Do you have a pest cntrol problem in your home? If so, you are not alone. Pests are an issue for millions of other families. There are things you can do, though, to address the issue. You do not have to be a victim. Read these tips to finally tackle the problem.

Use steel wool to prevent rodents from entering your home through holes in the wall. Rodents such as mice and rats are known to be able to chew through almost anything, but steel wool will stop them dead in their tracks. If you have any half-inch openings or larger in your home, you should stuff them with this steel wool. Small pests can squeeze through these tiny openings.

Make sure that you do not have any candy lying around the area of your home. Candy is made of sugar, which can attract a wide assortment of bugs. Therefore, the best thing that you can do is eat in the kitchen and make sure that candy does not get into other areas of the house.

If you are apprehensive about using chemical pest control in your home, try traps instead. Physical traps work to attract the pest and then trap it. Some work like traditional mouse traps that snap closed and kill the pest, while others involve a sticky sheet that adheres the pest to the sheet so you can remove it from your home.

An easy way to control pests around your home is to always put food in air tight containers. Bugs are attracted all kinds of human food. When you reduce the access to this food by placing in air tight containers, you will reduce the chances of having a pest control problem.

Avoid using wood chips and straw around the outside of your house when doing gardening or other outdoor hobbies/activities. Pests tend to be drawn to these substances and will eat them or try to live in them. You should consider using stone or rock whenever possible to avoid having issues.

Stink bugs are persistent pests, so focus on your outdoor area to help eradicate the problem. Keep your bushes trimmed and make sure that firewood is stored well away from your home. Thirty feet from the dwelling is appropriate, if you have the space. In addition, the firewood needs to be kept just off the ground (about six inches).

If you have a problem with mice and rats, make sure any new trees you plant are sufficiently far from your house. If the trees are planted too close, the branches give an easy entrance way for rodents. They can enter through the roof, for instance. Plant them far from your home, about 15 feet away.

Make sure your home’s roof and water sills are draining properly. Standing water can lead to pests. If you’ve got puddles forming that just won’t go away, look to the root cause and fix it. Sometimes it’s as easy as cleaning out a gutter. Otherwise, you may get more unwanted visitors than you bargained for.

Opt for rock or stone when landscaping your yard instead of straw or wood chips. Organic material is the perfect habitat for many pests. If you want to keep them out of your home, both your home and yard should be as inhospitable to pests as possible. Pests will never make it into your home if they can’t get past your yard.

Steel wool is a great way to plug up mouse holes in your walls. When the mice are trying to get through, they will eat them and die. To take care of the problem in the long term, fill the hole with builder’s putty and mix in some steel wool. It has the same effect as a steel wool ball.

If you vacuum up the ants in your home, make sure you sprinkle a little corn starch on them before you do so. This will cause them to die inside the vacuum bag and will ensure that you don’t have a problem at a later date. Alternatively, simply use soap and water to take care of the problem.

When you’re overrun by cockroaches, place Borax powder around your home, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. If you have pets or children, this may not be the best solution as they can get into this poison as well. This trick can be used for other pests as well, like ants.

Use your hairspray to kill flying pests. Perfume may work also, but avoid getting it in your open eyes. These are flammable products, so avoid open flames. This is a great quick-fix if you have no bug spray handy.

Use the tips here that work for your specific problem. Handling a pest problem may actually turn out to be easier than you think. You can turn a professional service, or you can tackle it yourself. Whatever the case, you no longer have to sit passively as pests take over your life.

Helpful Options To Get Pests Out Of Your Home was originally published on Spring