From mice to ants to raccoons, all sorts of creatures will try to find homes in human abodes. Unfortunately, living with these critters is not something we enjoy due to their penchant for carrying disease and for generally being unsanitary. Keep reading to find methods for getting rid of them.
Use steel wool to prevent rodents from entering your home through holes in the wall. Rodents such as mice and rats are known to be able to chew through almost anything, but steel wool will stop them dead in their tracks. Seal any small holes and cracks you see. These animals can squeeze through extremely small openings.
Do you have a lot of ants around? Use sugar and borax to eliminate them. The sugar lures the ants in with its sweet smell, while the borax kills them dead. All you need is a cup of both sugar and borax and a jar. Poke holes through the lid and then sprinkle the mixture around the foundation of your home and along baseboards.
One of the things that you can do to get rid of the pest problem in your home is to vacuum all of the rugs in your house. Any stray insects will be sucked up in the vacuum. Put the vacuum bag in a plastic bag and set it in the sun for a day. Then throw it away.
Mint Leaves
Mint can help in your battle against mice. Go around the whole foundation of your house and plant mint. Mice do not like mint and will avoid your home. If mice are already in your home, place mint leaves around areas they are found in. Most of the time, this will act as good repellent, but the mint leaves must be fresh.
If you participate in recycling, be sure to rinse all recyclable items carefully. Rinse soda cans and bottles carefully so the sugar does not attract pests. Be sure they are thoroughly cleaned before putting it in the garage or outside.
Hairspray is great for eliminating bees and wasps. There are numerous chemicals in hairspray that will not only kill insects, but repel them as well.
That same outdoor lighting you use to keep intruders away at night, or light the path for your guests, may also be attracting pests. However, if you require outdoor lighting, then use pink, orange, or yellow bulbs because pests aren't as attracted to these particular colors.
One effective pest control method is the use of electronic pest repellents. These devices are small and can be plugged into outlets in each room. The device then emits a sound that keeps rodents at bay. People can't hear them, and they don't bother non-rodent pets. Rats and mice don't like them and will stay away from them.
If trees fall in the yard, clear the debris promptly. Chop it up to make firewood. You can use it, sell it or just give it away. However you have to get rid of the stump as well. Basically, stumps are simply lifeless pieces of wood that attract termites.
Before purchasing a home, make sure you have it professionally inspected for pests. There are some easy signs of infestation, but you won't truly know what pest hide in your insulation or underneath your home until you leave it for several days.
Avoid mosquitoes by taking away common areas they breed. Get rid of standing water. Studies have shown that mosquitoes breed in very small areas of water, such as water left in discarded food cans.
Getting pests out of the home can be tough, but these tips are a good place to start. It is important that you are proactive when ridding your home of pests. Use the tips you just read and start cleaning your home's pest problems right away.