The garage has many functions: housing the family car, storing excess items, and sometimes as a converted man cave. What it should never be, however, is a home for pests. Unfortunately, bugs and rodents often find their way into the space anyway, causing damage to items stored there and infesting the home. Here are two pests that tend to take up residence in garages and how you can stop them.

Ants

Ants are one of the most common garage invaders, especially if there are food scraps and crumbs around. They're really tiny, so they're able to get in by creeping under the garage door and through assorted structural cracks and gaps in the building. Though they're well known for causing damage to lawns with their colonies, they also burrow in wood, which can weaken beams and other wood-based supports. Others, such as fire and Argentine ants, actually bite and will become aggressive if you get too close. If not stopped, ants will eventually find their way into the home and your food supply.

There are several things you can do to keep ants out of the garage, some of which will also apply to other pests. First, it's important you (or have a professional) inspect your home for gaps, cracks, and crevices where pests can enter and patch them up. This will prevent rodents and ants from getting in or returning after you've exterminated them.

If you store food in your garage, be sure to place it in sealed plastic containers. Recycling boxes and trash cans frequently retain food residue, so either keep these containers clean or store them somewhere else (e.g. the shed). Regularly inspect the perimeter of your garage and destroy any ant holes you see by pouring boiling water inside them and covering them up.

Spiders

Like ants, spiders are small (or can compact themselves enough) to get into the garage through cracks and holes. Spiders like the cluttered chaos of garages, because it can provide cover for them from predators. Though they don't actually damage your property, these insects can cause problems in other ways. They can be a nuisance, especially if you have a phobia of them. More concerning, however, is some are poisonous (e.g. brown recluse, black widow) and can cause severe bodily damage and death if they bite you.

In addition to plugging up the access points, you'll want to clean up your garage to minimize the number of places for spiders to hide. Although you probably won't see the spiders themselves, you'll see their webs. Destroy them as soon as they go up using a broom, duster, or vacuum. This will prevent the spiders from capturing insects to eat, and the bugs may get so annoyed that they find a more peaceful place to live.

Keep the area around your garage clean and trim any bushes that may be nearby. Spiders find piles of leaves and wildly growing hedges attractive, which may lead them into your garage. Lastly, take care of other pests that find their way into the garage. Spiders eat other bugs, so eliminating ants, flies, and other insects spiders find tasty will either starve them to death or motivate them to leave your garage for better pastures.

Suppressive Pest Control

You can use a variety of suppressive pest control option to prevent ants, spiders, and other pests from making it inside the garage in the first place. For instance, having a pest control company spray the perimeter of your home with pesticide will create a barrier that kills the bugs before they can get in. Be aware, this should be done on a regular basis, so it's important that whatever method you use, it's one you can keep up with.

For more information about keeping pests out of your home, garage, or yard or assistance with dealing with an infestation, contact a local pest control company like Fowler Pest Control.