If you own a home, expect that you'll have to deal with pests at some point. The best way to combat your pest problem is to learn as much as you can about the different methods of pest control. If you have the right knowledge, it is possible to eliminate pests for good.
A trained dog is a great termite-finding tool. An actual human inspector is only capable of verifying the safety of about one-third of the home. A well-trained, termite sniffing dog can find all of them. Dogs cannot be beat. They smell for the methane gas that is a byproduct of termites eating wood.
they are eradicated, but some may still be lurking.
If you have had a bedbug infestation and you think they are all gone, be careful. Bedbugs can hibernate an entire year. For this reason, you need to make sure you seal all holes and cracks in your floors and walls. This will prevent them from hiding anywhere.
Is your home infested with ants? A mixture of borax and sugar can help you eliminate ants from your home. Sugar acts as an attractant, then the borax will cause them to die when they get to it. Just mix a single cup of sugar and one of borax. Poke holes through the lid to allow you to sprinkle it around the foundation and baseboards.
Keep water from pooling and standing stagnant around your home. Pests are very attracted to standing water. Check thoroughly regarding any leaky pipes, and make sure you clean house plant trays. All pests require water to be able to survive in your home.
It is important to keep brush and firewood at minimum a foot from your house. Insects and other pests are naturally attracted to bushes. If you put the bush close to the house, you will be inviting them in.
If your home has any cracks, then you should ensure that you immediately seal them. These are one of the most common entry points for bugs into a home. They fit between even the tiniest cracks. Sealing these things up gives them no place to hide.
It can be awfully hard to eliminate fleas, but there are a few good tips to help you get rid of both the fleas and their eggs. Investing in a quality flea spray can be an effective tool, as can vacuuming every day. Keep in mind that you must throw away the vacuum bag afterwords.
Outdoor lighting is wonderful for entertaining and to divert strangers from your home, but these lights can attract pests. If outdoor lights are necessary, use yellow, orange or pink bulbs to keep pests at bay.
You may seldom see pests in lived-in parts of your home, but remember to inspect lesser used areas from time to time. Include checking underneath the house when looking for pests. Make sure crawl spaces and basements are inspected thoroughly.
Hairspray is surprising effective at dealing with flying insects. It won't harm your pets but will kill the insects. The hairspray sticks to them, leaving them unable to reach food or water. This is a good option for insects you don't want to get close to.
Inspect your foundation and all walls for existing cracks. As you go through the years, a home will start to develop cracks and fissures. These cracks are a target for pests to enter. Inspect the ceiling also. This can sometimes be the place that pests use to infiltrate your home.
The recycling bins in your home may be attracting pests. That is why you should have them placed outside your house. If that is not possible, rinse all items prior to placing them in the recyclables bin. Invest in recycling containers with airtight lids to keep pests at bay.
If you have a cockroach problem, keep all food in sealed containers. Put open containers into zippered bags or Tupperware to seal the container completely; do not merely close the container with a clip. Cockroaches will stay in your home as long as they can find food. Always keep your flour, sugar, and baking supplies sealed up.
If you see spiders in your home, keep in mind that they are probably there because they have a food source: other bugs. You should vacuum whenever you can. Doing this keeps down the number of bugs in your home and will result in fewer spiders, too.
Carpenter Ants
If you see carpenter ants, you might have a bigger problem on your hands. Carpenter ants only eat wood, which means you probably have a leaky home, or worse, rotting wood. Bring in a pro to tell you how to deal with the problem.
If rodents are a concern for you, concentrate on your yard. Make the environment uninhabitable for these creatures. Rid yourself of weeds, bushes or debris that rodents could create a habitat in. The lid on your trash can should be secure, and you don't ever want to let your grass get too long. Doing these things will keep rodents at bay.
If a raccoon is inside your home, try using mustard oil to repel it long enough for you to block the entrance point. Put the oil in the area that the pest is living in, and then determine the point of entry. Once you've located the point of entry, seal it off with mesh wire.
When it comes to controlling the housefly population, old fashioned ideas tend to work the best. Both sticky strips and fly swatters are efficient for killing houseflies. They also won't pollute your home with toxic chemicals. Only use sprays when you can follow the specific instructions for safe usage around humans and pets.
As we said before, most people have to deal with pests every now and again. To make sure you don't have pests, apply the tips in this article to your life. Take action as soon as possible.