clothing, or wood. Clutter should be kept to a minimum to prevent pests from establishing a foothold inside the building.
Finally, residents should frequently check around doors and windows to ensure that weather proofing and seals are in good repair. Small holes around doors and windows are frequently the entry point for ants and other pest insects. Residents may also check around plumbing fixtures to ensure that these are properly sealed. Cockroaches will frequently follow plumbing and electrical lines, as will ants. These areas should be sealed with foam or caulk to prevent pests from entering the living space.
And as always, feel free to contact Northwest Exterminating at any time for all of your pest control and termite needs.