By An infestation might be too much to handle on your own, but there will be times that you will need to resolve the problem by yourself, at least until you can get professional help. If you rent, you can call your landlord and ask for their help, but more often than not, it takes them days to respond. For this reason, it’s best to take prompt action to prevent the infestation from worsening. And you need to be knowledgeable about the different kinds of vermin—rats, ants, wasps, dust mites, and cockroaches are only a few that may decide to worm their way into your home.
The best pest control method is prevention, except, of course, for situations wherein the pests have been in your home long before you moved in. This is a common scenario when the state of disrepair in that home has long been taken for granted.
The first thing you need to do is find the sources of the infestation. Then, you’ll need to find a safe and efficient home pest control method, one that’s best for you and whoever lives with you.
Here are some suggestions for pest control methods that might help control the infestation in your home:
Natural methods
Addressing infestations naturally does not require the use of chemicals that are harmful to humans and pets. These are also the least expensive and are easy to implement.
Keeping your home clean
You need to know and study what type of vermin has gate-crashed into your home. Look around and find things or areas that could be nests or hiding places for your household guests. Keep your food stored in sealed glass or plastic containers and don’t leave crumbs lying around.
The trays that collect water under your plants can provide water and shelter to some pests. Check them first, clean them, and if you think they may be housing any pests, remove them.
It is not wise to leave pet food out overnight as this can attract rodents, ants, and other insects. Pests also lurk in areas where you have clutter like books, empty boxes, newspapers, or magazines. If you have an infestation, don’t hoard things that will make for the perfect nesting materials.
For pests, holes and cracks in your walls serve as entryways into your home. Be sure to fix these on top of fixing leaky pipes (which can also provide ingress to small insects too).
Biological method – Using Pets to Weed out Vermin
Using a pet is one of the most used methods. This method has been used for centuries and it is highly effective. All you need is to know which animal preys on the pests you have in your home: cats and some dogs (terriers come to mind) for rodents, and—if you’ve an infestation in your garden—ladybugs to aphids.
It’s also worth noting that some people use microbial pest control agents (MPCA) but these are typically sensitive and have several prerequisites. (Some are sensitive to UV light for example.) These are used to protect plants by terminating bacteria and fungi, as well as preventing pests from destroying the former. Bacillus thuringiensis is the most common MPCA being used in home gardens but implementing this pest control method is, understandably, fiddlier than the previous ones discussed above.
Physical methods
This form of pest control is best suited for those who have a garden or a large space inside their home to catch the vermin. This method involves traps, permanently removing rats and insects.
Baited traps are probably one of the most used methods as they are easy to execute. The only challenge is to keep checking for trapped pests so you can remove them right away.
Poison method
Poison bait comes in the form of gel or granules. It is important to note though, that you need to handle these with extreme caution, especially if you have children and pets at home.
The pests—rodents and some insects—either carry the bait to their nest or consume it on the spot. They do not die right away, however, so be aware that the poison may be working, even if you still hear the vermin a day or so later. The bait has to be placed where usual pest activity happens for the method to be effective.
Chemical method
This method is typically done by professionals. It involves the use of fumigation and fogging, insecticides, rodent poison, and heat treatment.
Using chemicals to eliminate pests is the best option if your pest problem is already uncontrollable. Although the pesticides are easy to use, it is better and safer for professionals to handle these for you.
Contact your landlord
If you rent your home, it can be best to let your landlord handle the pest control for your rented home as it is their responsibility.
However, should your landlord ignore your calls and requests for assistance, you can forward your concern to your council or to legal firms that handle disrepair complaints. Contact the housing disrepair experts at DisrepairClaim.co.uk to help you make a claim from your errant landlord, so you can finally live in your home free from infestation woes.
Comments