Pests are very annoying. Nobody likes them. Have you ever heard the phrase, “as lovely as a pest?” Well, believe it or not, there is a reason for that. Around certain periods, insects and rodents tend to either come out of their hiding places within houses, or seek shelter inside. In most cases, pests are driven inside by the tough weather conditions. Good weather, however, only means that they are most likely to be out and about; in your house, that is. Can you blame them? A pest has got to eat.
The problem is that pests don’t understand the rules of property, privacy, and all those progressive concepts that we as humans have developed over the centuries. For us, having pest infestations means nothing but trouble. Food disappearing, rat pellets everywhere, spider webs, all types of bites from every single insect there is, and the list goes on infinitely. So, if you want to get rid of your pest problem, we won’t judge. We understand how frustrating it is. This is why we have decided to help you by coming up with a bunch of solutions to help you put an end to the spread of house pests. It’s time for you to go all Home Alone on those little buggers.
1. Block the Exits
Insects don’t have homes and welcome mats; we all know that. They live in crevices, small holes, cracks in walls, and tiny gaps. What you want to do is to scout your house, make sure you cover every inch, and fill up those places. Even if they don’t have pests living inside, you need to make sure that those areas are blocked forever because insects can easily just move in. All you need to do is to inject filling solution, or any type of sealing material, into any cracks you find. However, if you find out that one of the cracks has a colony of ants living in it, for example, you need to take different measurements that we will cover in the next point.
2. Chemical Warfare
To win the fight against insects, you don’t have to be strong; you just need to be smart. When you find an insect, while your first instinct may be to crush it, it is preferable if you don’t. Just observe it for a while. Insects don’t really go on walks; if an insect is out, it is usually doing one of two things. It is either headed to look for food, or going back to its place of residence. Either way, if you stick around enough, that little fellow will most probably lead you to its home base. After that, you can simply grab whatever type of chemical you usually use to get rid of said bug, and spray it into and around the place where there’s a lot of insects. Also, if it is possible, try to cover the insects’ trail with your chemical of choice too, since bugs tend to follow the same trail. Finally, feel free to seal up the walls to prevent insects from going in or out.
3. Don’t Leave a Trace
Portland is one of the states where pests are not really a big deal, because of how common they are to find. If there was a piece of advice about a certain pest Portland people can give you, it is to never leave any traces for those pesky little things. The only reason we find insects, rats, or raccoons is because they are looking for food. They are equipped with noses and an antennae to help them detect food from large distances. So, in order to prevent pests from spreading through your home, you need to make sure that you don’t leave any food lying around. This means no leftovers in the sink. It also means that you should thoroughly clean up after cooking, or baking, or doing anything that might result in the spreading of crumbs or food particles.
4. Install Better Defenses
Who doesn’t love fresh air? Most of the time, leaving the windows open can provide an easy entrance for all sorts of insects. Don’t forget that pests such as moths and mosquitoes are drawn to light. A good way to protect yourself and at the same time enjoy the fresh breeze is to install window screens. These are basically mesh made out of plastic wires. They have very tiny openings that prevent insects from coming through; needless to mention, air can pass through normally. Another suggestion is to invest in mosquito zappers, mouse traps, and other similar pest control equipment.
5. Ask for Reinforcements
if you have tried everything yet pests still plague your home, it is probably time for you to try one last thing. Nowadays, there are a huge number of companies that specialize in pest control. With the technological breakthroughs and entrepreneurial innovations that humans keep developing day in and day out, pest extermination has never been easier. Fortunately, professional pest control companies happen to have advanced equipment that will allow them to guarantee you a pest-free house within a short period of time. It all depends on the people you hire, their skill and expertise, as well as the size of the infestation. Call up an exterminator as soon as possible, so as to get rid of the problem before they start multiplying.
If you were to implement the techniques or solutions mentioned above, you are definitely guaranteed to have a clean house in no time. However, what was not stressed on enough during the past points is that how effectively you can prevent pests from spreading through your house depends on one thing. It is important that you stay vigilant; you don’t have to lurk in the dark or dress like a bat. Just make sure to regularly seal up cracks, and whenever you see a bug here or there, follow it around a bit. Make sure it’s just a stray. Happy hunting!
