Your home is a haven where you should be able to comfortably relax, without having to worry about any health concerns. This means that as much as possible, you need to keep your home free from unwanted visitors such as pests that are not only annoying but may cause a potential health risk as well. This article delves into the common household pests that you need to be aware of, as well as how you will be able to get rid of them.
Rodents
There are several ways to tell whether rodents are living in your home. For instance, you may notice gnaw marts, as well as droppings, which are notable indications that you may have a rodent problem. Sometimes, you may even hear scrabbling noises as they move around your home or notice grease marks because they often brush up against walls and surfaces due to their poor eyesight.
The two main types of rodents that cause a specific concern in South Australia, particularly in Adelaide, are the brown and black rats that commonly find their way in residences, as well as business properties. The experts in pest control Adelaide locals often rely on, suggest that as soon as you notice the presence of rodents, you should already call in the professionals. They are the ones who know what to look for when it comes to rodent problems.
Apart from this, to mitigate rodents from invading your home, you need to seal any gaps that they may use as an entryway to make it inside your house. Alongside this, make sure to declutter and clean your home, and eliminate any potential food sources for these rodents.
Cockroaches
Another common household pest that you need to be aware of is a cockroach. More often than not, they are a bigger problem in large cities and urban areas. There is also a great chance that as soon as you see one, usually in your kitchen or bathroom, there are several more where it came from. The challenge with cockroaches is that as soon as they make their way into your home, it is quite difficult to totally eradicate them. Thus, it is important to mitigate them from multiplying early on.
When it comes to treating your home from cockroaches, there are several things that you can do. One of the most common ones is to strategically place roach traps all over your bathroom or kitchen such as under the sink or behind the toilet or wherever you see them frequently. It is also important to change these traps from time to time to ensure their effectiveness, as well as to combat new cockroaches as soon as they hatch. Like with rodents, make sure that you eliminate their food sources as well because this alone is already an effective preventive measure to make your home less attractive for them.
Termites
The presence of termites is one of the pest infestation problems that prove to be quite difficult to address. More often than not, only the professionals will be able to help you address the problem. It is important though that a termite problem is resolved immediately because if not, they can eventually affect the structural integrity of your home particularly because they attack your home’s foundation.
Some of the most common indications that you have a termite infestation are when you hear a soft thud or a hollow sound when you knock or tap on your wood. You may even hear a strange clicking sound coming from the inside of your walls or see a bunch of scattered wings that can come from these termites. Even peeling paint can be a sign of a termite problem.
Bed Bugs
The presence of bed bugs can prove to be difficult to identify because they can exist undetected in your bed, luggage, clothing, as well as couches, and other items. They tend to live in groups but they don’t have nests such as ants or bees. They are mainly active at night time and the worst part is that they feed on human blood using their elongated beak that can pierce through the skin.
To get rid of bed bugs, make sure that you clean your beddings and clothes in hot water and dry them on the highest setting because they will not be able to survive the heat. Before you vacuum, scrub your mattress seams using a stiff brush to remove any of their eggs. Make it a habit to vacuum your bed frequently and get rid of any clutter that you may have in your bed.
Dust Mites
Dust mites feed on dead skin cells which make them highly unpleasant. They thrive in plush surfaces such as the throw pillows on your couch, as well as your carpets or bedding. Simply adhering to routine cleaning will already minimize their occurrence significantly. There is also the option for you to store your plush belongings in a sealed container and put them inside your freezer for a couple of days. Dust mites won’t be able to survive the below zero temperature of your freezer. The downside of having dust mites invade your home is that you won’t be able to eradicate them completely, but you will be able to minimize them.
Ants
Ants can invade your home in search of food, water, and shelter. In most cases, baited traps are utilized to mitigate them from spreading inside your home. However, when you have children or pets living with you, this may not be the most viable solution for you. In this case, you can consider natural home remedies to eradicate them. As soon as you address this problem, make sure that you don’t attract them into your home once again by frequently cleaning your home, ensuring that there is no leftover food left in your kitchen counters or spills and drips on your floor.
No homeowner would want to have pests living with them in their homes, because not only are these unwanted visitors disgusting, they can pose serious health risks as well. Hence, as soon as you notice the occurrence of any of the pests listed above, you need to make the necessary measures to eradicate them. In doing so, you are guaranteed that your home is safe from any potential health concerns that these pests may bring.