Is your house bugged?
DON’T LET THESE PESTS NEST, SAYS SAM WYLIE-HARRIS
NO matter how small or large your home, chances are there’s an unwelcome critter lurking somewhere. Here’s how to be a bug detective and keep creepy crawlies at bay...
THE KITCHEN
The busiest room in the house is paradise for colonies of ants... they’re attracted to all types of food, especially sugary stuff.
Once you’ve identified their entry point, you could try using natural home remedies to deter them, such as drawing a chalk line in front of the ant hole, or placing lemon peel there.
Otherwise, Mark Smithson, CEO of Marks Electrical, suggests peppermint oil: “Ants dislike the smell of peppermint. Mix around 10-15 drops into a mug of water and, if you add it to a spray bottle, you can spray this in problem areas.
Repeat regularly.”
If all else fails, try an ant repellent such as Lemongrass Atomiser (£9.99, 500ml, Coopers of Stortford).
Spiders also spike in springtime and dislike strong scents so citrus, peppermint oil, mint or lavender might deter them; or you could try Peppermint Spider Repeller
(£9.99, Coopers of Stortford).
THE LIVING ROOM
“‘Woodworm season’ typically runs from April to September,” Steve Jameson, national operations manager for property preservation company Peter Cox.
“You should keep an eye out for holes about 1mm-2mm in diameter in wooden items such as furniture, floorboards, timber beams or window sills,” he continues. “You may also notice small piles of fine powdery dust (known as frass) near the holes, which indicates an active infestation.”
To lessen the chances of a woodboring beetle infestation in your property, Steve says to ventilate your home to reduce humidity levels, adding that DIY products, like wax, oils and water-based preservatives, can help to kill them off.
THE BEDROOM
Dust mites are the most common household allergen and love bedding and carpets.
“They excrete enzymes in their faeces, which can cause an allergic reaction, resulting in skin rashes and other unpleasant symptoms,” says Steve Payne, sleep hygiene expert at Sleep and Snooze.
He suggests first removing all your bedding to wash it at a hightemperature to kill off any mites.
“The easiest and most economic way to clear dust mites from your mattress is to use baking soda” adds Steve.
“Simply sprinkle baking soda across the surface of any fabric matsays tress and leave it for 15 minutes to an hour, then vacuum the baking soda off the bed, making sure to get it all from between any crevices.” He says to ensure your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter to contain the mites, rather than inadvertently spreading them around the rest of your home.
THE BATHROOM
Sophie Thorogood from the technical team at eco-friendly pest control brand Green Protect says: “In these humid areas, pests such as silverfish, German cockroaches and booklice can thrive. Therefore, eliminate sources of moisture.
“You can do this by using a dehumidifier, having a properly working extractor fan and hanging up damp ltowels,” suggests Sophie.
“Additionally, any damaged tiles or cracks in the room should be fixed as they can harbour pests.”
She recommends trying Green Protect Silverfish Killer Trap (£7.86, Pack of 2, Espares), but says German cockroaches are difficult to treat, and a professional should always be called in.