Anyone with a home knows how upsetting it can be to have pests. Pests can get into your food and bring disease and general discomfort with them. Use these tips to rid your home of pests.
Try a do-it-yourself spray. If you can’t afford to have a professional service come out to spray your home for pest prevention, try any of the number of pest control sprays available at local hardware and box stores. Most come in easy-to-use bottles with trigger spray nozzles that allow you to spray around the foundation and windows of your home, both inside and out.
If you are apprehensive about using chemical pest control in your home, try traps instead. Physical traps work to attract the pest and then trap it. Some work like traditional mouse traps that snap closed and kill the pest, while others involve a sticky sheet that adheres the pest to the sheet so you can remove it from your home.
Mix equal parts of sugar and borax together for an all natural pest control. Place the concoction into a glass jar and punch holes in the lid for a reusable container. Sprinkle the all-natural product along the outside of your house. Ants will be attracted to the concoction and will carry it back to their nest effectively ridding your home of ants.
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.
One of the things that you can do to reduce the amount of pests in your home is to check the exterior of your home for colonies of ants or bugs. You can exterminate from the outside first, as this is generally where the problem will start from before it comes in your house.
Inspect any seeds or houseplants before you buy them and bring them home. You want to check for current signs of insects. You also want to look for disease issues that might attract insects. Never put something in your home that would attract bugs or pests in the wild outdoors.
Leaks in the water system must be repaired. Pests are attracted to a water source. They are able to spot drips from far away. Do not let this be the cause of the pest infestation. Do some work to prevent having to live with rodents or bugs inside your house.
If you recycle each week, make sure that the recycles are rinsed efficiently. Soda cans contain a great deal of sugar, which pests love, so make sure these are especially well rinsed. Make sure that you rinse all of the soda out so when you put it outside or in your garage it is clean.
Carpenter ants are attracted to damp wood; therefore, if you notice an increase in carpenter ants, check your pipes and roof for leaks. Once you have found where your problem is located, fix the leak and replace the wood to help quickly rid your home of carpenter ants. You may also want to call in a pest-control expert to treat your home.
Around the exterior of your home, there are tiny cracks next to your pipes, in your foundation, and in your siding. These cracks may seem small, but they are big enough for the bugs to get inside your home. Use a good quality exterior caulk to seal these cracks and keep the bugs outside.
The recycling bins in your home may be attracting pests. You need to keep your recycling outside if you can. If you can’t do this, make sure to rinse everything that goes into the bins. Sealed containers are the best to avoid attracting pests when disposing of your garbage.
Pesticides can have devastating effects on the environment. You should carefully assess the risks before using these products. Do not use pesticides if you are located near a stream or a place where children play. If you use a pesticide inside your home, open the windows to let the toxic chemicals out.
Insects such as silverfish are usually attracted by the humidity in your home. Damp places help silverfish thrive in your home environment. Give these pests a run for their money by dehumidifying your home. Make them learn an extra lesson by fixing leaky pipes and using proper ventilation in all areas of your home.
When you have a flea infestation, it’s best to vacuum everything and anything. Start with carpets and rugs, then vacuum chairs and couches, and then your mattresses, too. Once you’re done, throw out the bag immediately. If you have a canister vacuum, empty the canister outside into a plastic bag.
One of the ways that you can get rid of pests in a cheap and effective manner is to pour black pepper over any area that you think may have pests. This will help as this is not a pleasant scent for pests, and they will go elsewhere in places that pepper is present.
Focus on plants and gardens that will attract good pests, when landscaping. If you know what the common pests are going to be in your area, you can research which insects prey on them and plant plants that attract those hunters. If you reduce the number of pests outside, there are less pests to come inside.
If ants are giving you a problem, go to your spice rack. Chili powder dry peppermint sprinkled at ant entry points will stop them from coming through that entrance. Apply liberally and the ants will not want to cross over. Be sure to watch for them to try to find a new entrance though.
Be sure to use the ideas presented here to rid your home of pests. Since they are so annoying and bothersome, do whatever it takes to quickly eliminate them. Use the tips you just read, and your pest problem will soon be a memory.
