Every homeowner will come across an issue with pests in the home at one time or another. Knowing how to get rid of a particular pest in your home is crucial. You must gain control of the infestation before it gets out of control. Use these tips to rid your home of the pests that have invaded.
Use steel wool to fill mouse holes. While rats and mice can chew through them, the thin metal strands are too tough to chew. Fill in any space more than half an inch. These animals can squeeze through extremely small openings.
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.
Never step on a cockroach to kill it. When you step on it, it can release its egg sac. The eggs can then be transferred from the bottom of your shoes throughout the carpets and rugs in your home. The eggs survive in your carpet until they are ready to hatch, leaving you with a much bigger roach problem.
Kill ants around your home using an easy-to-make home concoction. Combine borax and sugar in a jar in a 1:1 ratio. Sprinkle the mixture around the outside of your home at its foundation and anywhere else you’ve noticed ants. The sugar will attract the ants, while the borax will kill them.
Eliminate pests naturally. Sometimes you don’t need to resort to chemicals to control pests. Removing sources of water, food and shelter is one way to get rid of them. This is particularly effective in the case of rodents. If you have pets, don’t leave food or water bowls outside, and ensure that you don’t have any holes or cracks in the exterior of your home.
Are you dealing with an ant infestation? Mix borax and sugar to eliminate them. The ants will be attracted to the sweet scent from the sugar, and they will be killed by the borax. Just make a half-and-half mixture of sugar and borax in a one-quart jar. Put holes in your lid, and then sprinkle it along your home’s foundation.
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.
Never leave food out longer than you need to. If you make a habit of leaving food out you will almost definitely run into a pest problem from time to time. If you, instead, make a habit of cleaning up after your food mess right away each time you will do a lot to keep pests away.
Your pets are a big source of bug infestations in your home. Not only can your pets bring in fleas and ticks from outdoors, but their food is a food source for bugs as well. When the animals are done eating, pick up their food. Keep the area where the animals eat clean as well.
Even if the areas of your home that you usually live in show no signs of problems, check the whole home occasionally. If your home’s structure goes underground at all, then subterranean termites might be eating part of your home that you rarely venture to. Give your crawl space and basement a look over.
If you have many mosquitoes in your yard, and possibly even infiltrating your home, try to eliminate any standing water. If there is a high population of mosquitoes on your property, they are breeding somewhere, and they can only breed in standing water. Dump anything that collects rainwater, dump kid pools and do whatever you can to eliminate breeding grounds.
Always take care to properly store edible items in airtight containers. Glass and plastic containers with air-tight lids are ideal. Paper bags and cardboard are the worst options, as pests can eat through them easily.
Make sure that your kitchen does not have grease problems. Grease is a regular dietary staple of ants, roaches and a number of small flies. Drain flies actually breed in grease pans. So, eliminate all visible grease areas. However, also deal with invisible grease underneath stoves and your countertops.
Put screens in your windows. Cool summer breezes are nice, but the insects and bugs that can come in are not so pleasant. While it might be true that you just use the air conditioning most of the time, remember that it can break down and power does go out. Be prepared.
Try to reduce the amount of cardboard boxes that are lying around your house. Pests love to hide in and around these cardboard boxes, and will multiple if you leave them there for a long period of time. Take this precaution if you want to save a lot of time and money.
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.
Always thoroughly read the product label prior to buying or using it. Not all pesticides are right for you. Certain ones can’t be used in certain locations. In addition, different pesticides treat different pests. Therefore, you must be sure that your pesticide is safe and effective. Do not hesitate to contact the manufacturer of the product if you have any questions.
You should now have some good ideas for getting rid of the pests that are plaguing your home. Give them a try to see if you can take your home back from those pesky critters or bugs that have moved in. Soon, you will be able to open your pantry without wondering what is in there.