Pest control is a topic that most people must become familiar at one point or another due to an unexpected infestation. Information is the key to managing the thorny dilemma common pests can pose. Apply the advice that follows and prepare to be victorious when confronting pests within your own home.
Plug holes that mice or other pests can enter with steel wool. While rats and mice can chew through them, the thin metal strands are too tough to chew. Any opening bigger than half an inch should be plugged. Remember that rodents can get through very tiny openings.
If you are concerned that you have bed bugs, do not try to remove your mattress from your home. Dragging it through the house is likely to spread the infestation. Instead, keep everything stored in that one location. You can add a “bed bug cover” to the mattress to try and contain the problem, although you will need to be seen by a pest control specialist.
Use a specially trained dog to determine whether or not your home is infested with termites. Humans can only check about a 30% of your home’s surface area for termite infestations. Trained dogs can verify your entire home’s safety. Dogs are attuned to odors like methane that are released when wood is eaten by termites.
Make sure that every single night, you do the dishes in a dishwater or at least wash the food off of the dishes in the sink. The last thing that you will want to do is leave food in the sink, which can be a breeding ground for insects to come in your home.
If you have any leaky pipes or anything that drips water, make sure that you get them repaired. Leaving water around is a good way of keeping pests in your home. They will not want to leave because you are giving them a way to get the water that they need.
If you’ve got crevices and cracks in your house, seal them off right way. These are just the places that pests love to find as they are looking for ways to get inside. Sealing these things up gives them no place to hide.
Fleas can be very difficult to expel, but there are things that can be done to rid your home of them. Vacuum at least once per day and use a flea spray. Be sure that you get rid of every vacuum bag that you use as soon as you are done.
If you hear bees in the walls of your home, never try to plug their access hole. This will trap them inside, and they will attempt to break free. Unfortunately, this means that they could come through the wall, into your home. You will have no choice at that point but to exit the premises and call a pest control specialist.
Did you see some carpenter ants in your home? These ants are usually attracted by damp wood. There might be a leak somewhere in your home. Call a plumber and have your plumbing system entirely inspected. Once the leak is fixed, focus on eradicating the carpenter ants with some borax or a similar product.
If rodents such as raccoons or skunks are tearing your garbage bags, set a trap where you usually leave your garbage. Attract the animal with a piece of meat and make sure the trap you use is large enough for the animals you have observed. If possible, release the animal in the woods instead of killing it.
You should under no circumstances tolerate pest into your home. If you do not take action right away, the situation will get worse. An pest-infested home will lose its value, the pest will damage the home and some pest can actually transmit diseases to pets and in some cases to humans.
Unclog any drains that may have clogging issues. Pests are attracted to that type of organic material build up. Even just a minor clog can lead to roaches and flies entering your home. Picking up some sort of liquid de-clogger or a de-clogging snake tool will do the trick.
Seal any leaks. Whether you’re dealing with ants or other pests, one way to stop them is by sealing off an entry point. For smaller pests, a tiny amount of silicone caulk can accomplish this. If you’re dealing with rats or mice, you need to stuff some steel wool into that hole, then cover it up using wire mesh.
Just about everyone has had to deal with pest control at some time in their life. The best way to handle the inconvenience and alarm that common pests can cause is to learn everything you can about eradication and control methods. With any luck, this article has allowed you to do just that.
Stop Letting The Pests Bug You With These Tips was originally published on Spring