All homeowners will eventually be forced face unpleasant pest problems. Knowing how to combat a pest problem can prevent it from getting out of control and taking over your home. Having proper knowledge can keep your family from dealing with pests.
Get to the root of the problem. If you have trouble with pests, figure out what they’re eating. If your home provides easy access to food and shelter, pests will invade. Get rid of anything the might be attracting the pests.
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.
Do you have ants in your home? Get rid of these insects by mixing some borax and sugar. Pour this concoction on your doorstep and all around your home. If you know where the ants come from, pour a generous quantity of borax and sugar in these areas. The ants will be drawn by the sugar but the borax will kill them.
Do not tackle pest control alone if you live in a multiunit structure. Your individual efforts might be successful temporarily, but ineffective in the long run. Insects could just travel to another condo, apartment or townhome and then return. Consult with the property managers or other owners for a building-wide treatment solution.
If you have problems with moles in your yard, set up a trap. You will know a mole is present by the raised portion of your yard that’s been tunneled under. Use a shovel to collapse a section of the tunnel (approx. 4″). Set up a mole trap over the collapsed portion and wait for the mole to tunnel through and try to fix the collapse.
Get rid of fallen trees in your yard. You can even cut up the trunk or branches and use it for firewood. Use the wood or give it to people. Do not neglect to get rid of the stump, as well. Stumps are no longer alive and therefore can draw termites.
Avoid using pesticides that you can purchase in a grocery store. These are usually extremely potent to humans, but do little to get rid of the pest problem. They also require a lot of preparation and clean-up. If you choose to use chemicals to rid your home of pests you will likely find more success using a professional.
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.
As was mentioned earlier, nearly all homeowners must deal with pest issues at one point or another. If you want to keep your house pest-free, use these tips and tricks to help out. Don’t hesitate because you must do something now!