You work hard to make your home a place of comfort and security. The thought of having tiny critters undo your efforts can be annoying. No one wants to think about having a pest problem in their home. Animals such as rodents, termites, bees, and spiders can cause harm to you and your family and damage to your home. If nothing else, pest problems can make you feel vulnerable and even embarrassed.
The good news is that you don’t have to tolerate their presence. You can evict pests and keep them from ever coming back. There are multiple options for ridding your place of these invaders and once again having peace of mind. As you consider various treatments, you can decide which ones make the most sense for you.
Prevention
Sometimes, a proactive approach is the best line of defense against pests. There are steps you can take to keep them from ever showing up. The first thing to do is keep a clean home. Pests such as mice, ants, and cockroaches are attracted to a messy house. Clutter and excessive debris offer inviting hiding places for creatures. You also want to keep food sources off-limits to pests. Don’t leave easily accessible packages available to potential visitors. Keep food sealed in tight containers instead of cardboard or plastic packages. Also, you must sweep and mop your floors often as well as clean off tables and counters. Leaving crumbs in the kitchen or other areas of the house are open invitations for pests to make their way into your home. Eliminating water sources inside and around your home will also keep you free of undesirable creatures.
Traps
Rodent traps have been around for decades. This method can still be effective at catching and killing mice and rats. A basic trap has a food source as bait, along with a spring-loaded snapper, which then comes down with great force upon the rodent. Some traps may not kill the rodents but literally, trap them inside a small container which you can then take outside and release the animal.
Poison Bait Station
Another popular treatment for pest infestations are poison stations. These consist of pellets or blocks of poison that are secured inside a small box or container. The poison gives off a scent that attracts the animal. After chewing the poison, the pest will become thirsty and leave the home to find water. Shortly after that, the pest dies outside. With other poisons, the pest will take it back to its nest and feed it to its family.
Pesticides
Some types of pest treatments begin outside of your home, preventing the pests from ever getting inside. Pesticides are popular against termites. These small insects have a remorseless appetite for wood. Their activities can cause significant structural damage to your home. Termites often get into your home through the foundation. Treating the soil surrounding your house with a pesticide can create a type of wall, preventing entry. Sprays and foams containing pesticides may also come in handy on the wood inside your home. You may apply this on furniture and on the framing of your house. Be cautious when applying this method, however, as some pesticides can pose a threat to children and pets.
Treat the Lawn
Many pests hang out on your lawn and then eventually get inside your house for shelter and food. Using sprays and other forms of poison on the grass can kill an assortment of pests before they ever make it inside the walls of your home. Some treatments may double as lawn care solutions, killing the pests that also damage your grass and plants. These methods can take care of ants, bees, spiders, beetles, mosquitoes, and cockroaches.
Store-bought Products
A visit to your local home improvement store or grocer may help you find sprays and other solutions to kill different types of pests. These products are directly marketed to fend off wasps and hornets, ants, cockroaches, spiders, and more. Spraying the product on nests or on the animal directly can kill them almost instantly.
Professional Evaluation
For large infestations, trying to get rid of the pests on your own may prove to be ineffective. Professional local pest exterminators in Chicago have the knowledge, experience, and skill to handle even the largest problems in your home. The technician may use a combination of treatments to kill the pests. These methods can cost more but can also be more effective and reliable.
If you have a pest infestation, you need peace of mind, and you need results—fast. Start by trying some of these do-it-yourself methods. If they aren’t taking care of the pest problem, it may be time to get in touch with a professional pest control company. You shouldn’t have to live in fear or let these pests victimize you. Take back your house today.