Clutter and Pests

According to some surveys, more than 25% of U.S. households have clutter issues and 50% are overwhelmed by the stuff in their homes. But more than just stress, clutter creates spaces where pests like cockroaches, mice, and bed bugs can flourish. Clutter disrupts everyday life and increases the risk of health problems related to pests, mold, and dust. Asthma, for example, is aggravated by all three.

Reducing clutter creates a healthier environment by making it easier to control pests and eliminate allergens. Decluttering also removes pests’ food and water and makes it easier to see signs of pests to get rid of them faster.

Here are some tips to help you plan for decluttering:

• Make a list of the most to least cluttered rooms. Tackle the problem room by room over time.
• Target the areas causing the most problems. This way you can focus your energy and mark progress as you go.

Here are some options for what to do with items as you declutter:

• Keep and move to a more useful location: These are regularly used items that you can move and easily find.
• Keep and store: These are items used occasionally. For example, holiday decorations or seasonal clothing. Store them in clear plastic bins with labels and on shelving – off the floor, open shelving allows for better pest control.

Other resources for decluttering:

• Off-site storage: There’s an ever-growing storage industry. If you can’t figure out how to get rid of something, paying for off-site storage may be the best solution.

For a full list on what you can do to handle clutter and pests, view the attached case study.

Contact Us

For more information on IPM, visit ElevateNP.org/Pest-Management, or contact Ruth Kerzee at 773-269-4065.