Pests invade homes to seek shelter from outside weather conditions or look for food. Unfortunately, once the critters find their way into your home and get comfortable, they make it their permanent abode and even mark territories. They can cause material damage if not forced out and become a health hazard to your loved ones and pets. Some pests like cockroaches, although they’ve got a short lifespan, reproduce quickly and are pretty resilient.
If your home becomes infested with pests, don’t gamble; hire Bug busters experts or other pest control professionals who’ll effectively help you deal with the situation.
Below are some dos and don’ts that should be adhered to while dealing with pest control in your home:
Do’s
Do Identify The Problem First
As a rule of thumb, it’s always advisable to first identify what attracts pests to your home and how they gain access before dealing with the problem. For instance, are there puddles on your lawn that hold stagnant water? Is there clutter in your garage that attracts rodents? Are there trees or anthills around your home that house termites that find shelter in your home in extreme weather conditions? If you don’t deal with the root cause, you’ll be unable to contain the infestation.
Knowing what kind of pests that you are dealing with will save you time and money. Apart from cockroaches and ants, which are easily seen, rat droppings, spider webs, and blood stains on your bedding caused by bedbugs are some telltale signs that tell you what pests are present in your home. It’ll also enable you to know the magnitude of the problem and what pesticide to use.
Do Use Pesticides Correctly and Safely
Each pesticide is made for a specific problem. And there’s no ‘one fits all.’ With that, you should use the right pesticide to tackle or eliminate a particular pest. And if your home is infested with different kinds of pests, you’ll be required to use different pesticides for each of them. Using the wrong pesticide will not only worsen the problem but can also make the pests resistant.
Before applying pesticides, ensure you have read the instructions and are familiar with the precautions. Pesticides penetrate the body through the nose and mouth and get absorbed through the eyes or skin. You should, therefore, put on the required personal protective gear to protect yourself.
Do Dispose Of The Remaining Pesticide And Containers Properly
Many pest removal pesticides are considered hazardous waste and require proper and safe disposal. Disposal instructions are usually provided on the label. However, if you’re unsure how to handle any chemical that remains or the pesticide containers, you can call your community waste disposal authority for guidance. Because if you don’t dispose of the containers or remaining pesticides properly, they can find their way into water bodies and become a community health risk.
Do Inform Your Immediate Neighbors
There’s always a possibility that people living in the same area are affected by the same pests. Informing your neighbors when you plan to remove pests from your home is not only being courteous but can also be a way of asking them to join hands with you as they do the same. If you remove pests from your home and the neighbors don’t, there’s a chance that the problem will recur, and your home will be under constant attack.
Do Get Professional Help
If you truly want to get rid of pests, you should seek professional help. The experts have the knowledge, personnel, and proper equipment. They know what you don’t and are capable of dealing even with severe pest invasion and getting rid of them completely. They’ll also be able to advise you on the proper tools to control pests in your homes.
Don’ts
Don’t Use Outdoor Pesticides Indoors
Pesticides are made according to the environment they’ll be used in. Pesticides meant for outdoors are usually made differently from those meant for indoors. Outdoor pesticides are more potent, last longer, and, if used indoors, can harm your loved ones and pets. When purchasing pesticides, even if you’re tackling the same kind of pest indoors and outside, you should buy different chemicals for the required environment.
Don’t Overuse The Pesticides
When your home is infested with pests, you’ll want to eliminate them as quickly as possible. But using more than the recommended amount of pesticide will only put your loved ones and pets’ lives in danger.
Don’t Transfer The Chemicals To Other Containers
Pesticides are always packed in containers clearly describing what they contain and with clear signs about their potential danger. If you transfer them into other containers, you’ll expose other people to hazards because they can be mistaken for other things. And if you’re dealing with chemicals that need mixing, only mix the required amount at any given time. Leftovers of the mixed pesticides should be disposed of and not stored in different containers.
Don’t Mix Up Chemicals
Just as using pesticides indoors that are meant for outdoors is a big no, mixing chemicals to make them stronger is a bigger no. Mixing different chemicals can cause dangerous reactions, which can harm through inhalation or spillage. To be safe, use pesticides only as directed by the manufacturer.
Don’t Let The Problem Get Out Of Hand
It’s easier to remove pests from your home immediately when you spot them because they can multiply within a very short time. For instance, if you don’t get rid of a cockroach you see on your wall today; you’ll see more in just a few days. Thus, be sure that many are hiding somewhere in your house when you start looking for them for removal. Ignoring them will only allow them time to reproduce and get out of hand.
Don’t Put Traps Or Chemicals In Open Places
Children are naturally curious and want to touch and see everything they come across. When you store pesticides or put pest traps in your home, ensure they’re out of reach and view of children to prevent harm.
Conclusion
Once your home has been rid of pests, you’ll have to practice preventive measures to keep them away. For instance, using trash cans that close tightly and regularly removing garbage from your home will deny pests a breeding place. Sealing spaces like cracks in the wall and cabinets will ensure they have no hiding place. And drain or fill puddles around your home and level the ground to prevent water from collecting and stagnating. Also, ensure that you regularly inspect the inside of the roof and chimney of your house for bats, rats, or other critters that may have made a home there.
