7 Pest Control Tips for California Renters
What if a few simple steps could make sure your home stayed pest-free throughout the year?
Even good renters insurance won’t handle a bug problem. In California, there’s good news and bad news when it comes to pest control. The good news is that professional pest control is the landlord’s responsibility; the bad news is that until they get around to handling the problem, you, your family, and all of your belongings may be effectively held hostage by an infestation of bugs.
Fortunately, there are a few quick ways you can get rid of these bugs or, better yet, prevent them from invading your home in the first place. Keep reading to discover our top pest control tips for California renters.
1. Notify Your Landlord Right Away About Pest Sightings
When it comes to pest control for renters, one of our best tips is also the easiest. Simply put, when you see bugs inside your home or even see a few too many outside your home, you need to let your landlord know right away.
Your landlord might already be spraying to keep bugs away, but they have no way of knowing if the spray has been ineffective or if there is an aggressive infestation until you let them know. If you do tell them right away, you can rest assured that the issue will be taken care of ASAP by someone who is paid for dealing with pests in rentals. This is especially important to do before they end up damaging something that even your renter’s insurance won’t cover.
2. Put Up Those Leftovers Right Away
If you have pets and especially if you have children, then mealtimes can be pretty hectic. After dinner, you may understandably not focus on putting up leftovers right away. But you need to make time; the longer you leave those leftovers out, the more likely they are to be pounced on by pests.
When this happens, it’s the worst of both worlds because your food is ruined and more pests are likely to treat your kitchen as a bug buffet. Conversely, putting up leftovers as soon as possible keeps your food safe and fresh while naturally preventing infestations.
3. Throw Your Trash Out Immediately
Taking out the trash is one of those responsibilities few people want to shoulder, so even if you have a big family, the garbage might sit there for a long time. Too long, in fact; the longer your trash is there, the likelier it is that pests will come to rummage for old food and other items
However, the opposite also holds true. Taking out your trash right away means you’re doing your part to keep the bugs away. This, along with the landlord’s existing tenant pest management, should mean you don’t have to worry about any creepy critters, especially ones that go “bite” in the night!
4. Let Your Landlord Know About Standing Water Around the Property
Speaking of critters, there are all kinds of pests that might, well, pester you in California. Few pests are quite as painful as mosquitoes, and far too many renters (especially those new to the state) are effectively breeding mosquitoes and don’t know it.
If you don’t already know, mosquitoes need standing water to breed, so simple things like abandoned summer kiddie pools full of water can lead to a sudden infestation of these bloodsuckers. Taking care of the standing water yourself or just letting your landlord know about the standing water you’ve seen can nip this problem in the bud before it comes to nip you in the blood vein.
5. Keep Your Apartment Clean
By now, you’ve probably noticed a pattern: bugs love food, dirt, and water. Therefore, one of the most straightforward ways you can prevent a pest infestation is by keeping your home as clean as possible at all times.
What does this mean in practical terms? For starters, keep food in your pantry sealed inside airtight containers. Wipe down your countertops and other exposed surfaces that can easily get very dirty. Finally, as annoying as it can be, you need to regularly vacuum, as the accumulation of dust and dirt can be a real magnet for pests.
6. Keep Your Trash Cans Covered
Earlier, we touched on the importance of regularly taking out your trash to prevent pests from being attracted to your home. Once you take the garbage out, there is one additional step you can’t afford to skip, and that’s to keep your trash cans covered.
We’ve all had that moment of opening up the trash can just for several flies to escape. If you leave a lid off by accident, you might have a lot more than flies to worry about. And since the trash can is often close to your home, the bugs that gather around your garbage will soon be hanging around your house.
7. Rinse and Cover Recyclable Items
Our final tip is one that closely relates to the previous one: if your California city has a recycling program, you likely have a recycling bin close to your trash can. Unfortunately, too many residents end up throwing dirty cans and boxes into the recycling bin and then leaving it outside with no cover. Just as with trash, this kind of open container filled with dirty items is going to attract plenty of pests.
The solution is easy. Rinse and otherwise clean the items you recycle, and make sure to use a recycling bin with a lid. These two steps will keep the pests out of your recycling and make them much less likely to invade your home.
Keep Your California Rental Protected, All Year Long with Affordable Renters Insurance
Now you know our top tips for pest control in your rented California home. But do you know how else to protect your home all year round, and from things much worse than pests?
Here at Cost-U-Less, we specialize in renter’s insurance that helps protect your home from the unexpected. Ready to protect your home the way you’ve always dreamed of? Call us at (800) 390-4071 or get a fast and free insurance quote online. If you’re feeling like a face-to-face talk, you can also find a nearby office and visit us in person!
