The day we discover we have a pest problem can trigger a whole load of anxiety. We can wonder how we’ve let it get this far, and whether it’s ticks on our pets, a rodent problem or something even worse, sometimes we have to remember that now is the perfect time for us to make seismic changes to our home once and for all. Preventing pest problems in the home can require a whole array of practices, so let’s give you a comprehensive approach to this.
Identifying the source of the problem
This should be priority number one. When you identify the source, you’re able to implement a far more effective solution. When you identify the source there are a number of practices, for example, looking for signs of pests like droppings, bite marks or damage to furniture. You then need to identify the pest based on the physical characteristics for example, you could find ticks on yourself family members or pets, as well as spotting ticks crawling on surfaces, brown tick eggs or tick bites on your body, as well as potential ticks in the vacuum bag or canister of the vacuum cleaner. The key is to be vigilant and thoroughly inspect your home.
Fixing the problem
Once you understand what you’re up against, you then need to undertake the best possible approach to pest management. You’ll need to determine the level of pest infestation that requires action and consider several different factors; for example, the cost of the control, the potential for damage and even the health risks.
Because if you need a pest control company to fumigate the place, you’ll have to move out for a specific period of time. Therefore, fixing the problem can require a number of differing efforts. Sometimes there’s very straightforward approaches like tick granules that can make all of the difference, but when you are fixing the problem you either attempt to prevent the investigation from growing, which we’ll touch upon later, or apply very targeted controls. When you’re doing the latter, you need to start with the least toxic options; for example, gels, boric acid or baits.
Pesticides are often considered to be a very effective approach; however, you should only use this as a last resort because they can be very toxic. If you’re looking for methods to get rid of pests naturally, you may want to try eco-friendly ingredients such as essential oils and natural repellents. A mixture of essential oils like eucalyptus, lavender and peppermint diluted in water around entry points can be an effective way to keep some pests at bay.
If you have specific problem areas, natural ingredients – for example, cloves, coffee grounds and even vinegar – can give you a better understanding of where the issue lies. Other natural solutions include neem oil which you can use to control pests that are attacking plants and food-grade diatomaceous earth can also be very useful. This is a naturally occurring sedimentary rock that contains approximately 80% to 90% silicon dioxide. Commonly used as an insecticide, this causes insects to dehydrate and die. Placing this around cracks, crevices and on surfaces can be very useful.
Additionally, homemade traps using vinegar and dish soap or sticky steaks to trap flies, moths and other insects are an excellent approach if you really don’t want to try pesticides or harsh chemicals.
Pest prevention
If you’ve been able to keep the pests away successfully with your chosen method, you now need to start thinking about how to pest-proof your property. When it’s the autumn and winter months you could find an influx of household pests and, if you’re looking to keep any annoying bugs away, you can see your doors and install fly screens. But you also need to remember that strong smells are an excellent method, for example, lavender or cinnamon can keep spiders away.
You also need to keep an eye on your pets, especially as they could be a host for fleas and ticks. It’s always worth getting into the habit of washing their bedding every couple of weeks or so, and if you see fleas on the carpet or furniture, there are flea sprays that you can use. Additionally, you can get into the habit of storing your food waste properly and making sure it’s secure, especially if you have pets that eat foods with strong odours such as tuna. If you want to bug-proof your home, you also need to think about encouraging natural predators. A spider is something that we don’t necessarily like to see around the home, but they’re one of the best natural predators, and if you have issues in the garden, a bat could be an excellent way to scare the neighbours, but they also eat a huge variety of pests like spiders, wasps and flies, and providing a suitable environment for them to thrive can make all the difference.
Having peace of mind
The fact is that there are many common pests in existence, we can easily be wary that we’ve not got rid of all of them. The real way to ensure that you have some piece of mind is by being vigilant and pest-proofing your home by sealing up holes and entry points. This is one of the quickest ways to prevent pests from entering.
Also, think about what your hygiene practices really are because if you’re not looking after your pets properly and are not washing pet bedding and keeping the home clean and clutter-free regularly, it might be worth rethinking your entire approach to how you look after your property.
The key is all about taking a proactive and comprehensive approach to pest-proofing, and then getting into the habit of regularly monitoring the home. When you have a pest infestation, it can bring about episodes of anxiety. This is why you need to identify the sources of the problems first, then fix it with a variety of methods and then have a preventative approach. It’s all about ensuring that you’re keeping on top of this massive issue that is, unfortunately, all too common.