Do you think that you might have a problem with bugs, pests, or vermin? If you’ve been hearing any strange noises or smelling any odd smells around your home, then there is a good chance that you have an infestation on your hands.
Wondering what might have made its home on your property? It’s important that you find out exactly what kind of pest you are dealing with so that you can treat the infestation with the best possible solution. Here are some of the most common household infestations, how you can spot them, and what you can do about them.
Bed Bugs
Have you and your family been feeling a bit itchy in bed? If so, then you might have a case of bed bugs on your hands. There are some other signs that your itches have been caused by these creepy crawlies. For instance, you will probably notice some dark spots on your bedsheets. These are often the color of rust and are collections of the bugs’ droppings. You may also spot some egg shells and the bugs themselves in between your sheets. If you are sure that you have bed bugs, you need to clean all of your bedding at a very high temperature. You should also brush down your mattresses with a stiff brush and then vacuum them. Continue to vacuum them for a couple of weeks to ensure that you get all of the eggs and bugs.
Termites
Termites can be one of the worst infestations to have as they can cause significant damage to the structure of your property. That is especially the case if the majority of your house’s structure uses wood. For this reason, it’s really important that all homeowners take out Rapid Solutions building inspection insurance as this should cover the cost of a pest controller searching your home for termites and then getting rid of them. But first, what are some of the signs of a termite infestation?
You will probably notice some clicking sounds coming from your walls. The termites that guard the colony bang their heads against the wall to signal any potential dangers. This can be heard, and often sounds like clicking. You might also see a lot of excess dust around your home and tunnels in any exposed wood. You could even spot a few termites flying around in your home. If you do suspect you have an infestation of termites, you need to act fast and get a pest control firm in before they do too much damage.
Rats And Mice
There are quite a few signs that will giveaway a rat or mice problem. Thankfully, all kinds of vermin give off these same signs. First of all, you might hear them scurrying around the house. This is especially the case if they are up in your attic space as you will hear them running around above you. They also have a very distinct odor, and this is something that you will smell after they have been in your home for a few days. Plus, you’ll probably start to smell their droppings as well.
You will probably also see some gnawed areas of walls as well. Rats and mice love to gnaw and chew on soft walls, and they will be excited about sinking their teeth into your wooden panels and doors. You might even get lucky and find their nests. If you do think you have a rat or mice problem, the quickest way to get rid of them is to lay down some rat poison.
However, some people don’t want to do this because of the harsh chemicals in the poison. Plus, it can be very dangerous if you have children and pets in your home. Thankfully, there are some other options. You can set down traps to catch each rat or mouse. But if you don’t fancy dealing with this problem yourself, you could always call in a pest-control company to take care of these little critters for you.
Ants
Another of the most common pest infestations in homes is ants. These often make their home in your kitchen, especially during the summer when the weather is nice and hot.
The best thing you can do to keep these pesky bugs outside is to keep your kitchen as clean and tidy as possible. That will remove any food sources that they might be living off. You should also try and put away any leftover food and ingredients as quickly as possible before they have the chance to attract any unwanted houseguests. Keeping food in the fridge and cupboards will also help to hide it away from ants.
You can also buy some bug sprays from your local supermarket and DIY store, but there are some natural alternatives you can try if you don’t fancy using such harsh chemicals. Ants can’t stand the smell of vinegar, so spraying a solution of distilled white vinegar and water onto surfaces near where you see them should help get rid of them. Another tip that has worked well for me is ground cinnamon and whole cloves placed near the entry points. You can also mix 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon essential oil in a cup of water, soak a cotton ball in the solution and then wipe down the areas where ants may be entering. Repeat one a day until all the ants are gone.
If that doesn’t seem to work, you might want to call in the professionals.
Cockroaches
Some people think that cockroaches are incredibly difficult to get rid of, but that isn’t necessarily the case. They probably haven’t been using the right methods! The best thing you can do in the fight against cockroaches is to fix any leaks in your home as this will remove their source of water. You should also keep your home as clean as possible so that there aren’t any crumbs for them to eat. You can make a natural cockroach poison by mixing boric acid and icing sugar. Sprinkling this on your floors will kill the roaches. Thankfully, it isn’t poisonous to people and pets. Don’t forget that you can always get a pest control firm to deal with these little beasties too.
You don’t have to put up with your household pests for too long. All of the above handy tips should help you get rid of them for good!
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