A Checklist for Moving into Your New Home: Pest Control Edition
No matter where or who you live with, moving is a daunting task. With everything that goes into moving, the last thing you want to worry about on your big day is a pest control problem. Unfortunately, many home buyers face pests as soon as they arrive, which often comes as a surprise and a cost.
While at-home pest control can be useful in a pinch, it does not accomplish permanent extermination. Moving into a new home is stressful enough, let Palmetto Exterminators help and keep you worried about one less thing. To save you time and money, our team has created a moving checklist to keep your new home safe, clean, and pest free!
Inspect Your New Space for Cracks, Openings, & Still Water
Before you move in, take a look at your new property and determine if there are any possible entry points for pests. Inspect the perimeter of your home for any cracks or openings, big and small, in the foundation of your home, and ensure they are caulked and repaired before you begin moving.
Standing water inside or around your home is a great invitation for cockroaches, mosquitoes, and termites to move in with you! Ensure that buckets, tubs, and sinks inside the home are not accumulating water. We also advise you to inspect downspouts and gutters to ensure they are properly draining. If they are clogged, make sure to call in city or property maintenance.
We all know insects and larger pests, such as mice, love trash and open food sources. Make sure that open and uncovered trash around your property is tightly sealed. It is also best practice to clear up any trash near or around the home to ensure mosquitoes, flies, roaches, and wasps do not have any food sources to gather around.
The Palmetto team is also available for free home inspections, so don’t be afraid to reach out. One of our experts will meet you at your property to help ensure pests will not be in the move-in protocol.
Properly Clean & Protect Your Belongings
Moving your belongings, big or small, takes time. We advise that you give yourself lots of extra time to ensure all of your items are clean and well-stored in the appropriate boxes and protection before moving. For mattresses and box springs, utilize mattress protectors to cover any exposed fabrics to avoid picking up any bed bugs during transit.
It is also essential to launder any clothing and fabric items before bringing them to your new home. Moths, cockroaches, silverfish, and carpet beetles all love to eat organic fibers, so make sure to thoroughly wash or dry clean fabric on the highest heat the material can handle. Even if the clothing seems clean and untouched, it is best to make sure any eggs will be exterminated before move-in.
Once you’ve made sure your clothing and fabrics are clean, consider packing some cedar blocks or chips in your moving boxes to deter moths and other insects. While mothballs are often used, they can cause dizziness, difficulty breathing, and chemical damage to the fabric, so try your best to avoid them. It may be a hassle but if you have the extra time, consider washing or disinfecting luggage, backpacks, and duffel bags as well.
Use Clean Moving Boxes & Storage
From our experience, this is by far the most important step on our tour checklist! While it can be tempting to use old moving boxes, or even borrow them from a friend who recently moved, proceed with caution. Used boxes could have contained infected fabrics, dirty dishware, or any former pests from someone else’s home. Cockroaches also love to snack on cardboard, so try your best to avoid using old boxes.
If you can, purchase new boxes, or use clean plastic storage tubs. If you would prefer to save money and use previously owned boxes, make sure you are only accepting them from a trustworthy friend or company that has no history of pest infestations. Pro tip: Spray your boxes with bug spray or a few drops of essential oils, such as lavender or peppermint, before packing to deter any lingering bugs.
Inspect Books & Paper Products
That old bookshelf sitting in your home holding on to all the old books we haven’t touched in ages? Well, before packing up consider which books you really want to keep. Not only are they heavy and difficult to move but you most likely haven’t touched some of your favorite books for decades! Books, eventually, begin to gather dust and cobwebs, so insects such as booklice, carpet beetles, roaches, silverfish, and termites may take the chance to eat the pages, covers, and glue on the binding.
Before you pack up any beloved books, inspect them for sandy-colored dust, pellets, stains, or holes: such damage is the top sign of infestation. If you notice such damage, pop the books into plastic bags and freeze them for a few days to kill any surviving insects. Also, consider buying protective casing for your beloved titles.
You’re Ready to Move!
If you make sure to keep your items clean and laundered, inspect your new property, and use clean moving boxes, your move should go relatively smoothly. However, our best efforts sometimes fall short, and pests happen. If you are looking for the most effective pest control solutions, contact us for a free inspection of your current or new property.
