There might be more going on in your garage than you know. Some use their garage to protect their cars, others use it for storage. Regardless of what you use this space for, this halfway point between your house and the outdoors can be a new vacation home for all kinds of bugs.
Think about how often you use your garage. If you are constantly in and out of the garage doing yard work, you may leave the garage door open. This is easy access for all kinds of pests and critters to waltz on in. Even with the garage door closed, there are often cracks or openings that allow those crafty pests to sneak inside.
If you aren't the kind of person who hangs out in your garage you may not give it much thought. You might just get out of the car, go inside, and forget about what's going on in there while the bugs sign their lease. Here's a quick guide to understanding bugs and how to keep them out of your garage.
8 Important Steps to Garage Upkeep
Your garage is a hotspot for pests seeking warmth, shelter and food. Follow these steps to keep your garage safe from unwanted visitors:
Clean up - Pick up trash and sweep. If you have stuff all over the place, there are a lot of places for bugs to hide.
Organize - Utilize shelves and racks to hold large items. Use tight, sealable plastic containers to store items to keep bugs from getting inside.
Keep the Garage Door Closed - Only open the garage door when you need to; if you leave it open too long you are sending out invitations to the world.
Spray for Bugs! - Spray an organic pesticide around the perimeter of your garage.
Fill Holes - Seal the bottom of your garage door so bugs can not come inside. Look for cracks and openings that need to be filled to prevent bugs from entering your garage.
Store Food Appropriately - If you keep a refrigerator in your garage make sure the door is closed and seals properly. If you keep dog food in your garage put it in an airtight container, don't just leave it in the bag.
Lights Off - Some bugs are attracted to the light, so make sure there are no lights left on overnight.
Stay Dry - Certain bugs love moisture. Use a fan to dry overly moist areas, and keep the place generally dry. Turn over planters and lids that may hold standing water.
Who to Expect to See
Bugs will be looking to move in to your garage for many reasons. During these winter months, most bugs are looking for warmth, shelter, and food. Expect to encounter many types of visitors. Here's a look at some common garage invaders and ways you can combat their entry:
Ants - These small pests are known for sneaking in through small openings. They should be easy to take care of since they usually leave a trail that shows where they came from. Use indoor and outdoor baiting techniques to thwart their efforts. To bait indoor, target large clusters of ants. When they consume the baits they will take the slow acting liquid poison back to the colony by the worker ants.
Roaches - We've all seen them, though we try to pretend we haven't. They are in search of food, water, and warmth, without these things they will not survive. Take out the garbage and rinse your recyclables, otherwise the roaches will find them. Put all bags and cardboard boxes into airtight plastic storage. As a last resort use a roach killing poison.
Spiders - Since spiders eat other insects, following most cleanliness guidelines will reduce your total number of insects, thus reducing the chance you will see spiders in your garage. You can also install tight fitting screens over possible entry points. Spiders dislike tea tree oil, peppermint and lavender, so if necessary mix one of those ingredients with water to create a homemade spider repellent.
When Your Best Efforts Just Aren't Good Enough
So you've followed all our advice and your garage is still housing unwanted visitors? You may have a serious issue. If you've tried all that you can, it's time to give us a try. Trust us to fix your bug problems.
