How to keep pests out of your home
Bugs, flies and other dreaded household pests are a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Mice, rats and cockroaches can have many people reaching for the poison. But there are proven methods that will help prevent home infestations before they even reach you, and plenty of ways to treat your home if it’s too late for preventive measures.
Andrew Kitson from Jim’s Termite and Pest Control in Australia says while chemical solutions used to be the norm, there are a lot of options that don’t involve ‘‘spraying the whole shebang’’ with toxic chemicals.
‘‘It’s true that [chemicals] are effective against home invaders, but artificial pest repellents, sprays, baits and poisons can be dangerous – if not lethal – when accidentally ingested or touched,’’ Kitson says.
‘‘If you or anyone in the house, especially kids, are exposed to pesticides, there can be serious consequences like irritation of your skin and your lungs.’’
As well as posing danger to humans, household chemicals can have long-lasting effects on the environment. Kitson warns that liquids, aerosols and solid pesticides can all find their way into groundwater.
‘‘If you’re constantly reaching for the bug spray or you just have poison set around the home to help stop ants, you are at risk of contaminating waterways,’’ he says. ‘‘Think about your mop buckets, or wiping down a bench that you then rinse – that’s chemicals going straight down the drain.’’
There are alternative ways to de-bug a home, such as essential oils and non-toxic household cleaning products.
Prevention is key
You don’t need to treat an infestation if it never happens, so the first approach is to keep
them out. Kitson offers a few basic tips to avoid critters making your home their own.
‘‘It sounds simple, but just clean up. Keep the kitchen tidy and store food correctly,’’ he says.
‘‘Another big one is keeping the house dry. You’ll attract cockroaches and mozzies, especially in the warmer months, if you have bodies of water.’’
This means wiping up any puddles in wet areas, draining the sink when the dishes are done, or tightening any leaky fixtures.
Natural solutions for common household bugs include things you’ll likely have around the home. Here are Kitson’s top tips for eradicating common pests:
Mice
Pop some peppermint, eucalyptus or spearmint oil on a cotton ball. Wherever you’d be normally placing traps and poison, such as behind the fridge, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, place the balls. Also, put them in a spot you suspect mice are using as an entrance, to try to deter them.
Moths and smaller bugs
In a spray bottle, make a 50:50 white vinegar and water solution. Add about 15 drops of eucalyptus, five drops of peppermint and 10 drops of cedarwood essential oil. Mix well. Use the solution to spray and wipe your pantry surfaces.
Ants
Put white vinegar in a spray bottle and squirt it wherever ants commonly appear. Try wiping peppermint essential oil or sprinkling ground black or cayenne pepper in the ants’ path.
If you feel the problem has escalated too far, Kitson suggests contacting a professional, who can assess the infestation and use stronger methods to combat pests in your home.
This article originally appeared on Domain.com.au and has been republished with permission.