- Time-tested Advice About Effective Pest Control At Home
Regardless of the season, bugs can find their way into your home or workspace, often making life very difficult for you. If you have a problem with pests, it is important to understand that you can make a difference in alleviating the issue. Read on for more information and tips related to pest control.
Sweep your kitchen and dining room floors and wipe your counter tops every day. Even small crumbs or bits of dropped food can attract ants, roaches and other pests. It is a good idea to empty the garbage each day. Trash can be a breeding ground for house and fruit flies.
Having mice in your home can be a real turn off, not mentioning they carry diseases. In order to exterminate mice in a family-friendly way, use disposable mouse traps. Line the mouse traps with peanut butter to attract mice. After the mouse takes the bait, the mouse trap should slam shut, and you can safely dispose.
You should regularly inspect the plumbing of your home and make sure you do not leave any traces of water, for instance under the pots you use for your plants or on your kitchen counter. Humidity can lead to a fungus infestation and leaks will provide pest with the water needed to survive.
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.
Pests are good at finding small spaces to crawl into so make sure you seal proof your house. Check for any loose windows/doors and get them sealed tightly. Also check the screens in your house for even the smallest holes. If there's a way to get in, they will find it.
Critter proof mesh is something that you will want to install in your attic as this can prevent squirrels or mice from entering your home. This is important as these animals can carry different types of bacteria or diseases that you will want to avoid at all costs during the year.
If your pest problem is noisy crickets, then your answer is as easy as duct tape. Cut off a strip and lay it with the adhesive side facing up. Place in on the floor or ground near where you hear the crickets. It will attract them, and they will get stuck on it.
If nothing you are doing is working, call a professional. There are trained professionals that you can use to help get rid of the bugs that are in your house already or prevent new ones from entering your home in the future. This could be the best investment that you ever make for your home.
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.
If you have ants, look for boric acid. Boric acid, sometimes listed as orthoboric acid, is the most effective pesticide for ants. In addition, many of the baits containing this are safe for use around pets and children, although you should always carefully read all safety labels to be sure.
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.
Termites can be a major problem for any homeowner; they can eat away at your house. One way to prevent them from getting in is by using sealant in your basement. This is a prime spot for them to enter. The best part is that sealant is not expensive and is easy to put on yourself.
If all else fails, you can turn to an electronic device to get rid of pests. These devices will emit a low buzzing noise that will keep rodents away when plugged in. You might be able to hear these repellents, but they are not dangerous for humans and pets. Rodents will leave the area because the noise is unpleasant, not because it is harmful.
Store flour, cereals, sugar, and other dry goods in sealed plastic, glass, or metal containers. This prevents invasions of pantry moths, weevils, ants, and even mice in your kitchen. Do not count on cardboard or other flimsy packaging to keep pests out. Mice can chew through them, and insects can penetrate tiny openings.
Mosquitoes will disappear if they do not have a place to lay their eggs. You should drain standing water before it stagnates. Mosquitoes have been proven to breed in spots of water as tiny as what is left in a discarded food can with water still inside of it.
If you are having problems with pests, research the type of pest that is invading your home. Create a list of which items these pests hate, and discover the things that attract them. You need to adapt the approach to the variety of pest for the most effective treatment.
Use borax and sugar to keep ants out of your home. Get a quart jar and mix within it a cup of both sugar and borax. Punch some holes in the lid of the jar. Sprinkle your mixture around the exterior foundation of your house. Also sprinkle along inside baseboards. The sugar attracts ants, but the borax poisons them.
You can take matters into your own hands when it comes to pest control. Although certain situations may necessitate a call to your local pest control company, you can handle many common issues simply by following the tips included in the article above. Keep this piece as a handy reference, and pull it out whenever you need to refer to it.