Per year, almost $9 billion is spent by Americans on pest control. This common household expense can, in many cases, be saved. To help save you from an infestation, and the associating costs, here are a few of the top pests which plague America today and how you can stop them from making your home theirs:
Mice and rats.
Each winter, approximately 21 million US homes are invaded by rodents each winter. They can damage your property, chew through wires, and carry disease into your home so a rat infestation in your home is something you want to avoid wherever possible.
Things you can do to prevent them from entering your home:
- Make sure no food is left out, and that crumbs and spillages are dealt with immediately.
- Come and have your property examined for holes/cracks in the walls/foundations which rats or mice may be able to use to gain entry to your home, and have those holes filled. Check out some DIY tips on how to seal your doors from rodents and bugs.
Termites.
Out of all the pests which plague the US, termites are arguably the worst; they can wreak the most destruction to your house and, by extension, to your bank account. Each year, US residents collectively spend about $5 billion on termite control and repair costs.
Things you can do to prevent them from entering your home:
- Keep any loose bits of wood, cardboard and other cellulose-based materials well away from your home (these make good homes/meals for termites).
- Use white vinegar to clean, since vinegar is both toxic and repellent to termites.
Flies and mosquitoes.
While these are quite different creatures in some ways, they have a few important things in common: they’re both incredibly annoying, difficult to keep out of your home and deterred in similar ways. In general, flies are just a nuisance, but mosquitoes can actually cause more serious illnesses since the female of the species can carry a number of different diseases.
Things you can do to prevent pests from entering your home:
- Keep lavender in your home; the scent deters both flies and mosquitoes. If lavender isn’t to your taste, there are a number of other herbs which have the same effect, such as wormwood, and citronella.
- Keep windows and doors shut wherever possible, and consider installing some mosquito/fly deterring screens.
Bed bugs.
Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to get rid of, the process of which usually involves a heavy-duty heat or chemical treatment. So, it’s probably better to ensure you don’t get an infestation in the first place (unless you enjoy being bitten whilst you sleep). While there isn’t a huge amount you can do to stop them coming into your home, you can reduce the chance of a full-blown infestation by neutralizing any bed bugs that do make it into your house, before they get the chance to breed and create a whole family for you to deal with.
Things you can do to prevent an infestation:
- Vacuum your carpets and rugs, at the very least, weekly.
- Spray water mixed with essential oils on your bed, carpets and couches. Not only will this deter bugs from nesting there, but it’ll make your home smell great.
Cockroaches.
There’s nothing that can send a shiver down your spine quite like seeing a cockroach scuttling across the floor of your home. They’re dirty, disgusting and– unfortunately –very common.
Things you can do to prevent them from entering your home:
- Make sure no food is left out, and that crumbs and spillages are dealt with immediately. Keeping food in storage containers is also a good idea.
- Use Caulk to fill any cracks in the walls which cockroaches might be using to gain access to your home.
About The Author
Rick Blackham is the owner of Mantis Pest Solutions a pest control company in Overland Park, KS. Rick has over 20+ years of experience in pest control through owning his own companies and working for companies such as Terminix and Orkin.
