House Pest Control Tips
Ants
Though harmless by themselves, they can act as disease carriers if these are patients with infectious disease around.
Mop up any ants you can see, using a cloth or sponge dipped in soapy water and then discard. Use sticky barriers such as Vaseline or kerosene around entry points.If the problem persists, follow their trail and pour boiling water over the entrance to wipe out the colony.
Bed Bugs
They usually enter the your home in clothing and luggage.They don't carry disease but their bites are itchy and can cause allergies.
Wash the piece of furniture with soapy water and seal all cracks with caulking agents such as silicone, white cement and putty.Stand beds away from walls, and place the legs in metal jars or coat them with Vaseline to stop bugs crawling up. Wash beddings and get mattresses professionally steam cleaned. Keeping the mattress and bedding out in the sun over 2-3 days is also effective too. Remember to expose the entire surface to the sun.
Carpet beetles
They feed on natural fibres and can cause significant damage to carpets and clothing.
Vacuum infested areas and dispose the vacuum bag immediately to avoid reinfestation. Throw away or wash any items that show signs of contamination.
Clothes moths
Adult clothes moths are harmless, but their larvae can cause extensive damage to clothing, carpets and other textiles.
Most damage is to cloth left undisturbed for long or soiled with perspiration and food stains.Wash or dry clean before storing with naphthalene balls. If you find moth holes or larvae in clothes, empty the wardrobe and vacuum thoroughly to remove lint, fluff and hair, then clean with hot soapy water. Make sure you pay particular attention to edges, cracks and crevices. Discard, dry clean or wash infested material at a high temperature.
Cockroaches
Found in dark humid places they carry disease and bacteria. They contaminate food and preparation area when they scuttle over them.
Remember that baby cockroaches can fit through a 1 mm wide gap. Wash these areas and block with sealant. Make your own cockroach trap by placing a slice of bread in a jam jar coated with Vaseline;they will climb and fall in. Kill them with hot soapy water or discard the jar. They need water more than food; so fix leaks and properly ventilate damp areas.
Fleas
Beware of rat, human, bird, cat , dog fleas that spread tapeworms.Their bites irritate both humans and pets and can be dangerous too.
For your pet, a biweekly dietary supplement of Vitamin B and garlic may help ward off infestation. Else, get a herbal flea repelling collar from your local petstore. Groom your pet daily with a comb and wash the bedding weekly. Vacuum clean the areas used by pets - dispose the vacuum bags by burining them in plastic bags and put them in the freezer overnight before taking out to the dustbin. Professionally clean infestated mattresses and sofas.
Flies
These range from fruit flies to houseflies and bluebottles. They spread disease and food poisoning.
Remove over-ripe or rotting fruits and vegetables from open bowls. Use a swatter rather than sprays to get rid of individual flies, which can lay 600 eggs in a day that hatch within 48 hours. Or use sticky traps and papers, or a UV light flying killer.
Mice and rats
Rodents spread diseases and can cause damage by gnawing through cables, plastics and woodwork.
Block entrance holes with sealant and set traps where there are dropping or other signs of activity. Use gloves when putting down mechanical traps as rodents avoid anything with human scent. For the first few days, place a bait without setting the traps. Dispose dead rats and mice b throwing away in sealed bags. For serious rodent infestations, use a non toxic rodenticide such as Roban or use gum boards such as PCI's Trubble-Gum.
Wasps
Although some wasps are beneficial in your garden, their stings are painful and cause severe allergies.
For a few wasps, fill a jar with jam and water (half and half) and cover with paper lid, punctured with large holes. This trap will attract, trap and drown the wasps. For serious problems such as indoor nest, call in a professional recommended by Indian Pest Control Association(IPCA).Ask them to use insecticidal soap or synthetic pyrethroids that are less toxic.
Termites
See
Termite control tips
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