Having any pest in your home can hinder your family’s ability to function. You may be surprised that you don’t always need a professional exterminator to cure your pest problems. The following article is equipped with great tried and accurate tips for your pest control needs!
Use an outdoor perimeter spray to keep insects from entering your home. Spray the foundation and all other outside areas near the home. Watch for cracks as you spray. Make sure you use caulk around these places.
Check if your windows or screens are cracked or ripped, as insects can easily penetrate any inconsistencies in your infrastructure. If you see that a seal has been broken, make sure that you fix this or get it replaced immediately so that it does not become an issue.
Struggling with ants? Mix Borax and sugar to eliminate them. The sugar will attract the pest, but the Borax will kill bugs and small rodents. Use a quart jar with equal parts of each. Put holes in your lid, and then sprinkle it along your home’s foundation.
Be sure to close any openings by which rodents could enter your home. This is especially important before winter when rodents look for a warm spot to shelter. Look for cracks and holes around your home’s windows, vents, and foundation. Some small rodents need less than a quarter-inch to squeeze into your home.
If you have any leaky pipes or anything that drips water, get them repaired. Leaving water around is a good way of keeping pests in your home. They will not want to leave because you give them a way to get the water they need.
If you have pets in your home, make sure that you clean up after them. Leaving pet food or pet waste out in the open can invite flies or other types of insects to come into your home. Clean up efficiently to prevent bugs from coming into your house.
Put some mint around the house to keep mice away. Mint plants surrounding your home’s foundation help out immensely. Mice will not want to live near this fragrant plant. If mice are already a problem, you may want to place mint leaves in the affected areas. Mint leaves effectively repel mice if they are fresh.
If you live in a home with pests, make sure that you call an exterminator before moving to a new home. Many people fail to do this and carry bugs with them to their new places. This means you will have the same issue again in a new place.
Drains can be very attractive to various pests. Give your drains a monthly cleaning using either a drain snake or drain cleaning chemicals. Refuse, and other objects may cause mould to grow inside the drain, making it more attractive to pests.
Inspect the outside of your home for any cracks in the screens, walls, windows, and doors. Seal all of these cracks to help eliminate pests. When the pests can’t get inside, the battle is halfway won. Install new thresholds on your doors, fix holes in screens, and repair weather stripping on your windows for best results.
You need to decide just how much tolerance you have for certain pests. For instance, can you handle an insect in your garden or an ant in your kitchen now and then? Most people can deal with this tiny problem. However, you probably will not tolerate any fleas or ticks in your home. Once you know the amount and type of pest activity you can tolerate, you can develop a proper plan.
Search your attic for any holes in the foundation or the insulation. You may not hear them, but mice can be living in your attic without your knowing. Look around a few times a year for any tell-tale signs that can help you stave off larger infestations.
Concerning food, cover it adequately to keep any pests away. Glass containers and plastic containers are great if they have lids to be sealed with. It’s straightforward for any little pests to get into cardboard or plastic.
To ensure ants don’t move into your home, mix 1c sugar and 1c Borax in a 1-quart jar. Hammer holes into the lid with a nail, and then use the jar to spread the mixture around your foundation, doors, windows, and baseboards on the inside. The sugar attracts ants while the Borax kills them.
If you have a pest issue, seal up the cracks. Foggers and sprays aren’t able to reach deep within walls or behind places where bugs love to live and hide. In addition to cracks in the walls, apply caulk to the area where wall moulding and the floor meet and around faucets and pipes.
If you are doing pest control yourself, make sure that you keep your pets away from any areas where you apply poison. Many products can be used around pets, but you still need to keep the pets away until these pesticides dry. Please read the labels on any pesticides to ensure that you apply them properly.
One all-natural pest control that not many people know of is tobacco. Make a tobacco spray on your plants by placing one cup of tobacco in a gallon of water. Let the mixture steep for 24 hours, and then spray on the leaves of your plants. Avoid spraying this mixture on tomatoes to protect your family.
Getting rid of a house pest may seem daunting, but you can claim your house back with the right tips in hand. Don’t let any number of pests run wild in your home. Use the tips you’ve just read from this article to ensure your home is a safe environment once again.