Tag: pest control techniques

Thoroughly vacuum rugs and floors, including seams of mattresses and box springs. Also, vacuum non-washable furniture cushions, nooks and crannies of wood furniture, and around heating units.

Clean and wash sheets and clothing regularly, drying them on the high heat setting. Caulk cracks where daytime hiding places may exist. Call Pezz Pest Control experts today!

Vacuuming

Thorough vacuuming is an important step in bed bug prevention. Use a special attachment that is designed specifically for mattresses and other fabrics, as well as a crevice tool to get into corners and seams. Make sure you vacuum up every last bit of dirt, dander and shed skins that may be hiding in your mattress. Then immediately dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed garbage bag outside your house. Vacuuming is most effective before a full outbreak, and you should do it regularly.

When vacuuming, pay special attention to rugs and floors near the bed. If you can, remove furniture from the room and vacuum underneath it as well as around the baseboards. You should also vacuum upholstered furniture, such as sofas, armchairs, and bed frames. If you can, focus on areas where you suspect you may have been bitten.

Vacuuming is most effective before — or in conjunction with — professional treatment. It can help kill the bugs and make it easier to treat the infestation. It can also help prevent the spread of bed bugs to uninfested parts of your home, as they tend to return to the areas that are treated.

In addition to vacuuming, it is a good idea to wash all sheets, pillowcases, and blankets in hot water and dry them on the highest heat setting. This will destroy any eggs and will kill any bed bugs that are hiding in the linens. You should also wash clothes and other items that are infested with bed bugs. You should also consider encasing your mattress and box spring. This will prevent bed bugs from crawling up through the mattress.

Experts do not recommend throwing away beds and other furniture if you have a bed bug infestation, as this can spread the bugs to other rooms in your house. However, if you have to discard furniture, be sure to fully seal it in heavy-duty plastic bags before putting it out on the curb. If you are planning to purchase used furniture, ask the seller how they plan to deal with any bed bug problems that may be present.

Encasement

A mattress and box spring encasement keeps bed bugs trapped inside, where they can’t reach your bedding to feed. Encasements are available in a range of materials, from thin cotton to thicker bug-proof fabrics. They also come in different sizes and colors, from light to dark, so you can find one that matches your bedding and décor. Using an encasement in combination with other preventative treatments (such as vacuuming, decluttering, and K9 or thermal treatment) can help you quickly get rid of a bed bug infestation.

These tiny insects are remarkably resourceful and can survive for months between feedings. Plus, they reproduce prolifically; an adult female can lay up to a dozen eggs a day. It’s no wonder that many infestations take over a home before residents are aware of the problem.

Even when people do recognize a bed bug infestation, it can take weeks before the PCO finishes treating the house or apartment building. In the meantime, residents need to continue inspecting, cleaning, and decluttering to prevent the bugs from spreading to other areas of the home or neighbors in a multifamily unit.

In addition to regular vacuuming, residents should declutter their rooms to limit hiding places for the bugs and make it easier to treat an area. This includes getting rid of clothes, books, papers, and other items lying around the floor and under furniture. Keeping rooms clean can also prevent bed bugs from moving in and out of the room as they search for a new feeding source.

When you do move items from an infested area to a clean one, make sure you put them in garbage bags and seal the bags well. Residents should also avoid buying second-hand furniture or mattresses, especially if they live in an apartment building because bed bugs can easily spread between apartments through air vents and other openings.

If you’re in a hurry to get rid of your bed bugs, a lint roller can help suck up any remaining eggs and shed skins. Don’t forget to run any infested clothing, towels, or bedding through the dryer in the hottest setting for 30 minutes to kill bed bugs and their eggs.

Interceptors

Bed bugs, scientifically named Cimex lectularius, are very small parasites that live in secluded areas and hide in small cracks and crevices. They are smart enough to survive without a host for extended periods and travel easily from suite to suite in apartment complexes, hotels, and multi-family homes. They can also hitch rides in suitcases, backpacks, and purses from infested locations, or can be brought home from clothing and furniture stores and even second-hand stores.

If you think that you have a bed bug problem, be proactive. Vacuum and clean regularly, focusing on areas where the bed bugs hide, including underneath and around the mattress, box spring, and frame; the sides and back of the headboard; and baseboards. Use a vacuum with an upholstery attachment to get in and out of seams, crevices, and folds. Vacuum all upholstered furniture, including chairs and sofas. Vacuum rugs and carpeting and use silicon caulk to seal cracks and crevices.

Install interceptor traps under the legs of your bed and other upholstered furniture. Sprinkle a bit of talcum powder on the bottom of each interceptor dish to keep bed bugs from climbing up the side of the trap. Place one under each of the four legs of your bed and any upholstered furniture that you suspect is infested. Make sure to check and clean the interceptors every week, reapplying talcum powder.

If your mattress, box spring, or furniture has stains or marks on it, wash and heat treat those items to kill any bed bugs that may be hiding inside. The hot temperature from the dryer will also kill any eggs. It is important to thoroughly vacuum and disinfect any infested areas, as well.

If you move into a new apartment or hotel, ask the owner what they do to prevent and deal with bed bug infestations. You should also ask your neighbors if they have had any problems. If you buy used furniture, ask how the store handles them, and be sure to bring plastic bags to seal any items that can’t be washed or put in a clothes dryer.

Heat Treatment

The most effective treatment for a bed bug infestation is heat. It’s also the most expensive option, and you’ll need to clear out your home to make room for it. But the pest control operators we spoke with said they’ve seen incredible results with it, and it kills all stages of the bugs (eggs, larvae, and adults). A professional heat treatment is a good idea if you have an extensive infestation or have tried other methods without success.

To get ready for the heat treatment, declutter your space, especially near your bed. Clean or throw out items like rugs, books, and papers, and vacuum thoroughly. If you’re going to discard furniture, fully seal it in heavy-duty garbage bags before disposing of it. It’s best not to move infested items between rooms, as you could spread the bugs. If you do, caulk cracks around baseboards, and make sure the new room is large enough to hold your bed away from the walls so it’s hard for the bugs to crawl up.

Once the PCO starts their heat treatment, open all closet doors and cabinet drawers in infested areas to help the hot air circulate and reach all corners. You’ll need to check these spaces throughout the process, as they can still harbor bed bugs and their eggs.

You can also use a lint roller to pick up any bed bugs, their eggs, or shed skins you find. This is a quick way to make a small pile of these things disappear, but it won’t work as well as vacuuming or encasement.

It’s also important to be careful when you return home from any outing. You can pick up bed bugs in your luggage or on clothing you’ve shopped in, so always carry a lint roller in your bag and be mindful of where you sit or rest during the day. Also, avoid buying new furniture, mattresses, or bedding until you know your infestation is completely gone.

Several at-home treatments can prevent spiders from invading homes. Vinegar spray and peppermint oil repel spiders by creating an unpleasant environment that they don’t want to be in.

Regularly clearing out the clutter in sheds, garages, storage rooms, and attics reduces spider harborage areas. Keeping wood piles, trash bins, compost piles, and rock piles away from the home also helps. Read on or call Pest Control In Bakersfield experts today.

Glue Traps

Glue traps are one of the most effective spider control methods. These flat, sticky pads are coated with a pheromone attractant that lures spiders and other insects to the trap, where they become stuck and dehydrated. Often, they can also be baited with peanut butter, fruit, or other foods to increase the number of caught pests. Glue traps can be placed along baseboards and behind furniture to catch pests that enter these areas of the home. They can also be used outside to protect your home and garden from spiders and other insects that may be entering the space.

Typically, brown recluse and black widow spiders congregate in quiet, tucked-away locations such as attics, basements, or storage spaces, but they can also be found under wood piles or near compost bins. Generally, these locations are damp and warm, which can draw spiders to homes looking for a shelter or food source. The key to successful use of glue traps is correct placement. Once you have determined the regularly traveled paths of these pests, place several traps along their route, ideally at least a few feet apart. Alternatively, you can place glue traps around the edges of rooms and in corners.

In addition to using traps, it is important to prevent spiders from entering your home in the first place. Spiders are opportunists, and they will seize any opportunity to sneak into your house looking for food or shelter. You can help to prevent these eight-legged invaders by repairing any cracks or gaps in your exterior walls, sealing the foundation of your home, and removing leaf debris from your property.

You can also use insecticide sprays specifically designed for spiders to treat your yard and garden to kill any unwanted spiders before they have a chance to enter your home. These can be purchased at most garden or hardware stores and should be used with care and according to label warnings. If a serious spider infestation is identified, it may be time to call in a professional to ensure you are using safe, effective, and humane pest control techniques.

Insecticides

While spiders may be a nuisance in the home, most species are harmless to humans and help control pest populations by consuming the insects they prey on. A proper insecticide treatment can keep other bugs away from your property, which in turn helps to reduce spider populations.

Using the right insecticides will help you get rid of your spider infestation and prevent it from returning in the future. Deltamethrin is an effective insecticide that can be used indoors or outdoors. It can be sprayed on baseboards, corners, and cracks, as well as around windows and doors. Outdoors, spray a perimeter treatment around your house, including a band of soil and vegetation up to 10 feet from the foundation of the structure.

When applying any insecticide, make sure to follow all instructions carefully. It is best to leave this type of work to professionals trained in pesticide application. Avoid using pesticides near water or in areas where children and pets play. It is also a good idea to wear rubber gloves when handling any pesticide.

Since spiders are arachnids and not insects, they will not react to the same types of insecticides as other pests. This is because the chemicals are designed to kill insects, not arachnids. However, you can try spraying a non-toxic insecticide such as a citrus or tea tree oil around your home or business to repel them instead.

Another way to discourage spiders is to regularly declutter your property. This will eliminate their hiding spots and also remove potential food sources such as rotting debris and crumbs. In addition, regular cleaning practices can help to reduce the population of other insects that spiders feed on.

Getting rid of the insects that attract spiders is the best way to help keep these predators at bay. Use a routine insecticide treatment to keep other pests from ruining your yard and landscape, and seal all cracks and crevices in your home to prevent them from entering. If you do need to resort to pesticides, apply them with a coarse spray and concentrate on areas where they tend to hide.

Essential Oils

A natural and non-toxic alternative to chemical sprays, essential oils have been shown to have insecticidal properties.* They also smell great and are safe for children, pets, and the environment.* Peppermint oil is a common ingredient found in many commercial spider repellents, and studies have confirmed that it is effective at deterring spiders.* Other strong-smelling essential oils that spiders are repelled by include eucalyptus, lemon, tea tree, horse chestnut, cinnamon, cedar, and marigold.* You can make your spray at home by adding 15 to 20 drops of any of these essential oils to a 16-oz bottle of water.* Spray the mixture on corners, entry doors, floorboards, and other areas of your home where spiders have been seen. Repeat as needed.

Other natural ingredients can also be used to create a non-toxic spider spray. Vinegar is an inexpensive, all-purpose household product that can be sprinkled around the outside of your house to help deter spiders.* Other natural repellents include baking soda, a household staple that can be spread throughout the home to keep spiders and other insects away.* However, be careful with large amounts of baking soda in the house, as it is corrosive and can harm your pets if they ingest it.

Another option is to use a least-toxic botanical insecticide like pyrethrins, pyrethroids, or lambda-cyhalothrin. These products all work by disrupting the nervous system of spiders and other pests, killing or repelling them.

There are many ways to prevent spiders from invading your home, including taking steps to eliminate their food source and reducing the amount of clutter in the house. Other measures you can take to avoid a spider infestation include removing rocks, compost piles, and brush piles from your yard, and using food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in the garden and around the foundation of your home. This natural, non-toxic product kills and repels spiders by scoring their outer layer with tiny fossilized aquatic organisms, which are similar in appearance to broken glass under a microscope.* In addition, keeping grass and bushes trimmed and not touching or crawling over them will help keep spiders from hanging out near the foundation of your home.

Humane Removal

Spiders are generally harmless creatures and many can be quite beneficial in your garden, but they’re not so welcome in your home. A single spider in your house isn’t necessarily cause for alarm, but if you’ve noticed a web-spinning infestation, you may want to consider a few methods of control. Some pest control companies offer a humane spider removal service, which involves catching the creature and safely releasing it outdoors. This method is not for the squeamish, and should only be attempted if you’re sure you’re dealing with a non-venomous species. Place a cup or jar under the spider and carefully transport it outside. It can then resume its insect-hunting activities without bothering you or your family members.

Other methods of removing spiders from your home are less drastic, but no less effective. For example, vinegar is a powerful spider repellent, as is diatomaceous earth. You can create a spray by mixing equal parts of water and vinegar and applying it where spiders tend to hang out. The odor of the mixture is offensive to spiders, and they will steer clear.

Keeping your house clean regularly can also help eliminate spiders and their webs. Regularly wipe down your kitchen surfaces and vacuum your floors, especially corners. If you have a garden, remove fallen leaves and debris. You can also use a deterrent spray made with natural ingredients like peppermint oil, lavender, or tea tree oil. These sprays can be applied indoors, outdoors, or both, and can repel or kill spiders.

In addition to these natural remedies, many commercial products can be used to control spiders. These are typically in the form of sprays, dusts, or granules and contain chemicals that either kill spiders on contact or provide residual control. The sprays and dusts can be purchased from most hardware and garden stores, but it’s important to read the label carefully and follow all instructions.

In severe cases of infestation, a professional pest control company should be called in. They have the knowledge, tools, and experience to successfully rid your home of spiders and prevent future invasions.