How to Keep Pests Out of the Garage

How to Keep Pests Out of the Garage

The garage is an interesting part of the home because it’s the exact middle ground between inside the home and outside the home. It can be an enclosed space when all doors and windows are closed, but it is possible to have a nice breeze blowing through when it is opened up. There can be places to relax if the space is large enough to accommodate chairs or a small couch, but it is also a typical place to store cars and yard maintenance equipment. 

Due to all of these reasons and more, the garage is an easy target for a pest’s new home. It provides shelter from the elements and potential food sources, but it is easily connected to the outdoors so that they can still explore. There are some preventative measures we can take to eliminate most, if not all, possibilities of an infestation of any kind in our garage space. 

Keep the Garbage Cans Outside

Pests such as rats and mice will eat almost anything because their diet consists of a wide range of items. They will eat the same foods we do and they will also seek out food that we consider inedible such as paper, soap, and wood. Pests such as rats and mice are attracted to garbage cans when they can smell something edible inside them. If your garbage is full, pests already know there is food in there. It might be a good idea to take it out every night before bed so pests cannot get to it while it is still connected to your home. 

Clean the Garage Floor

Pests, such as cockroaches and spiders, will be looking for dark spaces where they can hide during the day and find shelter from rain or other outside elements. They may even try to lay their eggs in your garage if they feel comfortable enough to do so. Pests can also be found in dirt, leaves, or other debris that has been brought into the garage by pets or other pests. The easiest ways to clean a garage floor is by sweeping or vacuuming with a large shop vacuum. If your garage floor is clean, pests will have no reason to be there because they cannot find any food and therefore are unlikely to bring anything with them to build a home. 

Seal All Cracks and Holes

Just like in the home, any cracks and holes in the walls or floor of the garage are easy access points for pests. These can be easily sealed with caulk, specifically silicone caulk. It might be a good idea to perform a garage inspection every year, such as before spring when many pests are most active. Walk around the garage with a flashlight, taking special care to inspect the floors, corners, and areas around doors and windows. This will reveal any visible cracks and holes that you can then seal. 

Keep the Garage Door Closed

A common pest found in garages is called the clover mite and they will invade homes during certain parts of the year looking for shelter from weather conditions. They will often target our roofs and garages where they can come through cracks in doors or windows that are left open for too long. To keep pest like these away, make sure all windows and doors are shut to prevent pests from getting inside. It is fine to keep them open for ventilation while working on a project or spending extensive time in the garage, but just be sure to close it when you are finished. A wide open garage door or back door is easy access for pests of all kinds, especially if they smell something interesting in the garage. 

Check the Garage Door Gap

The gap between the garage door and a wall is a known place for pests to easily enter if it is wide enough. The garage door seal can shrink due to weather or age and leave a large enough gap for many types of pests to get in. It would also be wise to check the bottoms of the door that leads to the backyard and the door that leads inside the house for any gaps around the frame. Something to note is that you should not be able to see daylight between the garage door and the wall when the door is closed. Be sure to check the seal and any damage on windows in the garage as well, including windows on the garage door if there are any. There are various sealing and weather-shielding products available for purchase to solve these gap problems. If the garage door gap is too large for you to comfortably seal, contact your local garage door repair company to learn about your options. Fixing any gaps between the door and the wall will not only prevent pests from coming in, it will also help with drafts and weather that affects the temperature and contents of the garage. 

Place Traps Near All Doors

It is a good idea to keep small traps in the garage at all times since it is such a frequent access point for pests. Glue boards are popular because they don’t use chemicals and will not harm nosy pets (they’ll just be a little sticky!). The best areas to place traps are in all of the corners, on either side of the garage door, near any back or side access doors, and near pet food storage. Glue boards are available for purchase at most hardware stores.

Remove Any Current Pests

Although small deceased flies or moths may not draw our attention if they are not clearly visible, they can attract more pests who are looking for food. Sweep up all dead insects and properly dispose of them. Spider webs may be good to leave up to catch other pests, but they can also invite more spiders or larger pests inside, so it is best to sweep those as well. If you find any dead rodents or larger pests that require disposal beyond your capability, contact pest control to find out the next steps. 

Keep Pet Food Stored Correctly

Just about every common pest is drawn to pet food since it is an obvious source of food for them. This is why it’s so important to store dog or cat food correctly, whether it is kept in the garage or in the house. One easy and effective way to store any size of pet food is to purchase a trash can with a locking lid from a hardware store and make sure it is closed tightly. If possible, keep the pet food bowl inside the can as well, since any food residue can still attract pests. If there are any treat containers that have to be kept outside the can, make sure those are able to be completely sealed. 

Fix Any Leaks Immediately 

Small random puddles in the garage seem normal and harmless, but they are yet another invitation for pests. Moisture attracts pests, especially cockroaches and earwigs, and they will come to the moisture and make their home anywhere they can find shelter. Find the source of any leaks and make sure they are fixed, either by yourself or a plumber. Use a fan to dry any wet areas and mop up outstanding puddles. 

Call in the Pros

Pests often find their way inside garages because they either want to find food or they simply want a comfortable place in which to live. Their presence in your garage can be potentially dangerous, so pest control is often necessary. If pests are present, pest control will set up traps outside the home and spray inside the home where pest have invaded. It’s best that pests stay out of our garages because it is often the last line of defense before they enter our homes.

Citations

How to keep bugs and pests out of your garage. (2017, May 10). Quality Overhead Door. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from https://www.qualityoverheaddoor.com/blog/keep-bugs-out-garage/ 

McKay, M. (n.d.). How to keep pests out of the garage. SF Gate. Available at https://homeguides.sfgate.com/keep-pests-out-garage-32026.html (Accessed on February 22, 2022).