Healthy Home Resources

Three Steps to a Healthy Home

Pests need water, food and shelter to live, just like you. Here’s what you and the property owner can do to get rid of them and prevent them from invading your home.

1. Inside your home: take away pests’ food, water and shelter:
   • Clean grease, crumbs and spills and don’t leave dishes in the sink.
   • Store food in sealed containers. Pests can chew through paper, cardboard and plastic.
   • Remove clutter from floors and store extra clothing in sealed plastic containers.
   • Take out garbage frequently. Rinse food containers before recycling.
   • At night, put away or put a lid on your pet’s food and water.
   • Avoid sprays, foggers or bombs. They don’t reach hiding places and push pests into walls. Sprays, foggers or bombs must be disposed of as household hazardous waste.
   • Ensure there are no leaks or water under the sink. Pests love to live in dark, humid spaces.
   • Keep your home clean using less-toxic products.

2. Reduce moisture to prevent mold and pests:
   • Open curtains and windows, and use ventilation fans when cooking and bathing.
   • Fans should be free of grease and reported to management if not operating effectively.
   • Separate furniture and appliances, including refrigerator, from walls.
   • Dry moisture from windows and walls after bathing.
   • Report drips or leaks for repair to property management.
   • Check the seal around the sink; ensure it’s sealed up and does not allow water to leak below the sink.

3. In and around your home, ask property management to seal out pests:
   • Install door sweeps or other barriers.
   • Screen all vents and windows, and repair broken screens.
   • Seal all cracks, crevices and holes in walls and ceilings, and around electrical outlets, pipes and gas/utility connections.
   • Keep carports and garages free of clutter. Safely get rid of unwanted and leftover chemicals for free through San Mateo County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program.
   • Thin out dense trees and overgrown plants. Trim branches and leaves that come close to gutters and roofs.
   • Maintain interior and exterior water, drainage (including gutters and downspouts) and sewage systems.
   • Rinse common garbage and recycling bins as needed to reduce grime.
   • Consider hiring a safer pest control expert certified in Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Ecowise Certified, GreenPro Certified, or Green Shield Certified.

Mold and Moisture in the Home: Keep it Dry

Reducing moisture prevents and reduces mold growth. Your first action is to address the source of the moisture, which causes mold. Read more about preventing mold and other healthy homes actions from the California Department of Public Health.