Pests. What could be so tiny yet so annoying? Pests are a menace in any home, and there’s no reason why we should let them be. But our busy schedules and lack of patience keep us from taking appropriate measures to eliminate the pests troubling our peace. For some, it’s a thing of, “if they don’t cause me any harm, why bother about them?”
But pests can be indeed harmful. Pests can cause diseases and destroy our properties, including furniture pieces and that’s why you need Pest Control.
Before looking at the simple pest control tips, let’s consider common pests in the home and why you need to send them packing immediately.
Common pests and the harm they cause
Mosquitoes
Mosquitos thrive in warm and moist environments, making them especially rampant during summer. Although small in size, they are pretty noisy and notorious. Yes, their bites can be painless and even go unnoticed, but the diseases they carry are particularly worrisome.
Anopheles mosquitoes are carriers of plasmodium, the malaria-causing parasite. So if you or your loved ones have been down with malaria lately, these tiny creatures could be guilty. Malaria is one of the world’s deadliest diseases, and mosquitoes cause more deaths than any other animal.
Cockroaches
Arguably one of the most disgusting household pests ever, cockroaches can be quite an eyesore in the home. If that were all, it would have been manageable. As they’re often found in areas containing waste, Cockroaches can cause diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, etc. Cockroaches can cause asthma in kids after prolonged exposure and trigger the symptoms in adults.
Ants
Ants are the most common household pests and invade in masses. They can bore holes through your structure as they create spaces to pass their food through. They do not cause diseases, but some can bite you when you sit on the floor.
Rodents
Rodents are known to transmit up to 35 diseases, in addition to the unsightly menace they cause. Mice dribble urine everywhere they go and can contaminate your foodstuff and countertops. Rats may also eat through your furniture in search of a cozy hiding spot.
Houseflies
Houseflies are particularly notorious and can transmit at least 65 diseases, including cholera, dysentery, and typhoid fever. They thrive in warm, dirty, and foul-smelling environments, such as trash cans and decaying fruits.
Simple tips to control pests immediately
Now that you know just how much damage pests can cause to you, your loved ones, and your home, it’s time to take action.
1. Do a full-scale pest control ASAP
If you’re already experiencing a full-scale pest infestation, none of the tips below would be very effective unless you first eliminate the pests. You can hop on Google and type contact pest control near me to get access to a professional in your location. While you can control pests yourself, a professional would be more acquainted with the most effective techniques and chemicals for the pests in question.
2. Keep your house clean
Houseflies and cockroaches are particularly attracted to food particles and dirty environments. So if you must keep these pests away, you don’t want to leave your kitchen dirty before bed. Make sure you clean up after dinner and cover up the trash bin — take it out daily if possible. Otherwise, the trace and smell of food will bring the bugs crawling.
3. Don’t leave water standing
Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. It is where they lay, hatch, and metamorphose. So if you leave water standing in a container or depression around your home, you’re setting yourself up for an attack. Get rid of old tires and depressions that store water for days when it rains.
4. Don’t keep fruits and spoiled food around for too long
Houseflies can smell out rotten fruits and spoiled foods and lay eggs as they perch. Maggots grow, and the area becomes their breeding ground. To avoid houseflies and cockroaches, avoid letting spoiled food sit in your garbage for more than a day or two.
5. Block inlets
Pests don’t just conjure themselves up inside your home. Rodents typically enter a property through cracks, holes in the roof, and spaces around windows and doors that don’t shut properly. Mosquitoes and flies filter into your house through the window. To keep pests out, you must seal every hole and crack and fix any door or window that doesn’t shut properly. Cover your windows with nets so you can open them in the hot summer without worrying about insects coming in.
Pest control is never a once-and-for-all project but a continuous practice. Professional pest control may last 60-90 days. If another infestation occurs, rinse and repeat for your peace and optimal health.