7 tips for pest control
Get rid of your food: Store food in sealed packages or in the refrigerator; remove debris, crumbs and grease, especially from cracks and crevices. Don’t forget to leave open pet food or bags in the laundry room or garage. For a persistent pet food infestation, place the pet food bowl in a large, shallow pot and fill with water to create a natural barrier. Eliminating as much as possible eliminates the food source of the pests. Get rid of water – Look for areas with excess moisture, such as punaise de lit under sinks, shower / bath areas, water heaters, overwatering the exterior perimeter, and air conditioning units redirected or removed to remove pests from the water source . Gutters containing organic matter from decaying leaves should be cleaned regularly. Get rid of your houses: Inspect indoor and outdoor storage areas and place them away from the structure, such as firewood, or put them in airtight plastic containers to eliminate pest refuge areas. Remember this includes the garage and attic, especially if cardboard storage boxes are used. Plastic is recommended as cardboard is the perfect home, as it can be a source of food and a “nursery” for pests. Get rid of the branches and trim the plants too close to the structure. Keep it trimmed about 2 feet apart to avoid easy movement of the plant / tree to the entry points of the structure. Get rid of entry points – Inspect the exterior of the structure and seal obvious entry points around electrical conduits, pipes, windows and doors. Canned foam sealer is a quick and inexpensive solution. Weatherstripping on windows and doors will not only keep pests out, but will also improve energy efficiency. Get rid of over-the-counter pesticides if you don’t get results. Use pesticides wisely – understand how they work and why. Know how to use them and what pests they affect. Ineffective pesticide use is not just a waste of money, but an environmental hazard to your family and pets. It is important to know how to use the pesticide, where it can be used, how much and how often to use it. Over-application is just as bad as under-application. Applying the wrong products to the wrong areas will only cause pests to spread and multiply. Get rid of unlicensed applicators who are “doing it on the side,” the liability is ultimately not worth the savings, if any. The consumer has no recourse – what if the applicator is injured on his property? What if the wrong application of pesticides causes injury or harm to you, your neighbors, or pets? Or worse yet, are you applying a pesticide that you can’t see incorrectly in your home? A licensed, insured and bonded state regulated pest control provider must meet rigorous criteria to obtain and maintain their licenses. This is to protect the consumer. Get to know your pest control provider and make sure they are licensed and insured by the state. See if they belong to industry-related organizations and consumer protection organizations, such as the Better Business Bureau. The 3 most common mistakes in pest control
Purchase of over-the-counter and self-treatment sprays. Many grocery store products simply don’t provide lasting benefits and ultimately cause more problems than they’re worth. If you currently have a pest control supplier many times over, the spray you buy is a contact repellent that kills the pests you see but has no lasting residue and actually contaminates professional products instead. The use of repellent sprays causes a phenomenon called “sprouting” with many species of ants. The workers die and do not return to the colony. The colony will create more queens and they will “sprout” creating more colonies! Cockroach infestations can be temporarily reduced, but the larvae hatch soon. Sprays for bed bug infestations end up spreading the infestation, as they will avoid the sprayed areas for a short time. Our suggestion would be if you have the occasional invasive infestation spray it with window cleaning spray – the same result is less expensive and definitely less toxic! Ongoing pest problems need professional treatment. Start a pest control service while you see pests and stop when you don’t see pests. The plague you don’t see is not necessarily gone, it is under control. The pest will remain in the environment and will always seek food, water, and shelter. The goal of pest control providers is to control them in their environment. Stopping the service because you don’t see a pest will cause pest populations to spiral out of control again. A constant and regular pest control service will break that cycle. Not knowing and understanding the pest control providers’ treatment plan. Make sure you know and understand what your provider is doing for your service. Ask questions, check licenses, ask what they are dealing with your property and why. Your pest control provider should be able to provide answers and suggestions for your pest control needs. “Green” products are used regularly in industry today to reduce environmental impact. Find out which products will work for your home.