Cleaning out your Closet, fridge, or basement might not seem to be a priority this spring but, ignoring these areas can cause serious pest problems throughout the season, and may even lurk into summer and beyond.

Whether they impair your ability to see existing pest issues or provide breeding materials for bugs and rodents, these areas of your home and should be given attention to prevent serious problems.

Avoid pest problems by cleaning up these areas of your home or business:

• Closets: We use our closets to store a lot of items — from clothes we use frequently to memorabilia we haven’t seen in years. Don't let moths, beetles, or bed bugs build populations in your closets. Take the time to remove all of your Stored Items from the closet and place them in an open space where you can examine each item for bugs or signs of bug damage. Prior to returning the items, sweep, dust, and disinfect the floor and shelves of your closet, and be sure to vacuum up any spider webs you see.

• Basements & Attics: Just like our closets, our basements and attics tend to be storage spaces filled to the brim. However, unlike our closets, basements and attics can often be neglected or left unentered for days or weeks at a time, lessening the chances you'll notice an insect or rodent problem beginning or becoming more severe. Are there items in your basement and attic you no longer need that are serving as a nice habitat for critters? Are there corners of these rooms you haven't seen in a long time, due to clutter? Discard or donate the items you no longer need. Clean the entire perimeter of your basement and attic and wipe down dust collecting on your stored items. Give your entire space and all the items stored in them a thorough inspection for pest issues.

• Kitchens: You might not see crumbs, but there are plenty of food particles around your kitchen that will attract common pests like flies, ants, and rodents. Clean out your pantries, fridge, and cabinets (not just food cabinets — ones that hold dishes, too). Remove any expired foods, empty boxes, and unused dishes collecting dust in your cabinets. While your cabinets and drawers are empty, scrub them with bleach water or kitchen cleaner, and afterward, sweep and mop your floor. Once you have removed all old or decaying food items from your cabinets and fridge, immediately seal your garbage bag and take it outside.

• Bathrooms: The bathroom is a really common place for cockroaches, ants, centipedes and spiders to appear. Sometimes, they even come up the drains! That's why you should make sure to pour bleach down your bathtub and sink drains from time to time, to ensure you're reaching all the spots where bugs may be crawling. Regularly wipe down all of the bathroom's surfaces, and ensure that no moisture is pooling in any areas, such as behind the toilet or next to the bathtub.

• Bedrooms: Your bedroom closet might be all cleaned out, but what about under the bed? Make sure no clutter is hiding any pest issues, and thoroughly check your mattress, box spring, pillows, and bedding for bed bugs. You can extend this practice to your living room as well.

• Garages: Halfway between being an inside space and an outdoor space, your garage is extremely susceptible to pest infestations. Left open on warm days as children play in the front yard, it’s barely secured from pests. Build shelves so that all stored items such as boxes and tools are lifted off of the floor. Sweep regularly and watch for any plumbing leaks or other leaks due to rain outdoors. Make sure the bottom of your garage door is sealed properly with weatherstripping or a protective rubber seal. And remember, if your exterior garage door is open, make sure to keep the interior door closed or screened at all times.

If you uncover a pest problem while performing your spring cleaning, contact us to schedule a free inspection and get on the path to living pest free.