Keeping your home free from insects and crawling pests

Insect pests in the home are not just a nuisance; they may be harmful too. They can spread disease with their bites and stings, or by contaminating food. Getting rid of infestations, and preventing their return, is not really difficult, but it is necessary to take action quickly and to keep an eye out for danger signs.

Mop or vacuum the floor

Even small traces of food, such as crumbs and splashes, will be a food source for crawling pests such as cockroaches, so it’s important to keep the floor really clean. Vacuum carpets daily, particularly under the dining table, and mop hard floors using a disinfectant cleaner.

Clean spills up quickly

Work surfaces in the kitchen, and the insides of food cupboards, are another food source for insects. Always wipe down worktops and cooking appliances immediately after use, preferably with a disinfectant spray, and clean out food cupboards on a regular basis.

Wash the dishes

Leaving dirty dishes by the sink will be a sure-fire attraction for pests. Even if they are soaking in water, soiled plates can bring in flies. It is therefore important to wash up immediately after eating, and to clean sinks and draining boards afterwards.

Fresh food storage

Fruit flies will find anything in the fruit bowl that has started to go soft, and stored vegetables will also attract pests such as ants if they are kept too long. Check all fresh food regularly, use fruit and vegetables in rotation, and throw out anything unfit to eat. Remember that the bottom of the refrigerator is a good place to store perishable vegetables, and will keep salads fresher for longer.

Clean and airtight food containers

The dribble down the outside of a sauce bottle can keep a fly going for weeks, long enough for it to raise a family or two. Wipe down the outside of bottles after use, and use airtight containers wherever possible for cereals, flour, sugar, and other dry goods.

Keep your taps dry and your drains flowing

Insects, particularly mosquitoes, are attracted to water, and will try to get indoors to find it in dry weather. It is therefore important to ensure that taps don’t drip. If your drains are sluggish they will be a breeding ground for insects as well as a food source, so keep them unblocked and flowing freely.

Dustbins and recycling

Wherever possible, wrap food remains securely before placing them in the dustbin, and rinse out bottles and jars before recycling. Bins should be cleared out, hosed down inside and out, and disinfected on a regular basis. Compost needs to be kept well away from the house, in a covered container if possible.

Don’t store dirty clothes

Don’t store clothes if they are dirty, as pests will be attracted to them. Moths will attack natural fibres such as silk and wool unless a good deterrent is used. Airtight boxes are a good way of storing clothes safely.

If you require London pest control, come to our website. Envirosafe pest control offer safe and a professional service at a reasonable price.

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Bedbugs, an Emerging Pest

Among all of the insect pests that you might encounter in your home, bedbugs are one of the most unwelcome. These parasites feed on human blood, and usually conceal themselves in furniture, carpets, and beds. There are many types of bedbug; however the one that is responsible for most infestations is Cimex lectularius, aptly named ‘the common bedbug’.

Bedbugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide produced by respiration, and also to your body heat. They are mainly active at night; however they are still able to bite during the day if given the chance. A single bedbug can bite a few times while feeding, with around 3 or 4 bites occurring in less than 10 minutes. These bites often form a straight line, which is called the ‘breakfast, lunch, and dinner’ pattern. Bedbugs can live up to a year without feeding, but they will look for a meal once every couple of days.

For decades, bedbugs were rare in Western nations. With the introduction of the pesticide DDT in the 1940s, bedbugs had been nearly eliminated from most urban centres. DDT eventually proved to be toxic to wildlife, and widespread use was eventually banned in many nations by 1980. As a result, bedbug populations have been on a slow rise for decades. Bedbug bites are once again becoming a serious nuisance for some people.

Bedbug bites will generally not cause you serious harm, only reddish welts that itch. On rare occasions, blistering or allergic reactions occur. As with any itchy bite, secondary infection is possible if you scratch the location. Probably the most serious symptom you would experience from bedbugs is insomnia, especially once you are aware of their presence!

The symptoms might seem frustrating, but it’s important to remember that bedbugs are not generally recognised as a carrier of any significant disease. While it has been recently found that they can harbour antibiotic-resistant bacteria, this has not been definitely linked to any illness. Regardless, if you have a bedbug infestation you will probably want to have it eradicated quickly.

The hidden truth about bedbugs is that they emit a chemical signature that specially trained dogs can detect. A pest control agency might bring one of these dogs to your home to help confirm the presence of these pests. Once the source is found, the inspector needs to search the area to visually identify the bedbugs.

Once you have confirmed that there is a bedbug infestation, you’ll have a number of ways to eliminate them. Pesticides are not always an option, as some pesticides are harmful if sprayed on clothing, bedsheets, or surfaces that may contact your skin. While it may be necessary to fumigate your home, the hidden truth about bedbugs is that they are sensitive to high temperatures. One effective way to eliminate bedbugs without using pesticides is to heat the room to 57°C (135 °F). This requires special equipment, but is sure to produce results.

The first step towards reducing the spread of bedbugs in our cities is raising awareness about this pest. If we are vigilant and quickly eliminate this pest every time it occurs, we can reverse the spread of bedbugs in our cities.

Croydon pest control can help with any question about pests in your home.Visit our website to find out more and simply give Envirosafe a call to discuss your problems.

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What to do about mice and rats

Rodents are a common problem in every type of domestic property. As long as they are identified and eliminated swiftly, all will be well. If they remain, over time they can adversely affect the state of the house as well as causing illness in humans, so householders need to be vigilant.

Rats are much bigger than mice, and so are their droppings, so it is easy to know which is which. Mice droppings are about 1/4 inch (6mm) long, smaller than a grain of rice, and rat droppings are about three times the size, 3/4 inch (19mm) long. The droppings are dark brown in colour and will be seen on floors and work surfaces, as well as in cupboards.

Aside from the droppings, you will see plenty of evidence of the rodents. They chew everything; cereal boxes and plastic bags containing food as well as woodwork, pipework and insulation. They are likely to be living in any inaccessible space, such as inside walls, under floors, in sheds or garages. Often you will be able to hear them moving about.

Rodents are attracted by easily available food sources such as pet food and kitchen waste. Kitchen compost should be kept away from the house and treated with lime to speed up decomposition. Garbage needs to be kept in a sealed metal container with a lid, and pet food must be cleared away after feeding.

A bite from a mouse or rat can cause infection, and rodents also spread disease in their urine and droppings. Their ticks and fleas can be disease carriers too. Any food they have partially eaten or otherwise been in contact with must be thrown away, as it can cause food poisoning. Any contaminated surfaces, where rodents may have run, have to be disinfected before being used for food preparation.

A few rodents will quickly become many if they start breeding in your house. The harm to your property could be serious if they gnaw through electric wires and insulation. Their teeth are strong enough to damage wallboards and ceilings.

Removing available food will have some deterrent effect, and devices such as ultra-sonic repellers can be helpful, but ultimately only killing rodents will be completely effective. Set spring-loaded traps across their pathways, baited with cheese, dried fruit such as raisins, or a mixture of oats and peanut butter. The bait should be on the side nearest the wall.

Handle dead mice and rats only with gloves, and wrap them into doubled plastic bags. Find out if local rules permit putting them into the dustbin, or alternatively they can be buried in a hole at least 18 inches deep. Use a ten per cent bleach solution to clean the traps.

Rodents are a frequent and unpleasant problem, and one which must not be ignored, but effective solutions are available. If trapping does not work, consider contacting your local authority or a specialist vermin control company.

We offer friendly and effective pest control east London. www.envirosafepestcontrol.co.uk will make sure we get rid of your unwanted visitors, and help you stop them coming back again.

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