Tips to Pest-Proof Your Garage

We all use our garages to store our cars, holiday decorations, gardening tools, and anything else we like to pack away and out of sight. Unfortunately, a garage environment is oftentimes the perfect shelter for a variety of pests. Rats, mice, spiders, silverfish, crickets, and flies are some of the most common garage pest problems in Los Angeles and nationwide. Because the garage can be kept open for periods of time, pest problems can seem inevitable. Boxes of stored goods are a haven for pests, making it easy for them to settle in for months at a time. To avoid dealing with a pest infestation in your garage—which can lead to pest problems inside the property—it’s important to learn how to pest-proof your garage. Keep reading for tips from the experts at Isotech Pest Management.

Common Pests in Los Angeles Garages

A garage can provide pests with shelter, food, and water, which is why it’s such a hotspot for pest problems in Los Angeles. The most common garage pests include:

1. Rodents. Especially in the colder months of the year, rodents will seek shelter in garages. They can easily build nests in storage boxes and wall voids or even sneak into your car. Because they can squeeze through coin-sized holes, rodents in garages are more common than you may want to believe.
2. Spiders. Most spiders crawl inside to feed on other insects. This makes your garage even more suitable for their place of dwelling. Spiders are known to spin webs in boxes and in rarely-accessed corners. You can be sure to come across spiders when pulling out holiday decorations from your garage every year.
3. Silverfish. One of the most common pests in California properties, silverfish are especially fond of garages and cardboard boxes. Once they are in your garage, they can feed on a number of items: paper, glue, clothing, flour, and more. While mostly harmless, silverfish are nonetheless a nuisance.
4. Flies. Especially in the hot summer months in Los Angeles, flies can be a major nuisance. Flies are attracted to buildings by air currents and odors, and will get into garages when the door is open. House flies can be found resting on nearly any surface including on walls, floors, window sills and other various objects found in the garage.

How to Pest-Proof Your Garage

Just as you would with any part of your property, the key to keeping pests out of your garage is to eliminate their access points and make the garage less inhabitable in general. This includes installing effective weather stripping, as well as sealing cracks and crevices with silicone-based caulk or steel wool (or both). Another tip is to promptly fix any leaky pipes or moisture problems. Lastly, consider storing your items in plastic bins with tight-fitting lids to deny pests access to your stored goods.

Need Help With Pests in the Garage?

Pests anywhere inside or outside your property are a nuisance and can even be dangerous. If you are having trouble keeping pests out of your garage, the expert technicians at Isotech can help!