Ultimate Guide to Managing Pests at Home

Nobody wants a pest infestation in their home. They’re annoying and can cause real damage to your homes, furnishings, and possessions. Some pests can even cause allergic reactions or carry disease. 

We aim to provide the ultimate guide to managing bugs in your home. We’ll take you through the process to safely get rid of pests in your home in this step-by-step guide and help you:

• Identify the pests
• Build awareness of the real dangers of these pests
• Take measures to manage or prevent pest infestations
• Eliminate pests in your home
• Choose the appropriate pesticide
• Store and apply pesticides safely 

List of Common Household Pests

The appropriate actions to take in eliminating household critters vary according to species. To decide on the proper response to eradicate the problem, you have to know which pests you’re dealing with. 

The most common household pests include:

• Termites
• Cockroaches
• Ants
• Bedbugs
• Spiders
• Mosquitoes

The Danger of Unremediated Pest Infestations at Home

Household pests pose a real danger to your home and the health of all residents, so they should not be allowed to solidify their nests within your home. 

Damage to Property

Almost all household pests can cause damage to your property in some way. Some of the worst offenders include:

• Termites: Termites can cause severe structural damage or electrocution risks by eating the woodwork and structural beams in your home.
• Rodents: Mice and rats steal food and chew through almost anything, making nests inside the walls. They also chew through electrical cabling, causing fire hazards.
• Silverfish: Although they won’t cause significant structural damage, silverfish may contaminate foodstuffs. They also feast on wood, paper, and glue. 
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches can also do real damage. They eat anything, including other insects, clothing, and wiring insulation. 

Asthma and Respiratory Problems

Most asthma and respiratory problems associated with household pests result from allergic reactions. The top contenders in this category include cockroaches, dust mites, rodents, stinging insects, and termites.

Food Contamination

Many of these pests enter our homes via drains or do part of their foraging in garbage cans. Droppings and urine from rodents and birds also contribute to food contamination. 

Disease

Along with contaminating your food, some household pests also carry diseases that they can transmit to humans. Mosquitos, ticks, and rodents top the list of culprits in this category.  You can catch diseases like salmonellosis, hantavirus, and rat-bite fever from infected animals or the food they contaminated.

Methods of Home Pest Control and Management

Follow these pest control tips and tricks to keep the critters under control:

• Hygiene: Keep the kitchen and bathroom clean and use airtight food containers. Dispose of any kitchen waste and garbage regularly.
• Garden maintenance: Keep your garden neat and garden tools outside. Eliminate stagnant water in the garden. 
• Biological: Make the environment friendly towards natural enemies of household pests and plant-insect repelling fauna around your home. 
• Window nets: Window nets help keep insects outside. 
• Pesticides: You can use chemical pesticides to help control infestations. 
• Exterminators: If the infestation is critical, you can hire a pest control service. 

How To Choose Pesticides For Your Home

Choosing the correct pesticide to use is critical so you can learn how to keep insects away from your home. Follow these tips to select the appropriate pesticide for your home:

• Identify the pests you want to eliminate
• Consider non-chemical pesticides or natural alternatives before using poison in your home
• Ensure that the pesticide you choose is effective against the critters you wish to eliminate
• Use as little as possible of the mildest possible pesticide 

When you find a pesticide to use, follow these steps on how to do pest control at home by yourself safely: 

• Clearly mark pesticide containers and store them out of the reach of children.
• Follow the manufacturer’s directions and don’t exceed the recommended dosage.
• Don’t mix different pesticides, as this could lead to a dangerous chemical reaction.
• If you have pets, ensure that the pesticide you use isn’t toxic to them and set traps and bait where children and pets can’t access it
• Don’t eat, drink, or smoke while working with pesticides. 
• Wear gloves or protective clothing when using the pesticides.

When administering pest control yourself, you need to follow the instructions carefully, or you might risk some serious health issues. The short-term effects can include dermatitis, nose and throat irritation, nausea, dizziness, and diarrhea; the long-term effects can include cancer, organ damage, infertility, and birth defects — so please, be careful!

Luckily there are alternatives to synthetic pesticides, including soap spray, Neem oil, oil spray, garlic spray, and other plants like tomato leaves. So be sure to do your research and find something that will work best for your needs.

Get In Touch with Pest Guide Today

Although you can buy many do-it-yourself pesticides, it’s best not to take unnecessary risks. If the infestation is severe or could cause structural damage to your home, choose an expert to assist you. They can even help you select safe pesticides for indoor use.

You can visit Pest Guide today for numbers and helpful guides. We also have product reviews and the best resources on the web to help.