How to Get Rid of Common House Pests
If left uncontrolled, common pests at home might escalate to infestation and more significant damages. Pests can damage your home’s structural integrity, exposing the interior and foundation to possible cracking or collapsing.
Hence, it’s crucial to identify the problem right away and control them. If the situation is more complicated to handle, it’s better to contract pest control services right away.
Here are the common house pests and how to get rid of them.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are a common problem in every home. These small oval-shaped insects usually hide in luggage, furniture, and mattresses.
If you start getting itchy red bites on your skin, then bed bugs are most likely infesting your bed. It’s essential to check your bedding and mattresses regularly because bed bugs are most active at night while we sleep.
You can get rid of bed bugs by washing and cleaning your infested clothes, furniture, or mattress in hot water. After cleaning them, place them on the dryer on the highest setting for 30 minutes.
You can also try dry scrubbing and vacuuming them on the surface for furniture or mattresses to remove bugs and eggs. However, scrubbing and vacuuming may not be enough if you want to get rid of bed bugs inside the bed.
If the infestation is more than you can handle, we recommend you call in a professional ASAP.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches usually hide in dark, moist, humid places such as water meter boxes or your sink. Once cockroaches start infesting your home, they can feed on your other belongings and even your food.
One of the home remedies against cockroaches is using a natural insecticide called diatomaceous earth (DE). You can sprinkle a light coating on any surface where the cockroaches are hiding.
Moreover, you can also use baking soda to make a do-it-yourself cockroach bait. You can start by dicing a handful of onions and sprinkling them with baking soda.
Mice
Mice carry hantaviruses which constitute a significant health risk. Mice usually hide in your kitchen near your food storage or behind your appliances.
One way to get rid of mice is to remove all food sources that might attract them. You should seal potential food sources in tamper-proof containers and ensure that pet food isn’t exposed for long periods.
You can also use natural mice repellents such as essential oils, a mixture of apple cider and water, and fabric softener sheets. If these are ineffective, you can try using live traps to catch the mice without using poison.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are tiny pests, but they are among the most infectious. Mosquitoes thrive during spring when the heavy rains and the prairie landscape make a breeding ground for them.
You can control mosquitoes in your home by getting rid of any standing water in your yard, buckets, or even pet bowls. Getting rid of standing water will help avoid mosquitoes from laying their eggs.
If you want to repel mosquitoes without using traditional pesticides, you can use essential oils that contain lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus. Moreover, you can also use a mixture of coconut oil, neem oil, and water to spray on your skin as a natural repellent.
It’s also essential to fix any gaps to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home through your screens and doors. If you usually sleep with your windows open at night, it’s better to install mosquito netting to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
And that concludes our list of common house pests and how to get rid of them. If you have more tips and suggestions, you can share them with us!