nsects in your home can pose a very serious threat to your health, and to your home. Some can make you sick, while others can damage the structure of your home, by eating away at wooden beams. If you have an infestation of insects, then your home’s value will also decrease exponentially.
If you notice signs of an infestation, you need to act quickly. If you delay action, you could have to pay a lot of money to repair the damage caused.
This article will explain nine things that you should do if you have insects on your property:
Phone for Pest Control
The most logical (and best step) to take if you notice an infestation of insects in your home, is to phone for pest control. According to professional pest control services in Edinburgh, every infestation is different and requires a tailored approach. If you try to eliminate insects yourself, you will likely use the internet and take instructions from there. By doing this, you follow somebody else’s remedy. You need a pest control professional to come out and look at your house, then adjust their approach according to your personal situation.
Tidy Up Your Kitchen
One of the most common places for an infestation to form is in the kitchen. The kitchen attracts all manner of insects. One of the worst insects to have in one’s kitchen is the cockroach. Not only can these insects spread at an exponential rate, but they carry infection and disease with them. If you leave food particles lying around in the kitchen, then you need to get out of this habit and clean up. You should also thoroughly disinfect and clean down any surfaces after using them, in order to prevent bugs from infesting your kitchen.
…And Your Bathroom
In addition to extensively [and regularly] cleaning your kitchen, you need to clean your bathroom. After the kitchen, the bathroom attracts the most insects out of any other room in your house. Make sure to keep your bathroom nice and dry, and regularly air it out so that mould doesn’t form. You should clean your toilet, sink, and shower [or bath] once a week with proper cleaning liquid. You don’t necessarily have to use a chemical cleaner, but you should ensure that it is thoroughly cleaned. Make sure to clean your plughole also, as well as the corners of the room. If you have wooden window frames, keep them clean to prevent wood rot.
Standing Water
One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is allowing water to stand. Standing water is a sure-fire way to attract insects, moths in particular. In addition, standing water can be a hotbed for diseases. If you have a cat or dog, make sure to change their water daily, and do not allow there to be any stagnant water anywhere else in your home. This includes on windowsills where condensation has formed and formed small puddles, as well as around your door and in the bathroom.
Fruits and Vegetables
One common cause of bug infestations is fruit and vegetables being allowed to sit around and rot. If you are going away on vacation or have a habit of buying more vegetables than you need, make sure that you dispose of or use them. When vegetables are allowed to sit around, they attract a lot of different types of insects. One of the most common types is the fruit fly. Once you have attracted all of these insects and allowed them into your home, it can be very difficult to get rid of them. They can also carry diseases and infections with them.
Empty Your Garbage
Another common cause of insect infestations is garbage that is allowed to sit around and attract vermin. If you leave your garbage to sit around, not only will your house stink, but you will attract all manner of pests, including rats and mice. When rats and mice gain a foothold in your home, it is virtually impossible to remove them without using a pest removal service. In addition, rotten food can spread illnesses and diseases, particularly if you have pets or young children in your house. Make sure to empty your garbage daily, to avoid attracting pests.
Keep Your Garden Tidy
If you allow your garden to get out of control, then bugs and other vermin will be attracted to it. Insects thrive in long grass and unruly hedges. As we mentioned earlier regarding stagnant water, if you have any bird baths, make sure to regularly clean them out. Pruning your plants and mowing your lawn will prevent them from getting out of control. Once vermin and pests have taken up residency in your garden, it will be very difficult to get rid of them, not to mention once they are in your garden, they will soon find their way into your home.
Netted Windows
If you live in a hot country and have your windows open most of the day, then you should put nets up over them. This will prevent bugs and insects from getting inside. This is especially important if you have mosquitos in your country, in which case you will also want to put a mosquito net up over your bed. Nets also prevent house flies, spiders, and cockroaches from getting into your home. Nets are an incredibly effective measure to prevent bug infestations. If you have pets indoors that you don’t want to get out, such as housecats, then nets are even more effective.
Old Bedding
Old bedding can attract a number of different pests. You need to ensure that your bedding is regularly laundered, dried properly, and stored. You also need to ensure that your woollen clothes are regularly dry cleaned, to prevent clothes moths from gaining a foothold in your house. Clothes moths can cause absolute devastation, especially if you have woollen carpets or rugs and the best way is to use a natural and non-toxic carpet moth killer. Clothes moths can be eliminated through professional cleaning and regular vacuuming.
Keeping pests out of your home is your duty, especially if you have pets or children around. They can spread disease, illness, and infections, not to mention they make your house look disgusting to visitors. The preventative measures listed here should keep bugs out, but failing that, you will need a pest removal service.
