Pest Control Made Easy For DIY Handymen
What's that sound? Could it be a mouse in the walls? Or is it cockroaches? Gross! No matter what pest inhabits your location, it's time to get them out for good. Read this article in full to find a plethora of methods for dealing with pesky critters once and for all.
Check to see that all of your food is airtight and sealed efficiently. If food is not sealed properly, it will give off an odor, which will attract a wide range of insects. This could lead to an infestation, which can cost you a lot of time and money in the long run.
If you have a roach problem, look around to make sure you do not have any leaks. Water is attractive to these bugs. In addition, if there is an area where condensation is gathering, work to ventilate the space better. If you don't have the skills to make these repairs yourself, see if a friend or family member can help you.
Bedbugs are hard to eliminate since they like hiding. Always seal holes if you are going to be 'bug bombing'. This way, bugs have no place to hide.
Hornets love to find sweet foods and even crumbs of those foods, so the less of that which is available in your home, the less wasps will be enticed to come inside. Wash down your counters and cutting boards as you use them, and keep your trash bins clean and well sealed.
Keep your kitchen as clean as possible. Bugs won't show up as often if they don't have anything to eat. In particular, use containers that have lids for loose food items in your pantry. Take the trash out often and keep your counters clean. Finally, sweep each evening before bed.
Drains are a common place where pests can be found. Give your drains a monthly cleaning using either a drain snake or drain cleaning chemicals. Pests love to feast on the mold that can grow inside a clogged up drain.
Have you seen rodents in your home? Search for small cracks that these small pests can squeeze through. Use scouring pads, steel wool and poison to keep rodents from these cracks. Often, something like mustard oil will be enough to keep the rodents at bay.
Check to see if your windows or screens are cracked or ripped as insects can easily penetrate any inconsistencies in your infrastructure. If you see that a seal has been broken, make sure that you fix this or get it replaced immediately so that it does not become an issue in the future.
When you are trying to hire a pest control company, make sure that you get one that specializes in the particular type of bug you are trying to get rid of. While other exterminators may get rid of bugs, they may not know where they tend to hide and that type of thing. Success is more likely if they know exactly what they are dealing with.
If you are dealing with a bee problem, call the pros. It is not easy to figure out whether the bee is from an Africanized colony; trying to learn the species' differences can pose a risk to your health.
Is your home infested with ants? There are many home remedies, but one effective one is mixing sugar with borax. While they are attracted to the sugar, they will be killed by the borax. All you need is a cup of both sugar and borax and a jar. Put some holes in the top of the lid to make it easy to sprinkle.
Try to store all open food like cereal and crackers in an air-tight cabinet. You may think the space between the cardboard enclosure is too small but bugs can fit themselves into the tiniest of openings. Unless it can be kept in the fridge, protect your food from pests or from inviting them into your home in the first place.
If your house is plagued by flying bugs, kill them with hairspray. You can also use perfume at times, but be careful you don't get it in your eyes. These products are flammable; be wary around flames. This is a good way to get rid of them if you do not have any bug spray.
Rat traps are great for fighting any rat infestation you may have. Of course, there shouldn't be anything for them to consume around the house like trash, clutter or by not keeping things clean. Place the traps in areas where you see signs of rats.
If you are prone to mice and rats and are thinking about planting new trees, do not place them too close to your home. Rodents then climb your trees and enter your home through the attic or roof. Be sure your fruit trees are about 15 feet from the house.
The main living spaces in your home may look fine, but check every inch of your home for pests every once in a while. Underground areas of your home may be infested with termites. Therefore, it is important to do a comprehensive check of your basement as well.
If you live in an apartment complex or multi-unit condo complex, unite with your neighbors. Anything you try to do to control pests in your own unit will be unsuccessful if all the other units in your building are infested. Get together with the residents of your building and schedule pest control for the entire building to deal with the problem.
If you are dealing with a stink bug invasion, try minimizing 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 opportunity to find their way in. Also, draw your blinds in the evening so the light from inside your home does not attract them.
If you see wood damage and believe it's termites, look at the wood's annual rings. Termites only eat soft wood, so if there is something wrong with the rings, it isn't termites. But if the rings are unaffected, you have termite issues. Act fast!
Simple as that, just by using these ideas you'll be able to get these little nasty creatures away from your area. This will relieve you as you realize you're able to be safe and healthy again. Once you use what you've learned here, you'll never look back on your pest-filled past.
