Pest control is an issue for millions of homeowners each year. Whether those pests are insects, rodents or other animals, controlling home pests can be a major headache. There are many options for a homeowner, however. Read the following tips to learn how to finally tackle your own home pest problems.
Remember not to stomp or smash on them if you are having an issue with stink bugs. 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.
If you're a pet owner, your pets may be the reason pests keep coming back. Take the time to keep your pet's food bowls clean. Wipe it up immediately if any water from their dish is spilled. Store pet food in plastic containers rather than the paper bags they come in. All these things can attract bugs.
Try to limit the amount of warm environments that you have in your house. Go around to different rooms in your home and try to gauge the temperature where the pests would want to live in the most. If you find a room that is too hot, try to reduce the overall temperature there.
Utilize adhesive traps if brown recluse spiders are causing problems. These spiders are poisonous and enjoy hiding in places that aren't easy to get with chemicals. They do need to come out in the night to look for something to eat. Place traps along walls and behind furniture for the best chance of nabbing them.
Look for possible entry points around your home. Bugs and animals can be very creative when it comes to breaking into your home. It is possible that they found a new way in if you have noticed a new problem. Take a look around the outside and interior home and seal any possibly entryways for pests.
Mice enjoy eating grains and cereal. This is something you have to make sure you don't leave lying around in your kitchen. Mice will sink their teeth into almost anything! Remove the food supply and place them in high use and cabinets sealed containers if having mice in the home is common for you. They have a fantastic sense of smell, so don't underestimate these little critters.
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.
Pest likes to hide in cracks and small crevices. You should get a caulk gun and fill all the small hiding places you can find. Check for new hiding places regularly and replace the caulk if you need to. You can spray paint over the caulk if you want to conceal it.
Compare exterminator costs. There are different factors that go into different estimates, so find out what they are. You want to make sure that the person you hire can get rid of these pests for good. Sometimes that will cost a little more, however. Before hiring someone, do your research.
Make sure that your thoroughly inspect your home for standing water that might not be obvious. Standing water is something that pests are highly attracted to. Look around for any leaky pipes. Also, look for any plants that have standing water around the trays. Pests need water to survive, so eliminate this, and pests will find your home far less hospitable.
Store flour, cereals and sugar and other dry goods in sealedplastic and glass, or metal containers. This prevents invasions of pantry ants, weevils and moths 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.
Don't mulch all the way to the side of your home if you're using mulch. Leave a gap about half a foot in length between the mulch and your outdoor wall. This will give you (or any exterminator) a better ability to see if any pests (like termites) are crawling from the mulch onto your outdoor wall.
Get rid of silverfish in your home by using aromatic spices. Spices such as clove, bay leaves or sage are often able to ward off silverfish. Sew these spices into small sachets. Display them in areas where your home is most likely susceptible to silverfish. Such areas include your bathroom, damp areas of your kitchen or behind the washer and dryer.
Do you like recycling? This may be Read More attracting pests if so. It is wise to store your recyclables outside your home. If you cannot do this, make sure all containers are completely rinsed. If you can, keep the items you want to recycle in a sealed container to keep the pest away until you get rid of these items.
Talk to the building manager if you live in an apartment and can't seem to get your pest problem under control. 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.
Try talking to friends and family for other tips. For example, your neighbor may be having that same problem, if you are having problems with mice. They might have been more successful in ridding their house of them. Additionally, you can warn your neighbor about the mouse 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 bags and boxes to infest your pantry. Use air tight containers to store all food in your home.
You will notice that your pest problem starts to decrease if you use the tips in this article. 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.