Pest control is fundamental when it comes to the comfort and safety of your family. Some of the most common pests in households include mosquitoes, rats, opossums, mice, mosquitoes, bedbugs, mites, spiders, flies, and cockroaches, among many others.

Some of these pests are dangerous to human health. For example, mosquitoes are carriers of dengue fever or malaria. Others like squirrels cause significant damage to furniture and house fittings. The adverse effects of these pests are enough reason to exterminate them. Read on for some tips to control these pests without harming the environment.

1. Hire Pest Removal Services

There’s no denying that pest control can be a time-consuming process, especially if the pests in question are already created colonies in and round your home. Resorting to eliminating them entirely on your own may mean leaving other activities to face these pests head-on. But be careful, though, as some pests can cause injury to you as you attempt to eliminate them.

If you have the time and expertise, you may do it yourself, of course. But if you’re busy most of the time, one good approach is to hire professional pest removal services. These companies have the experience to deal with even the most notorious pests like opossums.

Opossums are one of the most common pests around homes. They’re agile climbers and adept scavengers. The presence of hideouts like logs, bushes, and branches hanging near roofs usually make it difficult to catch them. If you suffer from opossum infestation and want professional help, consider hiring pest removal services like opposumpestcontrol.com and other pest control professionals to make sure opossums won’t invade your home anymore.

2. Homemade Pesticides

Many pesticides are being sold in the market today for pest control, but some brands may be harmful to pets, children, or plants when not handled carefully. In addition to that, they can also contaminate air, waterways, food crops, and, in some cases, your soil quality. Some pesticides are, however, not hazardous. You can even make an effective pesticide in the comfort of your own home. Here are three examples of natural pesticides that you can use for pest control:

• Vinegar: If you want to get rid of ants in or around your house, then vinegar is one of the best solutions. Take any amount of vinegar, mix it with an equal amount of water, and then spray away using a spray bottle.
• Orange Peels: You can use orange peels to control pests such as aphids, mealybugs, and slugs. After eating the orange, take the peels and put them in half a liter of water. Leave it for 24 hours, filter to remove the solid residue, and then put the citrus-filled mixture into a spray bottle. Add 3 to 4 drops of castile soap and then shake to mix. Spray directly onto ants, plants, or cockroaches.
• Peppermint Oil: It has a terrific smell and is a chemical-free way of pest control. You can use it to get rid of pests such as lice, beetles, mice, spiders, and fleas. You have the option of directly spreading the oil to the problem areas or putting six drops of peppermint oil on cotton balls and placing them where pests pass or live. Otherwise, you can also dilute the oil in water by mixing half a liter of water with nine drops of peppermint oil and then transferring the mixture to a spray bottle.

3. Seal Gaps, Holes, And Crevices

Prevention is better than cure. To avoid dealing with pests, preventing them from getting into the house should be your first measure. Go outside and look for gaps, holes, and crevices. Use waterproof silicone caulk to seal smaller holes and steel mesh to build a base when sealing bigger holes. You can then cover the mesh using polyurethane foam. 

4. Cover Openings Using A Wire Mesh

For openings such as dryer vents, chimneys, exhaust fans, roof vents, and crawl spaces, make sure that you cover them using a screen or a wire mesh. Apart from preventing larger pests like opossums or rats from coming into your house, screens and wire meshes are also effective in keeping mosquitos out while letting the cool breeze in.

5. Set Up Traps Inside Or Outside The House

This is a good pest control measure because there are high chances of killing pests and preventing them from coming in. You can set up different insect or rodent traps, either inside or outside the house. The most common traps are ultrasonic rodent repellants, bug zappers, electronic traps, snap traps, cage traps, and glue traps. These traps are very effective in controlling larger pests such as rats and other vermin.

6. Dispose Your Garbage Properly

Leftover food and crumbs are some of the things that invite pests. It’s therefore crucial to ensure that you clean up after taking your meals. Ensure that you wipe both the dining table and the kitchen countertops with a damp tablecloth and soap.

If you have an indoor bin, ensure you empty it regularly to avoid attracting pests like cockroaches. 

7. Keep Your Carpets And Floor Surfaces Clean

Dust, dirt, spills, and crumbs will definitely attract mice and other pests. Always ensure that you vacuum both your carpet and floors several times a week. If this seems too much for you, you can always hire a carpet cleaning company to do the work for you.

In addition to cleaning carpets, sweeping your floor should also be part of your daily routine. Also, make sure that you’ve placed floor mats in front and behind every door to prevent soil from shoes from making your house dirty.

8. Wash Your Utensils

Don’t leave unwashed utensils in the sink overnight to wash them the following morning. These utensils, especially dishes and cups with food crumbs, attract cockroaches because of the smell of the food plus the darkness around the house.

The best thing to do to avoid cockroaches from infesting your house is to wash the utensils before going to bed. Even if you’re too tired, you can wash the food crumbs out and then wash them thoroughly in the morning.

Conclusion

These pest control tips may be effective in keeping your home free from pests. Keeping your home clean and hygienic first and foremost keeps pests away as well as prevents you from contracting pest-transmitted diseases such as chikungunya and Bacillus cereus.

If you already have some of these unwanted guests infesting your home, take it as a matter of urgency and strategize on how to remove them. For stubborn pests that keep coming back, don’t hesitate to seek professional help.