Pests, in any category, are often a nagging and unwanted presence in our homes and businesses. Besides making our living and working conditions intolerable, they can also be a health hazard as they harbour many disease-causing pathogens. A business reputation can be compromised due to pests, especially in the food industry where pest management can be challenging. The best way to effectively control or kill off pests in our various environments is to take preventative measures or engage professional pest management companies like Go-Pest. They stand a better chance due to their vast experience in effectively dealing with a broad category of pests. Anyone with successful experience in efficiently dealing with pests will tell you that pest control isn’t a one-time deed; it is a constant process that should be maintained for the best results. Below are 7 critical steps you can adopt to effectively control the pest menace in your home or business premise.
- Conduct Regular Inspections
The first step, which is a vital pillar to a successful Integrated Pest Management program (IPM), is regular inspections. The frequency of these inspections should be informed by the probability of pests being present. For instance, inspections should be more frequent in businesses dealing with food products as they are more susceptible to various pests. The inspections should focus on areas prone to pest infestations such as warehouses, kitchens, restrooms, and receiving docks in the case of food-based businesses.
- Put in Place Preventive Measures
Regular inspections are more likely to expose various vital vulnerabilities that could make it easy for the pests to pitch camp in your home or business building. Sealing off such vulnerabilities will discourage them from living and breeding there. This could be effectively done by regular in-depth cleaning and sanitization of the identified regions and blocking entry points. Doing this will significantly discourage pests, thereby reducing the need to use pest control methods.
- Identify the Pests
Correctly identifying pests in your home or business is an excellent way of mapping out targeted pests and also informs the best strategy to eradicate them. Various pest species can be identified precisely through their distinct behaviours. This is a complex procedure and only a reputable pest control company with expertly trained staff has the best chance to do this right. This is a crucial step, and any misstep may not only lead to failure to eradicate the intended pests but also cause harm to unintended targets.
- Analysis
For various reasons, pests can be drawn to particular houses more than others. An in-depth analysis of what motivates them to be in your home or business premises is crucial. For instance, accessible entry points, food odour and undisturbed dark areas can make your premises conducive for certain pests. It would be best to consider every possible reason depending on your unique situation, including whether they come along with shipments in the case of business premises. You can engage your pest control professional to help you identify the reasons, as this will significantly impact the best methods to mitigate them.
- Select Preferred Control Methods
With guidance from your pest professional, select the best control method depending on the pest category and the extent of invasion. This can involve a combination of various pest control methods in specified areas. IPM recommends the use of non-chemical methods as a first alternative. You can resort to chemical methods if the non-chemical approach does not deliver the needed results. However, you should ensure that the way the chemicals are applied does not bring about any safety concerns nor does it harm non-targeted organisms and the environment.
- Monitoring
Pest control is a continuous process, and so for maximum efficiency in putting them at bay, constant monitoring should be done. In the home scenario, always inspect previously infested areas and look out for pest activity to ensure they are not making a comeback. In business premises, employees should always be on the lookout during regular cleaning activities and report any signs of pests. Some pest control companies also offer follow-up services to help out in the monitoring process.
- Documentation
An IPM program isn’t complete without detailed documentation of reports such as pest sightings and activity, pesticide usage, corrective actions, and a range of other crucial reports. Not only will documenting such reports help in the fight against pests but it is also an integral part of a successful audit in the case of businesses. Always strive to have updated documentation in place.