Keeping your apartment livable means more than just vacuuming once per week and walking your dog.  It means making sure that your home is clean.  Insects and rodents can make a home in any apartment, whether it is cleaned or not.  There are many factors that can influence whether or not your apartment will find itself in the middle of a bad B movie.

The cleanliness and upkeep of the complex is vital to the condition of your apartment. If the grounds are poorly maintained and the garbage infrequently removed, you can find yourself living a nightmare.  If you notice things of this nature, notify management.  If you do not elicit any response, you may have to take your complaints farther, but this is the place to start.

Ensuring that your home remains clean is another huge aspect of dealing with pests.  Insects and rodents can live on any food that you do, so make sure that all food is cleaned up as early as possible.  This includes washing your dishes on a daily basis, vacuuming and makings sure that crumbs are wiped up as soon as possible.  Doing this will help you keep your apartment pest free.

If you do find yourself battling insects or rodents, talk to your landlord or management company.  Many complexes supply pest control; take advantage of this.  Even if they do not supply it, chances are there is a pest control company that they do business with on a regular basis.  You can use this company as well and your landlord can give you the phone number.  Removing the pests before they become a huge problem will be your best defense.