Are you tired of seeing signs of pesky little creatures like insects, rodents, and other pests in your home? Are you looking for a solution that will keep them out of your home for good? Lots of people deal with pests in their residence and many of them have no idea what solutions work best. There are natural remedies, homemade products, sprays and traps, and the option to contact the exterminator. Yet, which one will be most effective? The truth is, getting rid of the pests can require a combination of things. You can read more on these helpful solutions below.
How Bad is It?
Before you begin trying solutions to get rid of the insects or rodents, ask yourself how bad the situation is. If you’re dealing with just a few insects here and there, you may be able to take care of the matter yourself. If it is, in fact, an infestation, then you’ll need to hire a professional exterminator in OKC or one that services near where you live. If you’re not sure how bad your pest problem is, these signs will let you know it’s time to call the pros:
- You see pest droppings
- You see dead insects of the same species around the house
- Evidence of nesting like shredded or chewed up paper tucked in holes or behind appliances
- Holes, bite marks, and/or damaged property (chewed wires and wood)
- Pests actively running or crawling around
If you notice these red flags, don’t waste your time trying on your own, it is best to have an exterminator handle it for you. They have the equipment and knowledge to get rid of infestations and find the source to keep them from returning.
Getting Rid of Them Yourself
If you’re not dealing with an infestation or would simply like to try to resolve the matter on your own, you’ll find these solutions to be quite helpful.
Lawn Care
If you’ve got a lot of pests outside of the home they can easily make it in. To keep them at bay you’ll need to maintain your yard. Trimming tree branches and shrubbery, for example, and remove methods for pests to enter the home. Though you may like the look of mulch, it is a great shelter for bugs. To keep them from your home, you should remove the mulch from areas that are close to the property and add rocks or stone instead.
You also need to remove any trash, litter, or debris from the yard that could attract pests. This means cleaning up still bodies of water, throwing away trash, and making sure your deck, patio, and lawn are free of debris.
Update Windows and Doors
Are your windows and doors up to par? Or, are they riddled with tiny holes and cracks that make it easy for pests to access the house? If it’s the latter, it may be time for an update. Installing new windows and doors with the proper seal will keep unwanted guests out. If your windows are otherwise in good condition, you may consider selecting a window screen with smaller holes.
Seal Cracks and Gaps
In order to reduce the likelihood of the pests getting into the home once you’ve gotten them out, you need to determine how they’re getting in in the first place. Cracks and gaps in and around the property can make this easy. Walk around your home’s interior and exterior and seal up any holes with caulk or other durable building materials to block off the entryway.
Time for Spring Cleaning
It doesn’t matter what season it really is, cleaning up your entire home is necessary if you’re going to keep pests out. They are often attracted by things left behind, so removing those attractions will reduce the chances they’ll want to take up shop at your place. You not only want to do your typical cleaning, but you should condense clutter, get rid of trash, clean drains to rid them of food particles and grease, and even cleaning out your electronics that could be harboring crumbs that attract pests.
Pests are not only embarrassing in the home, they are dangerous. Failure to deal with an insect or rodent problem in a short period of time could result in infestations, property damage, the risk of a house fire, and the spread of disease to your pets and loved ones. Whether your problem is big or small, these tips should help you get rid of the problem for good.