Dealing with pests can be incredibly frustrating. They’re creepy, they’re embarrassing, and they’re a threat to your wellbeing. Many pests reproduce too quickly for one to keep up and it can feel like they will never go away.If you’re hesitant to hire a professional, know that you can get rid of most pests yourself. All you will need is a little patience and hard work.
Here’s what you can do to get rid of pests like a pro. If you need help, reach out to an exterminator in Brampton or near you.
Start with an Inspection
The first thing any pest control technician will do is perform an inspection of the property. This will determine the severity of the infestation and where it is present in the home, so you can target the pests more effectively. It may also reveal the cause of the infestation, which you can address later.
Examine the rooms in which you suspect there are pests and look for signs of activity. These will depend on the pest you are dealing with.Look for smudge marks, droppings, eggs, chew marks, footprints, and anything else that could point to the pest. Check every nook and cranny; look at inside your cabinets, behind your appliances, and in hard-to-reach areas where pests could hide. Outside, look for entry points like cracks in the foundation or holes in your window screens.
Know Which Pest You are Dealing With
Professionals are trained to recognize the signs of every household pest, and to know how to get rid of them effectively. If you’ve never seen the pests themselves, look up the signs you found during the inspection and find which pest they are coming from. It’s important that you identify the pest correctly so that you use the right pest control products.
If you’re still not sure, try setting glue traps in areas of activity. Glue traps can be useful when identifying pests and determining the severity of an infestation.
Use the Right Products
Once you have identified the pest and its areas of activity, you will need to get the right pest control products. Visit your local hardware store and get the recommended sprays, traps, or baits that you need. If you are getting rid of pavement ants, for example, purchase a spray that is specifically formulated for this ant. Using the wrong product may be totally ineffective.
If you are getting rid of rodents, be sure to use the right trap. Rat traps are much larger than mouse traps, and rat baits are much more powerful. Get the right traps for the right pest and bait them correctly.
Read the instructions on your pest control products very carefully. This is not only important for the results of your treatment but for the safety of your household. Be strategic in your approach and treat where the pests have been active. Set traps along infested corridors and spray where insects are hiding.
Block Entry Points
Many professionals offer pest-proofing services in addition to pest control. This involves the sealing and blocking of all potential entry points, preventing any more pests from getting inside the house. Pest-proofing is the key to a successful extermination and will save you the headache of repeated infestations or prolonged issues.
Keep pests out by blocking the entry points you found during the inspection. Common entry points include gaps under the doors, broken window screens, holes in the wall, and cracks in the foundation. Inside, seal any gaps you found between the kitchen cabinets or around your plumbing. Anything that could lead to a void in the ceiling or the floor should be sealed.
Keep the House Clean
While a pest control professional won’t clean for you, he or she will recommend that you do. Keeping the house clean will remove sources of food, which will encourage the pests to eat bait and go away. Tidying up also gets rid of hiding spots, bringing the pests out into the open where they can be eliminated.
Deep clean the kitchen and everywhere else there is food. Get rid of all unnecessary clutter and tidy up. Then, vacuum regularly and keep your surfaces clean. Do the dishes every day and avoid leaving any food out overnight, like garbage or pet food.
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