Most Common Apartment Bugs In Winter

No matter their size, many apartments can be magnets for pests. From cockroaches and ants to mice and rats, these tiny apartment bugs can quickly make your living space feel more like a home of horrors. But with the right steps-and some handy tips you'll find below-you can keep pest-related problems under control, so your belongings remain safe from damage and your apartment stays comfortable, clean, and healthy. The easiest way to get started is to know what you're looking for. Here are a few of the most common apartment bugs in winter that you might run into.

Why Bugs Love Apartments

Your apartment building may be small, but the pests that call it home are not. Pests like spiders, cockroaches, and rodents can find a comfortable place to nest in the corners of your apartment unit. Make sure there's no room for pests in your home by keeping clutter clear and disposing of any food waste as soon as possible. Keeping surfaces clean will also help!

Pests love clutter and dirt. Making sure that all food is put away properly, dishes are clean, and debris is picked up can be a great start to making your apartment unattractive for bugs. This includes cleaning even the tiniest of spaces, like under your couches or behind kitchen appliances.

However, there may be some things that are out of your control, and it is important to reach out to your apartment complex if issues arise. With so many apartments close together, it's easy for pests to move from unit to unit through walls and doors. The hallways and stairs outside your door might not be as well-maintained as the inside of your apartment either.

Most Common Apartment Bugs In Winter

Ants

Ants are one of the most common pests in urban apartments and households. They leave trails to food sources, which can lead them into your home. With hundreds of species and colonies with thousands of ants each, these bugs are virtually everywhere.

Ants can be quite a nuisance, leading them straight to your pantry and kitchen counters. While you might not notice a stray ant or two on the floor, a line of ants heading toward a spill or food bowl is hard to miss. Ants are just another reason to make sure your kitchen is tidy year-round.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are the classic apartment pest. These incredibly resilient bugs thrive in cities because they have easy access to underground tunnels and thousands of apartment buildings for year-round shelter. Unfortunately, this means their population is rising throughout South Carolina and you may encounter them in your home.

Cockroaches can be found in places like bathrooms and kitchens, where they can get access to water. They are great at escaping through plumbing systems, so if you see one in your home, it's possible that more than one is lurking in the shadows. Not to mention, they can be fast.

Rodents

Rodents are probably the most unpleasant pests to find in your apartment, but unfortunately one of the most common. Especially during the winter, rats and mice love to seek shelter in your warm and cozy home. However, they are also the most likely to wreak the most havoc on your apartment.

Mice and rats are known for chewing through walls, wiring, pantries, and other necessities that you want to keep clean in your space. They like to hide inside cabinets, in crawlspaces, and behind items stored on the floor. They can also easily contaminate food and cause structural damage to your home by gnawing through insulation.

In apartment buildings, pest control often involves trapping and killing rodents to prevent them from moving between units. Rodent infestations can interrupt your sleep or the quality of your home life. Fortunately, there are steps you can take with Best Home & Property Services to keep rodents out of your building and to get rid of them if they infiltrate it.

Fleas

Did you know your apartment can harbor fleas even if you don't have any pets? South Carolina apartment owners are constantly changing, and although you may not have a pet, that doesn't mean the previous tenant did not. Fleas can infest furniture, bedding, and human/pet hair, so make sure to clean thoroughly before bringing in furniture from outside.

Fleas are insects that feed on the blood of mammals, and they're a nuisance in apartments and homes. They can be difficult to treat without professional help, and being bitten by fleas can cause redness, itching, and scabbing.

Spiders

Spiders are a pest you don't really need to fear. They're the least damaging pests on this list, actually. Although spiders can bite, most aren't harmful to humans. South Carolina is home to some dangerous spiders, such as the Orb Weaver and Black Widows, but they are uncommon to find in a home. All spiders primarily stay away from humans to keep themselves from us-that's why they're often found in cluttered closets or other out-of-reach places.

While most spiders are harmless, finding one in your apartment might be cause for alarm. As a general rule of thumb, if you think you've found a venomous species that might cause health hazards in your apartment, call a pest professional to inspect for more.

Tips to Keep Apartment Bugs Out

Just Keep Cleaning

It's important to vacuum, sweep, and mop as often as possible. If you have hardwood floors, for example, it's better to go over them regularly than wait until the entire area is covered in dust from your shoes. If you have carpeting, vacuum every few days to keep your home from becoming too dirty and attracting unwanted pests..

Seal Food Properly

When you keep your pantry, cabinets, and food storage areas clean, the chances of rodent and cockroach infestation decrease. These helpful hints can help you avoid a real problem in your home. Make sure to buy only fresh products with unbroken seals and no damaged packaging. When storing dry goods, keep them in airtight containers that seal tightly.

Keep In Contact With Your Landlords

If your building's hallways and stairs are dirty and squeaky, it's not just unpleasant for you-it's dangerous for everyone who lives there. The gap under your door is probably too small for a typical bug or rodent, but you never know what might be sneaking in behind it.

Make sure your apartment owners or landlords are aware of any issues you may have noticed. Whether it be holes in the walls, unprotected spots in stairwells, cracked windows, or other issues. The landlord is responsible for maintaining shared spaces in your complex. If these spaces are an opening for pests, it is important to keep them up to date on your findings so they can have the problem fixed immediately.

Keep Apartment Bugs In Winter With Best Home & Property Services

Winter is officially here, and a proactive approach to winter pest prevention becomes crucial. By fortifying your home, eliminating attractants, and staying vigilant, you can keep those common apartment bugs at bay, ensuring a peaceful and pest-free winter in South Carolina!

The professionals at Best Home & Property Services are here to help you ensure your new home is pest-free. Think you may have a pest problem? Give us a call at 1-843-236-3065 or get a FREE QUOTE right online.