Helpful Tips That Will Help You Control Pests

Whether it's mice, flies or roaches, having pests in your home can be a real hassle. It costs a lot to hire a professional to treat them. Because of this, you need to find out what you can do to remove them yourself. This article tells you how you can do this.

Baiting is an effective approach to pest control, if you already have a pest problem. There are a number of over-the-counter problems that use this approach. Just find the right product for the pest you want to get rid of. Follow the product's safety instructions closely, especially if you have pets or small children.

Make a simple fruit fly trap using a 2-liter bottle and some cider vinegar or wine. Cut the bottle in half, and invert the top inside the bottom half, like a funnel. Add an inch or so of your chosen liquid, leaving a bit of space between it and the opening of the bottle. The flies can enter, but they cannot fly out and will drown.

Bedbugs are sneaky little creatures that are hard to kill. Before beginning any type of bedbug treatment, seal any holes in your home. Thus, you can prevent bugs from escaping after your efforts are concluded.

Some pests are attracted to light, including your outdoor lights. Try keeping those lights far from the entrance of your house. You will also cut back if you use a different colored light.

Clean any highly trafficked food areas every single day. Even a few crumbs each day can lead to a feast for pests over time. It's best then to approach your cleaning not once a week, but daily for these areas. Even just five minutes will lead you to a cleaner area and less potential pests.

Make your own inexpensive ant traps using boric acid and sweet liquid. Mix a couple of tablespoons of boric acid powder into a cup of honey, molasses, or simple syrup. Pour the mixture into bottle caps or shallow plastic lids. Place these traps in areas where you have seen ants, but keep them out of the reach of children and pets.

You need to check your whole house, even if many areas usually don't show signs of pests. You might have termites taking over an underground area of your house that you don't often enter. Be sure to have crawl spaces and basements inspected.

Bee stings are painful, and can even be fatal for some people. Make sure bees do not build a nest on or near your home. If you notice bees near your home, check to make sure they are not building a nest. Wasp spray can be used from a distance to kill the bees before you remove the nest.

Baby powder is something that you can use to get rid of pests in your home. Simply sprinkle a little baby powder over any infested areas that you may have and you should get rid of them in no time. This is a very accessible and cheap way to solve your problem.

Your home's exterior needs to be kept clean. Clean your driveway and cut your grass to help reduce pests. Making small changes in and around your home can work wonders in preventing pests from entering your dwelling.

Look for wall and foundation cracks. As your house settles over the years, cracks will develop. These openings are very convenient for pests to go through. Also, look at your ceiling. This is a common place that they come in.

While squirrels are cute, they can do a lot of damage if they get into the attic area of a home. Many times they chew through electrical wires, creating a fire hazard. Make sure any areas where cables or electrical wire enter the home is protected so they cannot chew a larger hole and gain access to the interior.

If you have a pest problem, do your research. Create a list of what these animals find toxic and figure out how to attract them to it. Adjusting your approach to each pest is the better way.

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.

Borax works wonders for controlling insects. Sprinkle borax in areas that are infested with insects. Try and disguise the borax with something appealing to the insects. Mix the borax with some sugar, and you've made a deadly treat.

Ask any professional you hire for references. Just because they have an ad in your yellow pages does not mean that they do good business. They only way to be sure that you are going to get your money's worth is to verify that their other customers are satisfied with their work.

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.

When you're dealing with a larger creature, such as a mouse, consider putting cooked back or even peanut butter on the trap. Let peanut butter dry out a bit to harden and attach the bacon so that it will pull on the trigger and trap the mouse in the trap.

Keep your plumbing clear of debris if you would like to keep pests out of your home. Make sure you eliminate clogs in any drains. There is delicious organic matter in the pipes that bugs love. Whenever you clean out your drains, you should make sure that you check them on a monthly basis.

In conclusion, having pests in one's home can be chaotic. Since it costs a lot to hire an exterminator, you should teach yourself whatever you can to rid yourself of them on your own. Keep these tips in mind when trying to get rid of pests.