After pest control experts have dealt with the immediate pest infestation crisis, the next significant phase is cleaning and preventing future reinfestation. Mainly, your active involvement in this process is crucial and can make a significant difference in preventing future infestations.
Importantly, cleanup is more than cleaning the mess. It’s about making your home safe from chemical contamination and keeping these pests from ever returning.
Therefore, in this post, we’ll take you through the most critical steps to clean and pest-proof your home after pest control.
Why Cleaning Your Home After Pest Control Matters
Mainly, pests not only cause discomfort but also spread diseases. They leave germs on surfaces, and inhaling spores from their dry feces can also pose a health risk.
Therefore, proper housecleaning is your best defense against these health threats.
The Step-by-Step After Pest Control Treatment Cleaning
1. Preparation
First, prepare and ensure your safety by having the right equipment, including disposable gloves, the correct mask to prevent inhaling dust, and goggles for eye protection. Also, don’t allow children and pets to come near dirty areas until they are cleaned.
2. Ventilate and Manually Remove Visible Dirt
Ventilate the rooms for at least 30 minutes. Then, sweep or vacuum rooms.
Importantly, carefully pick up visible droppings, nesting material, and debris using disposable paper towels. Take all these wastes to an airtight plastic bag and then dispose of it safely.
3. Deep Cleaning
After waste removal, deep clean the home. Prepare a solution that is not too dilute by mixing one part domestic bleach with ten parts water. Alternatively, use a suitable disinfectant.
Then, soak a sponge or cloth in the solution and scrub and clean all dirty surfaces, including floors, shelves, cupboards, and skirting boards. Also, scrub corners and crevices where contamination is most likely to occur.
For non-bleachable carpets and furniture, the most effective method of eliminating remaining germs and parasites is high-temperature steam cleaning.
4. Disposing of Infected Items
Inspect food equipment, packaging, and containers. Importantly, throw away any open food. When disposing of any contaminated items, ensure they are sealed in airtight bags before placing them in the trash to prevent attracting more pests.
Notably, for items that you can’t dispose of, thoroughly clean them, including food preparation equipment, plates, and food handlers’ gear with hot soapy water. Also, as a precaution, disinfect non-porous tools and discard porous ones, such as infested wooden chopping boards and bitten plastic containers.
Prevention of Recurring Pest Infestation
Typically, most pests are persistent and will return if given the opportunity. But, to prevent them from re-infesting your home:
- Seal Points of Entry: This is the most crucial way to pest-proof your home. Mainly, do a thorough inspection of your house’s interior and exterior. Inspect for holes in sections of pipes, utility cables, vents, and doorframe components. Seal every hole with durable materials, such as steel wool, wire mesh, or cement, since rodents won’t hesitate to chew silicone, plastic, and wood.
- Store Foods Properly and Prevent Water Leaks: Store all dry foods, such as pet food, in metal or heavy glass containers with lids and never leave any food overnight. Importantly, clean the countertop, fix leaky faucets, and make the garbage can and surrounding areas spotless.
- Be Vigilant: Inspect pest infestation-prone areas, including your false ceiling and kitchen cabinets, regularly for signs of initial infestation, such as droppings or gnawing marks.
Conclusion
While the above discussion equips you with the knowledge to handle the after-pest-control-treatment cleanup, the permanent solution often lies in the hands of a professional. A qualified and licensed pest control company in Singapore not only eliminates the current infestation, but they also take the necessary steps to keep your home free of it.
Therefore, if the pest infestation is severe or if you prefer to have complete confidence in the cleanup, it is worth considering professional pest control and fumigation services to help ensure the long-term pest-free state of your home.
