From tiny pests you can’t see with the naked eye to mammals you can’t get rid of, pests are obnoxious. Want to get rid of yours? This article will present to you many different ideas for tackling your pesky problem, allowing you to better your life as quickly as possible.

Do you have a problem with fruit flies? You can get rid of them with a little apple cider vinegar! Pour some vinegar into the bottom of a tall glass. Add a little bit of dish soap. The fruit flies will swim into the glass, but won’t be able to swim out, and will drown.

If you are dealing with a stink bug invasion, try to minimize your use of outdoor lights. These pests are drawn to the brightness, so they will move closer to your house when the lights are on, giving them more opportunities to find their way in. Furthermore, draw your blinds in the evening so the light from inside your home does not attract them.

If you believe that you have a bat in the house, leave a window open overnight. Try to pick one that is located close to where you think the bat might be. These pests follow the air current, so they should go right back outside if they have a way to exit the premises.

If you are wondering if you have termites, get a dog that can smell them. A termite inspector can just confirm that one-third of your house is safe. A dog that is trained to sniff them out can cover 100% of your home. The reason that dogs can do this is because they can smell methane gas which occurs when termites destroy wood.

If you are having a pest control problem at your home, take a look at your garbage for clues to why this is happening. Garbage needs to be in air tight bags and disposed of on a regular basis. Keep your trash outside your home and not inside your kitchen to reduce the chances of having a pest problem.

Keep sweet smelling food products in sealed containers or in the fridge. Sweet foods can easily attract a vast variety of pests, from rodents to ants. If you do not have enough containers to seal your sugar, cereal and breads you should invest in them. It will cost you a lot less than paying an exterminator.

Remember that as much as your houseplants might bring life to your home, some of that life might be pests. If you suspect that they are infested with aphids, spray your houseplants regularly with a solution of soap and water. That should be enough to manage the pest problem without exposing your plants and home to insecticides.

It is notoriously difficult to eradicate fleas and their eggs once they get into your house, but there are a few things that can work. It is important to vacuum your home as much as you can to create a clean foundation. Get the vacuum bag out of your home when you’re finished.

Go through the foundation and roof of your house to ensure that there’re no cracks or holes that pests can get into. If you find any, make sure you seal them up as soon as possible. Try to avoid using typical caulk as they usually can chew through this. Your best bet is to use something made with copper or mesh.

Laundry detergent is a great tool for preventing ants from entering your home. They strongly dislike the smell of the chemicals used in detergent. Use this by putting the detergent in a spry bottle and using it all long the entrances to your doors and any other place ants could enter.

Sometimes calling a professional exterminator is a necessity. While many do it yourself, remedies work wonderfully, infestations can reach beyond the control of your average house owner. While it may be more expensive to call in a professional or service, it is definitely worth it to effectively rid your home of pests.

If you have firewood, make sure that it is stored a decent amount of feet away from the house. Bugs will inhabit this wood, so you will want it as far away from the house as possible. Try to expel all the items that bugs will feast on from your home.

Make sure your landscaping is kept far away from your home. When roots crack your foundation, it allows pets to get inside. Bushes also give a good hiding spot to mice or insects, allowing them to get comfortable close to your home. They may then find a route to the inside.

When you’re being overrun by pests, you will look anywhere for a solution. Luckily, you’ve come across the article and the best ideas are here. Make sure you put them into practice and you should be able to get your problems under control and the pests zapped from your life for good.

Pest Control 101: Tips You Should Live By was originally published on Spring