Pests cause ruin for millions of homeowners every year. If you live in any kind of home, you are one day going to have to deal with some kind of pest. The important thing to remember is that you can handle it. Here are some smart ways for you to handle pests.
If you are having an issue with stink bugs, remember not to stomp or smash on them. Doing so will release a foul odor into your home. Instead, use a vacuum cleaner to suction them up. It is important, however, that you change the bag after doing so or it will begin to smell as well.
Do you see fruit flies returning after ridding your home of them? The issue may be your drain. Put some plastic over the drain to see. If some do appear, drop boiling water into the drain and then scrub well. This should prevent them from breeding in there.
Make sure that your house is sealed at all times so that the bugs from the outside cannot get in. You can place a rubber barrier under your doormat, which is a common entryway of bugs from the outside. This will help to seal your house so that bugs cannot come in and disrupt you.
Look for possible entry points around your home. Bugs and animals can be very creative when it comes to breaking into your home. If you have noticed a new problem, it is possible that they found a new way in. Take a look around the outside and interior home and seal any possibly entryways for pests.
You should always fix any leaks in the plumbing of your house. You will also want to look for any other sources of water lying around. A place people often look is under their houseplants. Bugs tend to go places in which they can find water so they can drink and breed.
If you are having a pest control problem, look to your cabinets in your home for where the bugs are coming from. Pests love these dark and damp areas. Clean all your cabinets thoroughly once a month. When you are spraying for bugs, make sure you hit these areas with a quality pesticide.
You may need to inspect your plumbing if you have a chronic pest problem. Make sure your pipes are unplugged. This includes both your indoor and outdoor plumbing. Anything that might be found in your plumbing can be food to a wide range of pests and can even give them a great place to reproduce. Check cleared drains on a monthly basis.
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 see ants in your home, follow them. This should help you discover where they are getting in at. Most of the time they will find a crack or crevice near a window or the molding. Once you know where the problem is originating from, put down a little laundry detergent (assuming you don't have children or pets that can get to it) to create a temporary fix.
If you vacuum up the ants in your home, make sure you sprinkle a little corn starch on them before you do so. This will cause them to die inside the vacuum bag and will ensure that you don't have a problem at a later date. Alternatively, simply use soap and water to take care of the problem.
Check all your food stores and make sure they are sealed tight. Do not trust rolling up a partial bag of flour in a box to keep the bugs out. Bugs can get in between the spaces in boxes and bags to infest your pantry. Use air tight containers to store all food in your home.
Find some pest resistant plants for your garden. It will be a lot easier and cheaper to take care of your garden if your plants are strong enough to keep pest away. You could also introduce some insects such as ladybugs who are know for eating certain kind of pest.
If you live in an apartment and can't seem to get your pest problem under control, talk to the building manager. It may be that someone living next to you is the cause of the problem. If that is the case, you will continue seeing pests no matter what you do. Alert the owners or management so that they can perform a full inspection.
Store blankets, sweaters, quilts and other bedding and garments in chests lined with cedar. The natural resin of cedar wood repels moths and other pests without harming fabrics. You can also use cedar hangers in your closet or place small planks of cedar in your drawers or storage containers for the same effect.
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.
A carpenter ant infestation is a sign of a bigger issue. These ants are attracted to damp wood. So, if you find any carpenter ants, you could have damp wood in your home. Consult a plumber and a pest control specialist to determine what the root problem is.
Read your pesticide's directions thoroughly and be sure you follow them carefully too. You will not get good results if you don't use them precisely as directed. For instance, if they instruct you to apply it every day, be sure you do so. By not following the directions exactly, you could end up making the remedy take longer than necessary to work.
If you use the tips in this article, you will notice that your pest problem starts to decrease. Pests are always out there waiting to pounce on your home, but if you are diligent and catch early signs, you can avoid a big problem. Handling your pests can be easier than you thought.