For general pest prevention, tighten up the house. Fill gaps in basement floors and walls with caulk and grout. Make sure baseboard molding forms a tight fit between the wall and floor. (If you have gaps, fill them with a paintable caulk or cover with quarter-round trim.) Inspect things like boxes and firewood for hitchhikers—roaches, ants, and spiders, for instance—before bringing them into your house. Cockroaches, for one, will eat nearly anything that is organic, including cardboard.
Next, cut off the pests’ food and water supplies. Caulk around sinks and tubs to stop water from leaking behind fixtures. Repair leaky pipes. Don’t let water stand in appliance drip pans or houseplant dishes. Keep food in tightly sealed containers. Wipe down countertops. Remove food spills on all sides of the stove.
Attack pest breeding and living areas by filling holes in walls and floors, by removing piles of cardboard and paper bags inside or around the house, and by eliminating general clutter.
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Preventive house maintenance will discourage pests from entering.
