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You are here: NPIC Home Page —> Pest Control —> Integrated Pest Management (IPM) —> Household IPM

Household IPM

If you are just getting started with your pest problem, think about these questions and do some research about the pest.

• What type of pest are you dealing with?
• How are they getting in? How can I keep them out?
• Do they live in the house all of the time, or do they come and go?
• What are they eating and drinking?
• How can I make my home less friendly to pests?
• How can I keep track of their activity to see if my strategy is working?

If you have already identified your pest problem, these fact sheets may be helpful.

To prevent future problems, consider taking steps to pest-proof your home.

• Inspect your home inside and out looking for pests, food, water and entry points.
• Fix any leaky hoses, faucets or pipes; pests need water.
• Fix any holes in your window screens, and consider installing door-sweeps.
• Plug entry points, even the tiny ones, with caulk, wire mesh, etc.
• Learn about relative humidity, and keep it below 60% indoors, if possible, to prevent mold and help control other pests.

If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 1-800-858-7378 (7:30am-3:30pm PST), or email us at npic@ace.orst.edu.

Additional Resources:

• Urban IPM: How does it work? - eXtension.org
• IPM for Homes - New York State IPM Program, Cornell University
• Pests in Homes, Gardens, Landscapes, and Turf - University of California Statewide IPM Program
• Controlling Pests Safely - New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• What is IPM? - National Pest Management Association
• Integrated Pest Management in Affordable Housing - National Center for Healthy Housing