4 Tips for Hosting Guests Without Hosting Insects, Rodents and Other Pests

Jonathon • December 15, 2021

 4 Tips for Hosting Guests Without Hosting Insects, Rodents and Other Pests


You’ve got friends coming over. Maybe it’s a dinner party, a family holiday, or just a casual get-together. The table’s set, the drinks are chilled, and the playlist is queued up. Everything’s ready...

...until you see a cockroach dart across the kitchen floor. Yikes.

Nothing kills the mood faster than an unwanted pest showing up at your party. You could serve a Michelin-star meal, but if your guests see a spider creeping along the ceiling or a mouse scurrying under the couch, guess what they’re going to remember?

Here’s the deal: your space is part of your personal brand. And just like you wouldn’t show up to a meeting in a stained shirt, you don’t want your home to send the message that it’s open season for bugs and rodents.

That’s why today we’re diving into four powerful tips to help you host guests—not pests.

1. Deep Clean the "Forgotten Zones" First

Let’s start with the most obvious (but often overlooked) tip: a clean home is your first line of defense against pests.

But here’s the catch—it’s not just about what looks clean. Pests love the unseen places: behind appliances, under sinks, under furniture, inside baseboards, and behind trash cans. These hidden areas are prime real estate for insects and rodents because they offer warmth, food crumbs, and moisture—all the things pests need to thrive.

Action Steps:

  • Pull out your fridge and vacuum behind it (yes, really).
  • Check underneath your stove and sink for spills or leaks.
  • Wipe baseboards and mop behind furniture you haven’t moved in months.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rodents often enter homes looking for food, shelter, and water. Cutting off their access is your best strategy for keeping them out.

And if you’re short on time or just want it done right, this is where professional cleaning services can be a game-changer. Companies like Transparent Cleaning Company specialize in deep cleaning that targets pest-prone areas without you lifting a finger.

2. Seal the Deal—Literally

Even the cleanest home can attract pests if it has entry points they can slip through. And they don’t need much space.

Mice can squeeze through openings the size of a dime. Roaches? A crack no wider than a credit card is all they need.

Common Entry Points:

  • Gaps in window and door seals
  • Unscreened vents or chimneys
  • Cracks around plumbing or utility lines
  • Foundation gaps and garage door seals

Quick Fixes:

  • Apply weather stripping to doors and windows.
  • Seal cracks and crevices with caulk or expanding foam.
  • Add mesh screens to vents, drains, and chimneys.

For renters or homeowners, doing a quick “perimeter walk” once a season can save you hundreds in pest control costs. And if you’ve already seen signs of pest activity? That brings us to tip number three...

3. Eliminate the Invitation: Garbage, Food & Standing Water

Here’s the truth about pests—they’re not out to ruin your party. They’re just following the food.

Insects and rodents are biologically programmed to sniff out sugars, grease, fats, and moisture. That means even a few crumbs or a leaky faucet can signal an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Host-Ready Habits:

  • Take out the trash right before your event (especially if it contains food).
  • Wipe down counters, especially after handling sweets or meat.
  • Store pet food in sealed containers.
  • Fix leaky sinks, pipes, or toilets that might create standing water.
  • Clean up spills and crumbs immediately, especially under the dining table.


A
University of Florida study found that integrated pest management (IPM) practices—which include sanitation, exclusion, and maintenance—dramatically reduce infestations without over-relying on chemicals.

And remember: ants, flies, and roaches are masters of finding what you forgot to clean up. A little effort here saves a big headache later.

4. Use Scents Strategically

Want a little marketing psychology bonus tip? Smell is one of the most powerful senses when it comes to mood and memory. But it’s also a powerful repellent for pests.

While lavender, citrus, peppermint, and eucalyptus smell amazing to us, most pests hate them. These essential oils can act as a natural and non-toxic pest deterrent—while also making your home feel more like a luxury spa.

How to Use Them:

  • Add a few drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle with water and lightly mist entry points or baseboards.
  • Use citrus-scented cleaning sprays or wipes on countertops and sinks.
  • Add a diffuser with eucalyptus oil near your trash bins or entryways.

Not only will your guests enjoy a refreshing atmosphere, but you’ll also be creating an invisible barrier pests would rather avoid.

Just make sure you’re not masking deeper issues. A clean home should smell clean because it is clean—not just because you diffused some oils. Use scent as the cherry on top, not the whole sundae.

Bonus Tip: Don’t Wait for a Pest Problem to Start Preventing It

Most people only think about pest control once they’ve already seen something crawling. But just like marketing, prevention beats reaction.
A smart host:

  • Schedules seasonal deep cleaning (especially before the holidays)
  • Checks for leaks, gaps, and food storage issues monthly
  • Hires professionals when the situation requires it

Remember, hosting guests is about creating a safe, comfortable, and memorable experience. And trust me—“remember that time a mouse ran across the living room?” isn’t the memory you’re trying to make.

Final Thoughts

When you’re hosting, you’re not just offering a space—you’re creating an environment. The condition of your home is part of the experience. And in the same way great marketing creates trust and comfort in a brand, a clean and pest-free home creates comfort in your presence.

To recap:

  1. Deep clean the spots pests love most.
  2. Seal up the sneaky entry points.
  3. Keep your food and water sources secure.
  4. Use scents that please your guests—and repel invaders.

So go ahead, plan that gathering. Just make sure your guest list doesn’t include six-legged surprises.


--

For deep, thorough home cleaning services that help you maintain a pest-free home in Colorado Springs and beyond, check out
Transparent Cleaning Company.



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Focus on mechanicals first : electrical, plumbing, HVAC. Cosmetic fixes like paint and flooring come after the bones are good. That before and after transformation may look glamorous on social media, but it's the unsexy fixes that protect your cash flow long-term. Make every dollar count, and document everything for future appraisals. Speed helps, but precision saves you from lawsuits and surprise costs later. Rent Like a Pro You don’t just list the unit and pray for a tenant with steady income. No, you build systems. Your lease should be tighter than a drum, your screening thorough enough to scare off scammers. Use tools like the best rental property management software like Buildium to keep things digital, traceable, and free from emotional decisions. Be responsive but firm—landlord is not synonymous with pushover. Set expectations early with tenants and enforce your rules with polite consistency. Rent collection should never rely on vibes or promises. Clean for Success After the rehab and just before tenants roll in, there's one final, crucial step. Deep cleaning. Not the surface kind. We're talking industrial-grade, allergen-removing, sparkle-level scrub. For short-term or long-term tenants alike, cleanliness makes the difference between good reviews and refund demands. Use a cleaning service like Transparent Cleaning Co. that understands turnover timelines and property standards—not your cousin with a Swiffer. A properly cleaned unit rents faster, shows better, and frankly, commands more money. Don’t cheap out here. Refinance Wisely The refinance phase is where most investors stumble because they either rush or assume lenders owe them something. Timing matters—a good appraiser can make or break your strategy. Make sure your improvements are documented, permits are closed, and your property cash flows cleanly. Not all banks are friendly to BRRRR-style deals, so shop around. Look for lenders who understand how to refinance your investment property without bogging you down in nonsense paperwork. Once you pull your equity, don’t treat it like Vegas winnings—it’s your seed for the next buy, not a splurge on a new truck. Repeat with Strategy Don’t just repeat for the sake of repeating. Each new cycle should be better informed, better timed, and better financed. Use your previous numbers to adjust your expectations, but never get complacent. If your last deal took four months to rehab and you barely broke even, don't romanticize that process—optimize it. Leverage property managers if you’re scaling fast. Learn from others who’ve mastered the BRRRR method of real estate investing so you’re not building castles on soft sand. With each loop, you should feel smarter, not just busier. You thought it was just about buying cheap and renting high, right? That’s the myth. 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