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Preventing Pests Without Chemicals: Habits at Home

Did you know the first step against cockroaches, ants, and rodents isn't the insecticide? It's taking away what they're after: shelter, food, and moisture. The EPA calls this integrated pest management (IPM): environmental and habit changes come first; pesticides come in later, if they're still needed. In Costa Rica, professional fumigation and pest control work better once you've already applied these measures. Here are three pillars and concrete tips to follow. Pair this with cleaning, sealing cracks, and proper food and trash storage; if there's still a pest problem, professional control is the next step.

Tips that make a difference

• Tidiness: less clutter means fewer hiding spots. Check stacks of newspapers, boxes in the closet or garage, and piles of clothing. Cockroaches and ants love clutter.
• Cardboard and paper: cockroaches eat cardboard and hide inside boxes. Use plastic bins for storage instead, or keep empty boxes outside the house (garage, a well-sealed storage room).
• Ventilation: open windows and use fans to reduce moisture and odors. In the kitchen and bathroom, ventilating after cooking or showering makes the space less appealing to pests.
• Check entry points: doors, windows, and where pipes pass through walls. Seal cracks with caulk or silicone and add weatherstripping to doors that don't close tightly. See sealing cracks.
• Groceries and packages: check bags and boxes coming from the store or deliveries; they sometimes carry eggs or insects. Don't bring warehouse boxes inside if you don't have to.

EcoPlagas Technical Team

Pest control specialists · EcoPlagas

Content produced by EcoPlagas' technical team (Ecofumigadora Hermanos Paniagua S.R.L.), a pest control company licensed by the Ministry of Health, with chemical oversight and trained technicians. More than 10,000 customers served from 12 locations, green-label products. Learn more about us.