Ithaca Living: Your Guide to a Pest-Free Apartment 🪤
Keeping your home pest-free is a joint effort! While we, at Ferris Place Rentals, conduct annual spraying and pest prevention treatments, Mother Nature can sometimes be unpredictable. To create a truly pest-resistant environment, we need your cooperation!
Cleanliness is Key
Pests are attracted to food and clutter. Here are some ways to keep them at bay:
Store all food in sealed containers in your kitchen cabinets or pantry. Do not store food in your bedroom (open or unopened) as this can attract pests into your sleeping area. Basements can also be havens for pests, so avoid storing food in the basement for any reason.
Keep it Crumb-Free! Wash dishes promptly after meals to avoid attracting unwanted guests. If you enjoy TV dinners on the couch, take a moment to wipe up any crumbs after you’re done.
Take out your trash and recycling regularly. Leaving overflowing bins creates a buffet for unwanted guests. Keep the lids on your outdoor trash and recycling bins at all times as well. Make sure you only place garbage cans on the curb during the designated times (Monday evening), and bring cans back to their appropriate spots after pick up (for trash cans, the shed in front of 112 Ferris, and for recycling, right by your unit’s doors).
Fly Prevention Tips
Keep Exterior Doors Closed: During move-in days, especially, make sure to keep exterior doors closed as much as possible to prevent flies from entering your apartment.
Window Screens: Ensure all your windows have screens, particularly during the summer months. This helps keep out flies and other insects.
Nighttime Lighting: Avoid using desk lamps near open windows at night. The light can attract flies and other nocturnal bugs.
Bedroom Food Storage: Food and sugary drinks left in bedrooms can attract flies and fruit flies. Avoid bringing food into your bedroom.
Kitchen Cleanliness: Maintain a clean kitchen to deter flies. Regularly clean up spills and crumbs, take out the trash frequently, and keep your kitchen surfaces disinfected.
Bat Season in Ithaca
From July to September, our bat friends become more active. While they're beneficial for the ecosystem, you probably don't want them sharing your living space. Here's how to keep them out:
Secure all windows: Make sure the top sections of windows are firmly closed during bat season. If you keep the bottom portions open for ventilation, ensure the screens are properly fitted and have no holes.
Minimize nighttime entrances: Avoid leaving your front door open for extended periods, especially during evenings and moving days, when bats might be more active.
Unexpected Guest: If a bat finds its way into your unit, isolate the bat in a room by closing the door. Immediately call our Maintenance Hotline. They will contact a professional animal service to remove the bat safely from the house.
Be Responsible for Your Unit
Report any signs of pests immediately. This could include droppings, chewed food packaging, or even seeing the actual critters themselves. Early detection is key to preventing an infestation. If your apartment becomes a haven for pests due to excessive food waste or messy conditions, you'll be responsible for any extermination costs. Let's work together to keep our living spaces clean and pest-free! By following these simple tips, we can create a team effort to keep your homes pest-free.
By Kristen H.
Property Manager
Ferris Place Rentals
