While it’s easy to lose the attic, garage, basement or other rooms to some serious clutter, there comes a point when the clutter or hoarding becomes dangerous to you, your family and your home. By adding clutter to your home you are simultaneously adding shelter and hiding places to many dangerous pests. And once inside these pests and their dangers will multiply.

What makes clutter and hoarding so attractive to pests? Pests require three things for survival (and to thrive), food, water and shelter which are all offered in a cluttered home.

Shelter – Pests can hide in piles of paper, boxes and clothing and go unnoticed for a long period of time.

Food – Pests are attracted to food debris and if there is a lot of clutter you will not see debris.

Water – Not being able to access or see leaky pipes or other water sources through piles of clutter is going to attract pests.

There are many pests that can take advantage of your clutter including mice, rats, cockroaches and bed bugs, among many others. Each of these pests pose serious risks including:

• Mice and rats spread bacteria and pathogens through their urine and feces. 

• Mice, rats and roaches contaminate food and food surfaces and could spread many harmful pathogens to you and members of your family. 

• Roaches are known to cause allergies and asthma especially in young children. 

• Bed bugs can migrate through the entire home, embedding themselves and leaving itchy, red bed bug bites. 

• Rodents have a constant need to gnaw and can cause damage to your belongings and building materials. 

• If rodents find electrical equipment to gnaw on there is also a serious risk of a fire.

The best way to avoid such problems is to get rid of the clutter and keep the home clean so that you are not inviting pest infestations inside. And if you do spot an insect or rodent problem in your St. Louis home then please contact Rottler Pest & Lawn Solutions right away. Our St. Louis pest control pros offer home pest control solutions designed to get rid of existing infestations and help prevent new ones from arising.