Household Pest Control Methods – What to Know

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(Newswire.net — July 30, 2019) — Household pests are commonly found in the air, counter, carpets or furniture. Getting rid of pests can be difficult, especially if they’re unseen and you don’t know whether you’re sharing your resources with these creepy crawlies. There are plenty of pesticides available for common household pests but these chemical compounds can be harmful to you and the environment. Here are a few natural household pest control methods for some of the most common pests.

Household Pest Control Methods 

Some household pest control methods will work on certain types of pests. The below methods will focus on remedies that’ll combat ants, dust mites, cockroaches, and more. 

Ants

When getting rid of ants, try to get rid of what’s attracting them in the first place. For instance, keep your counters free of sticky spots and crumbs. Put the honey jar in a plastic baggie and cover the sugar. You should also cut off any sources of water such as dishes left soaking overnight. One easy trick is to spray the ants with a bit of soapy water using a spray bottle.

Dust Mites

Dust mites are everywhere in the home: in your clothing, beds, bookshelves, and stuffed animals. They’re especially serious for people with asthma or allergies. One of the best ways to reduce the dust mite population in your home is to vacuum your pillows and mattresses. It’s also important to wash your bedding regularly at 130 F (55 C) or higher because commercial laundry products and detergents have no effect on mites unless the water temperature is high.

Cockroaches

Your best defense against roaches, especially in the winter is to clean your bathroom and kitchen. Vacuum your home well and wash infested areas with strong soap. Be sure to dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed container. Other useful remedies include diatomaceous earth and boric acid.

Fleas

Fleas will usually gain entrance into your home through pets. To deal with flea problems, your best bet is to start by putting an electric flea trap in the area your pet frequents the most then complement your defense by laying out diatomaceous earth (DE) in your home’s more discreet areas.

Mosquitos

The best way to deal with mosquitoes is to seal the point of entry. Mosquitos are most active in the early morning and early evening. They’re uncomfortable when there’s a breeze, which forces them to seek areas of still air. Close the doors and windows on the side of your house opposite the breeze. You can then follow up by removing standing water sources in your house and using non-toxic repellent, mosquito traps, marigolds and Thai lemongrass.

Flies

Flies bring along with them the threat of germs and disease. Your first line of defense against flies is to prevent them from entering your home. This includes sealing up roof vents, doors and windows. Mint is also an effective fly repellent.

Bottom Line

The most effective household pest control methods depend on the type of pest or insect whether they be ants, roaches, spiders or even termites. For instance, the best defense against bed bugs is prevention, and this is easy to achieve in rooms that haven’t yet been infected. If a room is infested with bedbugs, then you need to clean and vacuum it thoroughly, followed by preventive measures.