Many homeowners are nor sure what to do if they come across a pest problem in the home. Their first instinct is to grab the phone and call in the professionals. There is no need for this. You can exterminate these pests on your own. Keep reading to learn how.

If you are having an issue with stink bugs, remember not to stomp or smash on them. Doing so will release a foul odor into your home. Instead, use a vacuum cleaner to suction them up. It is important, however, that you change the bag after doing so or it will begin to smell as well.

You cannot afford to waste any time once you find out your home is infested. Put your valuable belongings in safe places and call an exterminator as soon as possible. If the exterminator you called cannot come to your home within the next couple of days, keep looking for another available professional.

If you want to avoid attracting small rodents, bugs and other pests, you want to be careful what you leave sitting around. Make sure that food is put away into containers and stored properly. Also make sure that crumbs are cleaned up and garbage is put away. A lack of attraction will surely keep those pests away.

Your pets are a big source of bug infestations in your home. Not only can your pets bring in fleas and ticks from outdoors, but their food is a food source for bugs as well. When the animals are done eating, pick up their food. Keep the area where the animals eat clean as well.

If you’re using mulch, don’t mulch all the way to the side of your home. Leave a gap about half a foot in length between the mulch and your outdoor wall. This will give you (or any exterminator) a better ability to see if any pests (like termites) are crawling from the mulch onto your outdoor wall.

Do a little research on the rodents or insects that have made your house their home. Make a list of things that are toxic or unpleasant to these animals and find out what attracts them. Adjusting your approach to each pest is the better way.

Although spiders do catch other insects in the home, they are usually considered an unwelcome guest. Nobody wants to see one, or be bitten by one while they sleep. One way to discourage spiders from invading your basement is to spray the walls and ceilings with bleach. This is an effective way to repel them without using chemicals.

If you are struggling with an ant problem in your house, make sure you are not feeding your unwanted visitors! Be very diligent about putting away any food after you eat it and keep your countertops and floors clean. Take out your trash regularly and if you have pets, don’t leave their food out overnight.

Pesticides are very efficient but these products are harmful for the environment. If possible, use cleaner methods to get rid of your pest. A lot of home remedies work and there are some efficient products on the market that contain a low amount of chemicals. This is the best approach if you have pets or young children in your home.

If you have a mouse or rat problem that you believe you can handle yourself, head down to your local supermarket or any other store that sells pest-control supplies and purchase snap traps and peanut butter. Set up the snap traps in an area you believe is heavily traveled by the vermin and put some peanut butter on the bait area. Mice and rats love peanut butter.

Some pests are attracted to light, including your outdoor lights. Lighting around your home’s entrance should only be turned on when needed, not left on continuously. Prevent bugs entering your home by making use of orange and yellow porch lights that are not as attractive to bugs.

You should not use pesticide when it is windy, hot or humid outside or when it is raining. These conditions will cause the pesticide to spread and pollute your area. Always check the label of the products you buy and make sure you use the product safely and in reasonable quantities.

Mosquito infestations in your yard can be highly problematic, especially in the late summer. To prevent mosquitoes from infesting your yard and using it for breeding, make sure you don’t have any stagnant pools of water in your yard. Change the water in bird baths every week and avoid water build-up in sand boxes and other containers.

Pests will be a problem no more in your home. Any time there is an issue, you will know just what to do. You can take all that money you would have paid an exterminator and treat yourself to a nice dinner and come home to a home that is pest free.

What Every Homeowner Needs To Know About Pest Control was originally published on Spring