Your house may be the cleanest in the neighborhood, but you will still run into some household pests.
A study conducted by Peerj states that an average home may have a 100 species of arthropods. Some of them are a health hazard, while others give you the creeps.
Scientists say that while it’s tempting to take out the trending bug spray, don’t. These insecticides are not only harmful to your family’s health but also detrimental to the environment. Luckily, there are many other ways you can get rid of these common household bugs without causing cancer to your children.
Ants
There are nearly 1000 species of ants in the world, but carpenter ants are the most common in homes. These tiny creatures are famous for their wisdom and storing plenty of food for the rainy season. Ants will come into your house to collect food particles and take them back to their storage. They build a nest under your paving and make hollows inside the wood.
You can tell where they are coming from by looking at piles of dirt in weird corners outside the house. Set up ant bait outside their home to wipe out their entire generation. You also need to keep your home sparkling clean, cover food and wipe off any sticky residue on floors, counters and cookers.
Termites
Termites are extremely destructive because they fed on wood 24 hours. Ehrlich estimates the cost of termite damage at around $7000 to $8000. If you give termites a chance, they can pull your house down in a year.
A professional will come with imaging technology to conduct termite treatments and inspections. They then set up bait to poison all of them using their king and queen. You may also need to seal all entry points to your home, especially the basement and cable holes. Finally, dig a barrier around your home and spray second-hand poison to keep them from coming back.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are not only disgusting but also embarrassing pests. When visitors see a cockroach running around your house, they assume it’s because you are dirty. These creatures come into your home to get some food, and they are almost impossible to get rid of. Cockroaches are known to spread diseases and carry E. coli and salmonella.
The best way to get rid of roaches is to call a professional to deal with them. You also have to seal all entry points, clean up the counters and floors and also keep food covered or refrigerated.
Fleas
If you have a dog or a cat that goes to play outside the house, you will likely have fleas in your home. They are tiny blood-sucking creatures that also jump from the pets to your furniture. Fleas carry diseases, and they can make your pet very sick if you don’t take care of them early on.
Besides washing your pets with warm water and powder soap, you should also use a powder form insecticide to kill the fleas. Your vet will give or recommend one that is safe and then you can vacuum your seats and floors.
Mice
Mice and rats are annoying, especially at night. They dig holes inside your furniture, walls and ceilings to hide. When you go to sleep, they come out and cause havoc in your home, chew on your clothes and knock things down. Rodents also carry and spread diseases so you should never leave your food on the counter or cooker.
Mice and rats are very cunning and fast, so it’s hard to catch them. You have to call an exterminator to come and get rid of them. They will set up the bait, seal all entry points and destroy their nests. A professional will be able to get rid of the babies and also the droppings they leave behind.
Mosquitoes
The most common household pest is the mosquito. These blood-sucking flies transmit malaria, West Nile Virus and Zika Virus. They also make a very irritating sound that will keep you awake all night long. Apart from sleeping under a treated mosquito net, you can use other mosquito repellents like LED lights.
Mosquitoes thrive near a water source such as rivers, lakes and swamps. If you can’t do anything about the water body near you, the best option is to use screens on doors and windows, and also have a mosquito repellent in the house. Call a professional if you have a severe infestation.
Flies
Flies are associated with dirty places and horrible smells. However, it is not strange to see house flies and fruit flies in your home now and then. Flies spread diseases like cholera, typhoid and dysentery when they touch your foods.
You can prevent flies from coming into your house by using screens on windows and doors. Make sure that your home is clean, food is refrigerated or covered, and the garbage can is emptied regularly and cleaned. Flash the toilets after every use and keep the sinks clean. There is a myriad of ways to get rid of house flies at home, but you need a professional to take care of house flies.
Bedbugs
Bedbugs are a source of great havoc and stress for many Americans. You can migrate the tiny insects from a motel room, airplane or even the train. Once you bring them home, they hide in cracks and crevices of your bed, seats and mattress. You can tell you have a bedbug infestation if you notice tiny bloodstains in your bedding, small bites on your hands and neck and off-putting smell.
Bedbugs multiply at a scaring rate so you cannot keep up with them. Call a professional who has experience dealing with bedbugs to deal with them. It’s also likely that your entire apartment building is infested so you should alert the building manager. You can help the exterminator by washing your bedding in boiling water, vacuum the seats and carpets and steam them with hot water.
Sealing all entry points to your home is the best way to keep household pests off. Remove any heaps of rubbish, stones and wood that may be lying around your compound also. You have to keep the surrounding areas clean, free of clutter and open so pests will not have somewhere to hide.
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