Declare war on bugs
Are battalions of bugs harvesting your house, feasting on your food or gobbling up your garden? When left alone, cockroaches, ants and other bothersome bugs can wreak havoc. So here is the question: How do you get the bugs out – and keep them out?
Generally speaking, there are many things you can do in your own home to help keep your pest problem at bay.
Look around and Play Detective
Have a close look around your home. Early detection can be half the battle. Figure out where the pests are coming in, where they might be hiding (for example, cracks and small spaces) and where they find food and water in your home. First check behind the fridge and oven and under the kitchen sink – three favourite pest areas.
Repair
Your first line of defense – seal up cracks and crannies where bugs might enter, including openings around pipes.
Fix and Clean
Eliminate areas that encourage the insects, especially damp areas or places where drainage is poor. A vacuum, bucket, mop and scouring pad are the tools that will make pests unwelcome. Use them on a regular basis to remove any food sources (crumbs) as well as droppings or markings the pest left behind. Clean under the oven, fridge and kitchen sink first. Wash all dishes and kitchen utensils and do not leave out uncovered food overnight. Vacuum or mop out under the furniture and in corners where roaches have been hiding to remove any dead ones.
Reduce Clutter and Store Properly
Clutter can be old newspapers, cardboard boxes, and old shoes – basically any item that you store and may not need. As much as possible, get rid of cardboard. Pests love to hide in it. Clutter gives pests a hiding place, a nest and since it often makes cleaning harder, it usually means that they will have more food. Clutter can also hide important evidence of a growing pest problem.
Throw out things you don’t need and organize the belongings you will keep. Store things off of the floor and away from the wall so that you can see and clean around it.
Control with Insecticides
If the problem still persists, contact a pest control company and allow a pest controller to visit your home to assess the problem.
The pest controller knows which habits to expect as soon as he identifies the particular bug that’s bugging you! He knows where to look and how to eradicate the problem with the best products available. Many insecticides keep working for many weeks. This residual control means fewer repeat treatments even in heavily infested areas.
Written by Julie Scott, owner of Fumiguard SCP a bilingual Pest Control Company. She can be contacted on 928 521 086 or e-mail her at info@fumiguard.com
