Author: Shay Wright

Once you spot a pest problem in your home, it’s hard to get the image of those bugs and rodents out of your head. A home pest invitation can drive anyone crazy. To reduce the likelihood of a pest problem in your home, avoid these common pest control mistakes so you can rest easier, knowing your home is clear of pests.

Not Determining the Cause of the Pests

When you see a few spiders in your basement, you just want to get rid of them as quickly as possible. So, you spray an entire can of pesticide until you’re sure the spiders are no longer breathing, then run upstairs and huddle in the fetal position for a few hours. Even though it’s not your proudest moment, the problem is handled… right?

Probably not. You really need to find the source of those nasty spiders (and any other pests). Where are they coming from, and how are they getting into your home? Seal any gaps around your windows, doors, seams, and foundation. Then, set out a trap specifically for the pest you’re trying to eliminate.

Not Identifying The Correct Pests

A bug is a bug is a bug, right? And any old trap will do when you want to catch a pest, right? Wrong. You need to correctly identify the nasty, little pest you’re dealing with so you can purchase the right trap. If you can stomach it, get close enough to take a picture and then compare on a google search. If you’re still struggling, ask a good reputable pest control company to help.

Spraying Ants and Calling It Good

There’s nothing worse than finding a trail of ants in your pantry. How many of them are there, and where are they coming from? You grab the spray, and blast those critters, then sweep up their carcasses after the spray has dried.

Unfortunately, you may have just made the problem worse. Foraging ants represent only 8 to 10% of the colony, which means there are plenty more where they came from. New ants will be back in a matter of days. Use indoor baiting techniques instead, and the ants will bring the product back to the nest — which will eliminate the entire colony.

Keeping a Messy Home

Pests really love cluttered spaces. They also live for crumbs on your floors and counters. Keep a tidy kitchen, with crumbs swiftly swept away each day, trash removed, and dishes done. Dust and vacuum regularly, and keep clutter to a minimum.

Baiting For Pests Incorrectly

There are two factors you need to consider when baiting for insects and rodents: Location and time.

Don’t put your trap in a place where you wouldn’t expect to see the pest you’re attempting to catch. The middle of the room typically isn’t where you’ll find rodents. Instead, put the traps in the pests’ regular traveling paths — along the walls, behind the refrigerator, in dark corners, etc. If you find mouse droppings somewhere, that’s an excellent place for your trap.

And keep the trap out for a few weeks after you think you’ve caught all insects and/or rodents. You may catch all the adults in a few days, but their young could be lingering nearby, waiting to grow up and have more babies to infest your home.

Not Treating Your Pet

Don’t leave your pet defenseless against fleas, ticks, and other parasites. Not only does this leave your home susceptible to pests, but your pet could suffer from health problems.

Waiting it Out

Thinking the pests will just move along when the weather turns cool is only allowing your pest problem to multiply to intolerable levels. Treat your home at the first sign of pest infestation, and if you’re unable to handle the problem on your own, seek out the help of a good local pest control company.

Sometimes you just can’t handle the problem yourself. The bed bugs are too much, the mosquitoes are multiplying at an alarming rate, and if you see one more mouse dropping…

Fortunately, you don’t have to tackle a pest infestation alone. Hiring a pest control company will allow someone else to take care of the problem while you gain valuable peace of mind, knowing you aren’t sharing your home with several families of spiders.

But what should you look for in pest control companies, and how can you know when you’ve found your match – the company that is going to save your sanity while allowing you to feel confident walking barefoot in your home again?

1. Is the Company Professional?

This seems like a no-brainer, but when dealing with something as emotional as a kitchen pest infestation, you may not think to stop and check credentials. If you really want those ants out of your pantry for good, credentials are crucial.

Is the company bonded and insured? Pest control companies aren’t always required to be insured, but it would be wise to only hire a company that carries insurance. If an accident happens, you deserve protection.

How does their website look (if they even have one)? Can you get a feel for their values, and do they align with your own?

2. Is the Company Knowledgeable?

When you talk to the technician, does he have a good understanding of common pest problems in your area? If you describe the appearance of the pest, can he give you a confident answer of what you’re likely dealing with? Has the company had success in eradicating this particular pest from other homes in the area?

3. Do Other People Recommend the Pest Control Company?

Talk to your neighbors and friends about the pest control companies they’ve hired. When you’ve settled on a company you’d like to work with, check them out on the Better Business Bureau website as well as other popular reviews sites such as Google+ and Yelp. You can even ask the company for references.

4. Does the Technician Thoroughly Investigate?

Your technician should listen to all your descriptions of the pest – what it looks like if you’ve seen it, where the droppings have been found, and what sounds you’ve heard. Then, he should actually inspect your home to find evidence of the pests. Once that has been done, a treatment plan for your specific pest should be put in place.

5. Does the Contract Check Out?

If you have an infestation, you’ll most likely need recurring service. Oftentimes, monthly (or even more frequent) services will be required until the pest problem is under control, and then they can taper off to more spaced-out intervals. Ask questions, and understand the terms of the contract before you sign.

6. How Do You Feel About the Chemicals?

Ask questions about the chemicals the pest control company plans to use. What affects do they have on pets and humans? Will you need to leave your home? Do they offer non-chemical options? Ask for a Material Safety Data Sheet and specimen label for each chemical being used.

7. Do They Offer a Guarantee?

A guarantee sweetens any deal, and at a minimum, your pest control company should offer a guarantee that you’ll be satisfied with their service. This inspires confidence in the company and allows you to work with them as the process continues.

8. Does the Company Affiliate Itself with a Professional Pest Control Association?

You can tell if a company is dedicated to quality if they affiliate with a professional pest control association, as these associations hold their members to certain code of standards and ethics. In addition, these associations keep their members informed of new processes and safety measures. A company that stays on top of this industry knowledge is a company that cares about the service they offer.

Continue to Evaluate

Pest control is not “set it and forget it.” Keep looking for signs of pests even as you’re receiving pest control services. A good pest control company will keep working with you throughout the whole process. Nobody likes to need a pest control company, but when you find the right one, you’ll worry a lot less knowing someone has it all under control.

If you’re looking for a professional pest control company in the Austin or Houston, TX area, please contact Barefoot Mosquito & Pest Control at 512-400-2008 or request a free pest control quote online!

Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite. Maybe your parents tucked you in with this old saying. Maybe it even seemed like an innocent thing to say, but drifting off to sleep with a harmless rhyme and falling asleep with actual biting bedbugs are two very different things. If you’re concerned about getting rid of bedbugs, read these commonly asked questions to learn more about these pesky bedfellows.

What Is a Bedbug?

First of all, definitions are in order.

Bedbugs are small, nocturnal insects from the Cimicidae family, measuring just 4 to 7 mm. Flat and oval, they’re also reddish-brown in color. However, if they’ve just fed on a person, their shape will be more like a torpedo, and they’ll be more red in color. Young bedbugs are a more translucent white-yellow color. Even though they’re tiny, they can often be easy to spot.

Do They Really Bite?

Yes, they definitely do. They feed on the blood of humans. However, while humans are their preferred meal, bedbugs will also fill up quite nicely on the blood of other warm-blooded hosts in the absence of a tasty human.

Do They Live on Pets or Humans?

Bedbugs don’t actually live on pets or humans. They just feast on them.

Where Are They Found?

Everywhere. Since bedbugs need the blood of humans to survive, they can be found in any part of the world where humans dwell – typically near where humans sleep.

Where Do They Come From?

It’s a common misconception that dirty homes breed bedbugs. Rather, they often come from hotels or other temporary accommodations, hitching a ride on your clothing. They can also arrive on used clothing or furniture.

Keeping your home clean can slow the infestation of bedbugs, but if they make it into your home, your cleanliness won’t keep them away entirely. Apartment complexes often become infested because it’s easy for the bedbugs to travel from apartment to apartment.

How Do They Feed?

Bedbugs are nocturnal, so they’ll come out at night to suck a human’s blood. The creepy thing is they normally suck your blood for five whole minutes before going back to their hiding places.

How can they get away with such a long feeding period? When the nasty, little bug bites you, it injects two hollow tubes into your skin. One tube is for injecting an anticoagulant and anesthetic, and the other tube is for sucking up your blood. You don’t feel a thing (mosquitoes do the same thing, by the way).

What Does Their Bite Do to Humans?

A bedbug’s bite isn’t dangerous to humans, but it’s sure annoying. You’ll notice either a flat welt or a raised, red bump and it will likely be itchy. They can take a few days to a few weeks to go away on their own, and they can even cause rashes if you’re bit frequently. Because of this, work on getting rid of bedbugs as soon as you notice any sign of them.

How Do You Stop the Itch?

Over-the-counter creams for insect bites will usually do the trick. You can also try Benadryl or calamine lotion. But remember – once the bite is there, you can expect more. Take care of bedbugs immediately.

How Can You Tell If You Have Bedbugs?

Aside from the bites, there are a variety of ways to spot bedbugs. One of those is through your nose. Most people say bedbugs smell like raspberries, but if you’re dealing with an infestation, you’ll likely smell something resembling moldy shoes.

In addition, you can often visually see bedbugs in your bed. Check the headboards, mattress and corners of bed nets. You might also see blood stains, fecal spots, and exoskeleton skins.

They can also be found in places other than the bed — old furniture, behind peeling paint, and wooden floorboards. Typically, however, you’ll find them in a concentrated area within 10 to 20 feet of your mattress.

How Do You Get Rid of Bedbugs?

Time is of the essence when it comes to getting rid of bedbugs as each bedbug can lay four to five eggs per day. (Yikes!)

Don’t:

• Start sleeping in another location or near another person – they could follow you and infest the new place!
• Bring anything else into the contaminated room – it could become contaminated as well.
• Throw anything out — bedbugs travel well, so don’t think throwing things away will remove the problem.
• Bag anything up without first washing it in hot water and drying it on hot for one to two hours.
• Try and remove them yourself – there are plenty of do-it-yourself methods, but without the know-how and equipment, you may just end up scattering the bedbugs to new locations.

Do:

• Call a pest control company right away.
• Save any bedbug specimens you find to show to the pest control company for identification purposes.

How Can You Avoid Bringing Bedbugs Home When You Travel?

Check travel reviews of the hotel where you want to stay. Consider staying in a different hotel if one has had reports of bedbugs. Once in the hotel, check the headboard, mattress, frame, and pictures for any signs of bedbugs (blood spots, eggs, exoskeletons, etc.). After checking the luggage rack for bedbugs, store your luggage only on the rack. Hang clothes up, rather than storing them in a dresser. To get rid of bed bugs is an extremely important thing to do so you can be sure that you are not infesting anyone else as it is THAT easy to do it.

Discovering a bedbug infestation in your home is incredibly unnerving, but when dealt with swiftly with the help of a reputable pest control company, you’ll soon be able to sleep at ease once again!

With the exterior nature of pest control, we naturally get many questions about rainy weather predictions. Going off of years of experience in the industry, we know that not all weather scenarios can be handled similarly, and that not all services are as impacted by adverse weather as it might seem. So when inclement weather is forecast, how do we work to ensure that our clients who are due for service aren’t simply overlooked or pushed off? Let’s break it down below.

FORECASTS

We can all recall a time when a clear weather forecast ended up being way off target. Perhaps a special event or activity got rained out, or your recent car wash went kaput. Your daily life gets impacted. But how many times did it go the other way, with nice weather instead of bad, and you never even noticed?

Well, the local meteorologist knows this as well. Rather than promise a sunny day that turns rainy, they’re going to err on the side of predicting rain. This lessens the impact if they get it wrong. Not only are rain chances often inflated or inaccurate, they are subject to change. We see this all the time on days which began at a predicted 70% or 80% chance of rain, only to be revised down to single digits and with no rainfall.

It’s very easy to look at a weather forecast like “40% chance of rain” and resign yourself to dealing with a wet day. However, that’s not always the case. We’re bound to get an incorrect impression when a forecast is distilled down to a number and a rain cloud emoji. What size area is in question? Is that daytime, or overnight? What does that percentage number actually mean, anyway? Longtime Austin meteorologist and University of Texas senior lecturer Troy Kimmel has some answers. He puts it this way:

“[It] is simply a statistical probability… Using a 40% probability of rain as an example, it does not mean (1) that 40% of the area will be covered by precipitation at given time in the given forecast area or (2) that you will be seeing precipitation 40% of the time in the given forecast area for the given forecast time period… If a forecast for a given county says that there is a 40% chance of rain this afternoon, then there is a 40% chance of rain at any point in the county from noon to 6 p.m. local time.” (http://la.utexas.edu/users/kimmel/nwsforecasts.html)

That’s a pretty wide target. He has put together a handy table to help illustrate his meaning.

It’s not until 60% that rain chances can even be described as ‘likely.’ So, you see how a 40% chance of rain forecast can easily leave your neighborhood dry as a bone.

SERVICE PERFORMANCE

Pest Control

The treatment done on the structure of a home is remarkably resilient, and shouldn’t be affected by the rain. We spray two to three feet up foundation of the house, entry points like doors and windows, and into the eaves of the roof overhead. Unless there is driving sideways rain, water will never touch that product. We also distribute a granular application throughout the yard that is actually activated by water. So in this case, the rain actually helps us.

Mosquito Control

For Mosquito Control, there are often client concerns before, after, and during rain. However, worries about treatment being “washed away” are only accurate in one phase.

Before

As long as our Mosquito treatment has has time to dry, it is perfectly ok to treat before rain. Here’s an excerpt from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ publication Adjuvants to Improve Rainfastness [with some notes added by us in bold] to help explain why.

“Adjuvants that increase absorption of the product into plant tissues can be added to increase the rainfastness and overall performance of a pesticide. Adjuvants can either be included in the formulation or added to the spray tank before application. Adjuvants to enhance rainfastness of pesticides can include surfactants [that’s what we use], oils [like the botanical oils we use in our application], deposition agents, and thickeners. In particular, organosilicone surfactants are commonly used to improve rainfastness, reduce surface tension, and enhance spreading ability (Figure 5)”

After

We encourage our customers to keep their appointments after rain, because applying the solution onto still-wet foliage is just fine. What we’re spraying is already a water suspension, so it’s not going to be hurt by a little more water being present. And in fact, following a rainy day is actually a great time to service, since mosquitoes are out and about trying to take advantage of all the new standing water. It really spikes their activity, and we’re right there on top of them.

During

This is the only phase in which we will automatically hold off from conducting service, as rain running off of foliage will carry our product away with it. If our technicians are seeing rain while they are in the field, or if forecasts are indisputable that we will face all day rain, we will work to reschedule services to the soonest available serviceable opportunity.

Conclusion

We hope that this has been helpful in conveying why we still make the effort to take care of our clients in wet weather. We’re confident in our services and the technicians who carry them out. And with most clients services guaranteed one way or another, we are ready to help out in any situation – rain or shine.

Spraying your home with store bought bug spray may seem like an easy way to keep pests out of your home, but it can only do so much. And when it comes to creepy-crawly pests in your home, you really want the best. Nobody wants to share their bed with bed bugs or spiders, and nothing can ruin a family gathering quicker than spotting a scurrying mouse – or worse, a rat.

Hiring a professional pest control company will ensure you rid your home of awful pests, while giving you the peace of mind to walk around barefoot and carefree. Here’s why you should use a professional pest control company.

Pests Are More Than Just Annoying

Some pests are downright dangerous, causing severe allergic reactions, carrying diseases, and giving off harmful bacteria that can cause illnesses in your family. At best, bee stings hurt. At worst, they kill people who are allergic. Ticks carry Lyme disease which can become an extreme illness if not treated early. You can easily get a lyme disease test to do at home if you believe you have some symptoms. You should probably book an appointment with a doctor too, just to be safe. More pests that can cause diseases are cockroaches which can carry E. coli and salmonella, while mosquitoes can carry malaria and the Zika virus.

Keeping these pests away from your home can be hard to manage on your own, but professional pest control companies work until the problems are eradicated.

DIY Pest Control Isn’t Exact

Pest control companies take the time to identify the pests you’re dealing with. They then use the correct formulas, chemicals, and baits to capture and eliminate the exact species that has invaded your property. That professional identification and treatment is stronger than the Google search you’re relying on when you try and get rid of pests on your own.

Pest Control Companies Know How to Handle the Chemicals

Pest control products contain chemicals, and when used inappropriately, these chemicals can be hazardous. Not to mention, storing the leftovers in your house can be dangerous for any little children or pets you have running around. In contrast, pest control companies are trained in handling the chemicals properly to avoid damage to property and people.

More-Effective Chemicals

The chemicals that pest control companies use are stronger than what you can buy as a consumer, some with the ability to kill or repel pests within just a few hours. The chemical formulas also last far longer than commercial products, keeping your home secure for a longer period of time.

Pest Control Companies Find the Source

Getting rid of a line of ants isn’t going to eliminate all the ants in your home, and killing one mouse doesn’t mean you’ve eradicated your pest problem. You have to find the source, and that can be hard for a homeowner to do.

The best pest control companies actually take the time and effort to locate the source of your pest infestation. This can be especially difficult if you’re dealing with an infestation in out-of-sight places like your walls.

Avoid Damage to Your Home

Pests damage the things that are important to us – clothing, carpet, furniture, walls, foundations, and more. Pest control companies work quickly and effectively, minimizing further damage from bugs and rodents. The savings in damaged property will be worth the cost of a professional pest control company. It can be extremely taxing on you to keep having to deal with something that can be dealt with by the professionals to make your home safe, there are many companies like this one around the country that can cater to you and your pest control needs, companies such as animalcontrolspecialists.com may be for you if you live in Milwaukee, don’t suffer alone, make your home pest and rodent free.

Guarantee

Professional pest control companies should stand by their work, and many prove this by offering guarantees. They will often even retreat if the first treatment wasn’t successful.

Save Money

By getting rid of the pest problem quickly and efficiently, you’ll end up saving money over time when you choose a professional pest control company. Find a reputable home pest control company that takes the safety of your home and family seriously.

In the Austin area, you can always count on the professional service of Barefoot Mosquito & Pest Control for all of your pest control needs. Call us today at 512-400-2008 or request a free pest control quote online!

Like most pests, termites don’t make things easy on homeowners. One of the trickiest things about termites is how difficult it is to determine whether or not you even have a termite infestation. Those buggy pests damage wood from the inside out, leaving the exterior of your wood looking quite normal and untouched.

Looking for termites on your own is only recommended if you used to be a termite inspector. All others should hire a pest control company to do a thorough termite inspection, and if needed, professional termite treatment. It’s the smart move to make.

Termites – The Silent Destroyers

Termites feast upon the wood of your home, and they do it silently. You won’t realize it’s happening as they attack the structural supports of your home. Those awful pests can even destroy exposed wood without you knowing it because the outside of the wood is left intact while the bugs go to town on the inside of the wood.

If termites are given enough unchecked time, they can compromise the physical integrity of your home, but it’s not just the structure they’ll go after. Termites can even destroy your paneling, carpet, furniture, and drywall. They give significant meaning to the term ‘pest.’

Termites Act Fast

A colony of termites can eat up to a pound of wood per day, and because you can’t see the termite damage with the naked eye, termites can eat away at the wood of your home for years, leaving a structurally unsafe building with a weak outer shell.

The only way to fully combat this? Stay on top of termite control. Hire a professional termite inspector to help you catch a termite problem before it becomes too severe.

Professional Inspection

A trained professional knows where to look when inspecting a home for termites. The professional can find those difficult-to-access, and even hidden, places where termites spend their time. The professional knows the most vulnerable places in a home, and conducts a thorough inspection.

Signs of Termites

Termites do leave slight clues as to their presence, if you know what you’re looking for. Termite wings near light fixtures and window sills are a giveaway, as are termite droppings.

And if you see these particular signs in your home, it’s likely late in the termite game:

• Sagging floors
• Bubbling paint
• Damaged and crumbling wood trim
• Loose tiles
• Pinpoint holes in drywall

A professional inspector can study the signs and determine how severe your problem is. Professional inspectors thoroughly examine your home, from the foundation up, looking at all the cracks and crevices along the way. Unfortunately, termites can ruin the foundations of your home and therefore, it’s important to get foundation repair in the case this does happen. You can click here to learn about Foundation repair in Austin if you’re having issues with termites and your house foundations. If the foundation is small, for example, for a shed, you can try and replace the foundation yourself. A gravel foundation is particularly easy to install. Just checking out this guide on how to build a gravel shed foundation should help you in your endeavors, but always contact a professional if you feel like it’s out of your hands.

Can You Prevent Termite Damage?

Homeowners can take several actions to minimize and prevent termite damage.

As established, getting a yearly inspection is critical in the prevention of termite damage. In addition, make sure your downspouts and gutters are diverting water away from your home’s foundation, and don’t let your sprinklers hit stucco or wood siding on your home. Otherwise you could not only be looking at termite damage, but also water damage to the siding of your home, requiring pest control, and also a repair like this hardie siding installation, for example.

Make sure you have proper ventilation in crawl spaces, and don’t allow vines, hedges, and bushes to block vents. Keep an 18-inch gap between any wood portions of your home and soil.

And finally, store firewood 20 feet away from your home.

Find a Professional Company You Trust

There’s just no smarter way to combat termite damage than to hire a professional to inspect your home. Find a company with a good reputation who will do a thorough job on your most important asset – your home. In the Austin area, that company is Barefoot Mosquito & Pest Control. Call us today at (512) 400-2008 or request a free quote online!

Your pet is a part of your family, and it’s important to protect all members of your family from outside threats. Just as mosquitoes, ticks, and other pests prove a danger to humans, they can do just as much harm to your four-legged friends. Protect your pets from pests by learning about their threats and how to prevent them.

Ticks

Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and tick paralysis. If your pet comes in contact with ticks, these are all real outcomes your pet may face. Ticks are especially dangerous to pets because owners don’t always realize they’ve been affected until symptoms become severe. This means prevention is key in protecting your pet from ticks, and here are some helpful tips.

• Have your pet wear at tick collar.
• Be sure to take your pet to the vet for an annual checkup.
• Thoroughly and regularly inspect your pet for ticks, especially after spending time outdoors.
• Minimize the risk of ticks in your yard by keeping your grass cut low, weeding, and removing debris from your yard.
• Talk with a pest control company about lawn tick treatments for the best chance of keeping ticks out of your yard.

If you find a tick, remove it immediately with forceps or tweezers. Grab on, or just behind, the mouthparts and pull slowly so you don’t leave any part in the skin. Ticks are hard to crush, so flush it down the toilet, or wrap it completely in a tissue and throw it in a closed trash can. Remember to wash your hands after you’ve removed the tick.

Fleas

Fleas are more than just a nuisance. In addition to causing itching, flea saliva can also cause dermatitis and anemia. Fleas also carry the larvae of tapeworms, and tapeworms can enter the digestive stream if your pet ingests them while grooming. Not only that, but sensitive pets sometimes experience hair loss and secondary skin infections.

Plus, fleas don’t mind going after humans either, and they like to get cozy in your furniture and bedding. Flea problems can multiply at rapid speed, so be sure you prevent them from joining your family by doing the following things.

• Giving your pet a bath regularly. If your dog has wrinkles or loose facial skin, he’ll need extra scrubbing.
• Washing your pet’s bedding and toys regularly.
• Vacuuming your carpet, floors, and furniture frequently.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes carry dangerous diseases, and your pet is just as susceptible to those diseases as you are. Most significantly, mosquitoes can transfer heartworm to your pet, which can cause serious health issues, and even death. Keep mosquitoes away from your home and your pets by following these tips:

• Get rid of standing water in your yard – check children’s toys, flower pots, birdbaths, and downspouts.
• Repair tears and holes in your screens.
• Don’t let your pet outside at dawn or dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Talk with a pest control company about solutions for mosquitoes in your area.

Rodents

Rats and mice can endanger the health of your pet as well. Because rodents often carry diseases, your pet can be harmed if it catches and eats a rat or mouse. In addition, rats and mice may steal food out of your pet’s food dish, contaminating the food. Keep rats and mice away by:

• Keeping your pet’s food sealed and out of reach of rodents.
• Take your pet to the vet if you know you have a problem with mice or rats.
• Hire a pest control company to eliminate rodents from your home completely.

Your pet can’t verbally thank you, but it will still appreciate the work you do to keep it happy, healthy, and free from pests.

You’ve heard cockroaches can survive a nuclear blast (not true). You may have heard they can live for decades (not true), and you may have even heard they can survive for up to a week without their head (that one is disgustingly true).

Fact or fiction, we’re all pretty terrified of the longevity and strength of cockroaches and for good reason. While they can’t survive a nuclear blast, they are pretty resilient. And they’re found almost everywhere. Unfortunately, getting rid of roaches is something we all need to stay on top of. The process of getting rid of a roach infestation is difficult, but it does work.

Clean Up

Cockroaches love food, and they’re not picky eaters to say the least. They especially love what you leave behind on the counters and floors, and they’re crazy about grease spills. If you want some company from cockroaches, just go to bed without cleaning up dinner night after night. You’ll get several new roommates in no time. But if you’d rather not be greeted by cockroaches every morning, do the dishes, wipe off your counters, cover your leftover food, sweep your floors, and vacuum your rugs. Using a good vacuum cleaner is very important in keeping your house clean, shopping around for the best ones will help you make the right choice. All Great Vacuums have reviews on the best vacuum cleaners to suit your needs, keeping those pesky roaches away from your home!

And don’t forget your yard. Cockroaches will get quite cozy in decaying branches, wood, and leaves. Clean these up, and if you do need to leave a pile for a short time, keep it far away from your house.

Keep Them Out

Prevent these nasty bugs from ever coming into your home by sealing up all cracks and holes on the exterior of your home. Fix weather stripping around your doors and windows, and fix holes in baseboards, inside your pantry, and any other areas of your home.

Don’t Give Them Water

A cockroach can survive a week without its head and a full month without food, but it will dehydrate without water. Fix any leaks you have in your house, even if they’re just small. Don’t let water sit in plants or your sink. This is also good practice for minimizing mosquito infestations.

How to Kill Cockroaches

If you’ve kept a clean home, sealed up all entry points, and fixed all water leaks but still have cockroaches, don’t feel bad. You’re not the only one is this situation. Here are some other helpful ways to keep cockroaches away.

• One way to kill cockroaches is to use a mixture of sugar and boric acid. Mix three parts boric acid with one part sugar, and sprinkle it behind your appliances, under the sink, and into cracks along the edges of counters. The sugar will lure the cockroaches and the boric acid will kill them. You can also do this with equal parts sugar and baking soda.
• If you see a cockroach, and can quickly get to it, you can spray it with a mixture of soap and water. The soap will suffocate the roach.
• Put bay leaves in the areas where you’ve seen cockroaches. They hate the smell and will steer clear.
• Use a brush or empty ketchup bottle to apply diatomaceous earth around your baseboards. While safe for humans, the substance is lethal to cockroaches (and ants).
• Use a mixture of one tablespoon cayenne pepper powder, one crushed garlic clove, and one tablespoon of onion paste. Put it all in a spray bottle filled with water, let it sit for an hour before using, and then spray wherever you’ve seen cockroaches.
• Put a half-full jar of water in the areas where you know you have a roach problem. They’ll climb in, but won’t be able to get out.

Call the Experts

Despite your best efforts, you may still not be able to completely get rid of cockroaches in your home. If you find yourself in this situation, hire a professional pest control company, such as Barefoot Mosquito & Pest Control, to get rid of all your cockroaches. Contact Barefoot today at or request a pest control quote online!

Unattractive isn’t typically a word you want associated with your home, but when pests are the ones eyeing your castle, it isn’t so bad to be seen as unattractive in their eyes. If you have ever had to remove your termites with Terminix in the past you will be more than aware of how important it is to follow these steps. An unattractive home for pests has nothing to do with your decorating or style though. Instead, it has to do with basic things you can do to make pests not want to stick around or even visit your home to begin with. Along with pests, you may also find that rodents could decide to pay a visit to your house as well. If this happens and you are unsure about what to do, you should call for rodent control who will be able to help you get rid of this problem so you can carry on living your life without the extra company.

It’s time to take stock of how well your home is fortified against creepy, crawly insects and rodents. Keep these annoying pests away with these tips.

Keep Food Out of Reach

Pests see food a little differently than we do. A small crumb might make an excellent feast for an ant or two. A spill you forgot to clean up might be just the treat a flying insect is looking for, and the crumbs that were ground into the carpet when your toddler walked around your living room with a handful of crackers are a smorgasbord for mice and insects.

To discourage pests from foraging in your home, keep your counters wiped down, your floors clean, and your trash cans cleared out. Fix leaking pipes and drains that might be seen as a wonderful water source to a small army of bugs (or a rat or two). Don’t leave pet food outside, and clean up after your outside barbecue.

Lock Them Out

We don’t mean that locking the doors will keep pests away. You have to think small. If you were tiny, and the weather was getting a bit colder, you’d do anything to get inside a huge, warm house. Excellent entry points for tiny creatures consist of holes in screens, gaps in door frames, holes where utility wiring enters your home, firewood, and outside toys you occasionally bring indoors. Seal up those entry points, and inspect anything coming into your home.

Tidy Up

Pests like clutter, so keep clutter in your home to a minimum. Get yourself on a regular cleaning schedule so you can stay on top of the piles of stuff. (Even stacks of paper can attract pests.) This goes for the exterior of your house also, make sure to clean regularly and store items that you feel might attract further pests, in spaces away from your home such as these garden storage sheds, for example.

Vacuum and clean your house regularly. Clean out your trash cans, and don’t leave trash outside if you deal with rats or raccoons in your area.

Did you know some pests can smell rotting food in your pantry? Stay on top of your food inventory to keep pests away.

Trim the Shrubbery

When you’re able to keep more pests off your property, you reduce the number of pests lining up to enter your home. It’s going to take a bit of labor, but you need to stay on top of yard work. Trim branches and bushes that are near the house, rake mulch away from your house’s foundation, and clean gutters regularly. Keep your BBQ clean and covered so rodents can’t make it their home. Clear your yard of any debris, and stack firewood far from your home.

Fortify Your Foundation

Make sure drainage is happening properly around your foundation. Keep your gutters working properly, and direct water away from your home. Seal foundation cracks to keep termites out, and enclose open areas under porches with mesh screening.

Get a Professional Opinion

These helpful tips can prevent many pests from entering your home, but it’s still possible for pest infestations to occur – even to the most careful of people. Before that happens, hire a local pest control company, such as Barefoot Mosquito & Pest Control to help protect and rid your home of all unwanted pests. Contact us today or request a pest control quote online!