Rats can cause serious problem for home owners, ranging from destruction of properties to causing diseases and infections. It is important to know that no one will love to have rats in his or her home; the reason is simple, you will never have a peace of mind as long as rats are in your house. However, all hope is not lost; as we’re going to show you some strategies you can adopt in order to prevent rats completely from living in your home.

1. Fencing

Fencing is regarded as one of the most effective ways to prevent rats from entering a home. You are advised to fence as much area of your house as you can so that you will deny them access completely.

2. Keep a cat

No matter how stubborn rats can be, a cat can make their life miserable and will also help prevent them from coming into your house as soon they notice that a cat is always there. There is no way a cat and rat can stay in the same place, whenever a cat makes a sound rats will surely run to their hidden places. That is why you need to have a cat in your house so that rats will not have their way in.

3. Use Repellants

The use of Repellants has been considered highly effective in preventing rats in a house. There are lots of repellants to make use of – ranging from chemicals to predators, as well as other things that will help gets rid of rats from your surroundings within a twinkle of an eye. Experts suggest that the use of repellants like Blood or born meal fertilizer, or Ammonium soap sprinkled around the house can do the job for you.

4. Hunt or trap them

 If you can, you should hunt the rats to get rid of them; otherwise you will have to look for professional trappers to do the needful. However, it’s important to know that hunting them down can be challenging because rats can squeeze through anything that has an opening. If you are capable for this task, then you have to do it.

5. Block every opening in the house

While this may not be easy, it’s important to understand that blocking of possible entrances where rats can go into the house is of paramount importance in preventing them from your home. Check through places like the ridge cap, the roof joint, the ground level vent, the burrow holes, etc and block these openings so that rats will find it difficult to enter into the house.

Conclusion

In conclusion, remember that preventing rats in your house can present a number of challenges especially when the house has a lot of openings. However, when you make use of the above methods and stick to them, chances are rats will find it difficult to have a base in your home. The most important thing to do is ensure that you do all the necessarily things to make your house free from rats, because they are problematic not only to your home alone, but also the entire environment.

Yes! Rats can chew through anything that is attracted to them including metal; however, it depends on the thickness of the metal. It is important to know that the rat’s incisors teeth never stops growing, and this makes them chew anything they find so that the teeth can wear down. According to a number of research conducted concerning rats, it was found out that their fiery teeth are strong enough to destroy not only metal but also lots of properties in the house, farms, as well as commercial areas. In this article, we’re also going to look at other objects rats can also chew through.

Evidence That Rat Can Chew Through Metal

It’s obvious, with their sharp incisors teeth, rats can chew through metal lining and even copper wires. There have been reports from the studies conducted on the occurrences where rats are found dead, the reports came out that this animal mostly died when chewing through hot wire and in the process, they got electrocuted. However, there is a metal that rats cannot chew through – this metal is called “steel plating.” Below are some of the evidences that confirm rats can chew through metal.

• Rats are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals; that is to say, they can also chew through metal to get food.
• Rats have sharp teeth that can tear up literally anything they come across.
• Rats are also natural scavengers, meaning they can do anything to collect junk, garbage and anything that can fetch them food including metal and wires.
• Studies also have found out that rats can chew through aluminum; therefore, chewing through metal will not be a big deal.

Other Objects That Rats Can Chew Through

• Rats can chew through plastic
Another study confirms that rats can chew through plastic material; they can finish up a bucket made of plastic in one week without any hassle as long as they can get what they want. Scientific studies revealed that the sharpness of their teeth is the major weaponry used to destroy plastics.

• Rats can chew through wood
Probably you’ve seen this happens times without numbers where you noticed a section of the wood you kept at home has been shattered by pests. Rats can be the major culprit here, because studies have shown that they are good at eating domestic properties including wood. They love to make shelter and hide inside bunch of wood for self defense, but unfortunately they usually end up chewing the entire wood in the process.

• Rats can chew through concrete
The fact that rats can go to any length to get food, has justified that it can also chew through concrete. This finding has made professional trappers to recommend sealing up any hole in the house that rats can get through in order to avoid possible destruction.

In conclusion, it is important to know that it’s true that rats can chew through metal, but it’s also good to understand that not every type of metal can be chewed by rats. Therefore, it’s advisable to keep important objects (not necessarily metal) away from where rats can easily reach through to avoid destructions.

Nothing can be more disgusting in a kitchen than the sight of several cockroaches running to hide as soon as you turn the light on. They come out to feed mostly at night when it is dark and manage to hide during the day, even though they can still be spotted during the day. When you have an infestation, you can never be too sure of how hygienic your items and foods are. The cockroaches crawl all over everything and this increases contamination risk around your house. But luckily there is always something you can do to have a cockroach free environment.

• Wipe down surfaces where you prepare food or areas from where you serve and eat your food. You will also find it helpful to keep the hob clean after cooking because oil splashes and food remnants will attract the cockroaches.

• Make a point of cleaning used dishes instead of leaving dirty till morning. They make great feasts for the cockroaches. What you ought to remember is that the roaches need food and water to survive and so your aim should be to eliminate all possible sources. If you don’t feel like washing the dirty dishes, then you should at least leave them soaking in soapy water.

• Rinse off dishes in your dishwasher and ensure that the machine is also clean. The seals and the filter are prone to having food remains, and unless you clean them out, you still will create a food source for the roaches. Try and clean the filter after every cycle and you can spritz the seals. Vinegar can also be used to keep the cockroaches at bay.

• Put away pet water bowls and empty them every night. You should actually ensure that you wash the food and water dishes your pets use.

• When cleaning and wiping your kitchen, do not forget the microwave and the oven and extractor hood. The refrigerator and stove should also be cleaned on a regular basis. The cleaner the kitchen the harder it will be for the cockroaches to survive so touch on all suspect areas.

• Secure store foods that are not refrigerated in containers that have proper lids before placing them in store cupboard of the pantry. You should however also ensure that you do not end up cluttering your pantry because then you will be creating a good hiding place for the cockroaches.

• Always empty your trash can every night and ensure that you have secure bins to limit the roaches from accessing your trash. If you have food sources right outside the house you can be sure that the roaches will still find their way in so do not forget where you put your garbage and how you do it. Let the bins remain tightly closed.

• Vacuum or sweep your floor to get rid of food debris that can attract the cockroaches and remember to empty the vacuum bag because it can serve as a food source for the cockroaches.

Taking the right measures can save you from having to deal with cockroach infestations, but if you already have one, then you might need to find proper treatment to get rid of the problem once and for all.

Bed bug infestations can be some of the most irritating, especially if you get reactions from the bites. It can get pretty uncomfortable at night and you will find yourself dreading to fall asleep. Fortunately, there are very many inexpensive ways of getting rid of the tiny bugs. However, sometimes it could be a good idea to let the pest control experts handle the infestations on your behalf. Below are some reasons why you might find it more beneficial to have the pest expert control and manage your infestations.

1. Bedbugs are very good at hiding and their small bodies working to their advantage. They are able to hide in small crevices and cracks, making it harder for you to identify. When you hire experts, you can be sure they will flush them out of all their hiding places. They understand the parasites and it is easy to tell areas they are most likely to hide and breed in.

2. It can be very difficult to get rid of the bed bugs without the right products and tools. You might need to manually remove the bugs and kill them, which can be pretty disgusting. The pest control experts on the other hand have the right products and use the best techniques to get rid of the infestations, making a complex looking task for you very small for them. They definitely will save you the time and the worry.

3. The experts employ control methods that get rid of the bugs and their eggs effectively. This is something that can be hard for you to achieve especially when you do not have the right tools of the trade. Considering that bed bugs can survive for long without food, if you are not able to control all of them then you will be faced with recurring infestations. Experts take measures that reduce the chances of getting and infestations when left bugs and eggs continue the breeding cycle.

4. Pest control experts conduct inspections and can offer you recommendations that will help you minimize the risks of getting another infestation in the future. This means that it is possible for you to have a small infestation taken care of before it becomes a problem. If you suspect, but you are not sure that you have a bedbug infestation, the inspections will help identify so the necessary measures can be taken. Expert advice after treatment will also help you do regular checks and be alert for any signs of an infestation so you can act quickly before things get out of hand.

5. Pest control services are affordable and they will therefore save you the money you would have otherwise used trying one control method after another. The affordable services will not only save you money but time and effort that might not fetch you the expected results with the bedbug infestation you are facing. The experts simply offer you an easier way out of your bedbug menace.

Bedbugs are not necessarily harmful to health, but the bites can get pretty irritating and uncomfortable. Get pest control services to get peace of mind you deserve at home or place of business.

Rodents can be a nuisance when they invade your property. They are not only destructive to your valuables, but they are disease carrying pests that can put your health and that of your pets at risk. The most unfortunate thing about rodents such as mice is that they can be very tedious to deal with considering that they move at lightning speed and it can be hard to tell where they have their nests hidden. There are so many methods that can be used to get rid of the pests, including calling in pest control professionals to handle the infestations, but at a personal level, there is still something you can do to keep the mice off your home.

1- Create barriers

Your exterior and interior walls serve as entry points for the mice and this means that if they are not in good shape, you definitely will be dealing with recurring pest infestations. The fecal matter is one of the pointers to the paths the mice are using to get into your home. You might also be able to pick odor. When you take time to have a careful look at your walls, it will not be as hard to point out the areas used by the mice to gain access to your home. What is important to remember when sealing out the holes is that some materials might not offer permanent solution because the mice can chew on them and recreate the holes. You therefore should choose a good sealing material or consider more permanent repairs around your exterior and interior walls.

2-Deter the mice

Availability of food sources around your home is the biggest attraction for the pests. So how about trying as much as possible to clean your home and eliminate all food sources the pests can reach? You can start by ensuring that your food is in airtight containers kept from the reach of the mice. If you have food stored in your home, make sure that it is well sealed to keep the mice out. Refrigerate the necessary and store the rest responsibly. You cannot forget your trash cans because they definitely will attract the mice. Keep them out of your house and ensure that they have lids so that it is harder for the mice to access the trash even when placed outside.

3-Repel the mice

Peppermint is one of the best natural mice repellent you can use. The smell is too intense for the rodents to handle and they will not get anywhere near it. You can put a drop of peppermint oil on a cotton ball and place it near entries. The plant itself can also be used near the entry points to keep the rodents away. It is a repellent that also serves as a masking scent of tasty morsels you might have around the home. Other simple ways of repelling the mice are using kitty litter near the entrances, dried snake poo and using organic solutions mixture. You can also invest in an electronic unit that emits beeps hated by rodents.

Mice can be tricky to handle, but when you carefully think through your options, you will find very effective, natural and effective ways you can keep them off your property and home for that matter.

Even though you are not at any risk of getting diseases from bed bug, you will not be able to rest easy knowing that you have parasites waiting for you to sleep so they can crawl slowly to feed on your blood. If you react to the bed bug bites you also will find a great need to get rid of an infestation as soon as you identify one in your home or area. For businesses, the peace of mind of guests is important making extermination services very helpful.

One of the worst things about bed bugs is that they are tiny and hide amazingly well and unless you are thorough you might not even notice their presence. If you approach the treatment of the bugs wrong, you are likely to have a short period of relief before you experience another infestation. A good control program should be able to eliminate the bugs and their eggs effectively and this is what professionals will do for you. Here are some reasons why you ought to consider pest control services to handle your bed bug infestations.

The professionals start by a thorough inspection of your home

The inspection is a very popular stage because it helps them identify hiding areas that should be concentrated on during the treatment program. They will be looking out for dead or living bedbugs, skin casts that result from molting process, fecal material, blood stained and even the tiny cream eggs in dark crevices where the bugs hide. From what they gather from the inspection, professional pest control technicians are able to decide what approach to use.

The professionals know the most effective control methods

The treatment program will be selected according to the severity of your infestation. The pest control experts know what works best and how to handle the treatment in such a way that they are able to fetch you excellent results with the elimination of the bed bugs. It would be very hard for you to decide what to use to get rid of the bugs but the experts know it all.

They understand bed bug behavior

These means that they are able to trace and handle them in the best way possible without the risks of escaping or moving to other areas undetected. The professionals use comprehensive programs that provide you with a bed bug free environment within no time at all.

The professionals offer inspection and monitoring services

The best way of keeping infestations at bay is to have your premises or home inspected on a regular basis and the pest controls experts can do this affordably. The inspections even without suspicion of an infestation can give you peace of mind that you are safe from the bugs. You can also enjoy monitoring services after a treatment to confirm that the bugs were effectively controlled and you are not at risk of any future infestation.

They save you time

Controlling bedbugs can be tedious requiring lots of your time. When you hire the services, the worries of handling the process and spending too much time on it are eliminated and you are also assured of effective results.

Bed bugs are small flat oval reddish brown insects that can measure around 5mm in length which is roughly the size of one apple seed. When they are gorged on blood their color can change to reddish. They basically feed on human and animal blood and they tend to be active at night. They do not have the ability to fly but they move relatively fast over ceilings, walls and floors.

Reproduction

The females can lay hundreds of eggs in their lifetime and this means recurring infestations if you are not able to manage and control effectively. They can deposit up to five eggs every day and live beyond 300 days. The immature bed bugs are known as nymphs and they shed skin five times before they are mature adults and need blood meals before every shedding. When conditions are favorable, the maturity can take as little as one month meaning that it possible for more than three generations to be produced in a span of one year. They do not transmit any diseases to humans but they can truly be a nuisance. It is however possible for some people to have allergic reactions to the bed bug bites.

Survival

Bed bugs can survive without any meal for one year and this makes them very tough to control especially when you do not spot them. They love hiding in crevices and cracks including those on furniture, walls, sheets, mattress seams, picture frames and other different areas. With so many hiding areas, it is even harder to control an infestation without the assistance of a professional. They move easily from one room to another and they have an easy time hiding in personal belongings and luggage including briefcases and purses. They can be picked from practically any place that is infested.

Identifying an infestation

Bed bugs are very good in hiding and you might be very lucky to spot them. When you see the bugs, then you probably have a very large infestation. Seeing them especially the adults can be a sign of an infestation.

Case skins that are shed by juvenile bed bugs are an obvious sign of an infestation. Considering that they shed their skins several times before they are full adults, you might be able to spot the case skins around infested areas of your home.

Defecation also makes it easier for you to know that you have an infestation. You might see brown or black stains on porous surfaces or brown mounds on surfaces that are nonporous. Bed bugs make their way back to their harborages to hide after feeding where they defecate. Conduct regular checks even on curtains and you might identify an infestation before it gets out of hand.

Bites are the other signs of a bed bug infestation. Red welts on your skin should not be assumed to be mosquito bites especially if they begin soon after you come back from a trip or soon after you get used furniture into your home.

Egg shells and a musty offensive odor are other signs to look out for.

Bed bugs are tiny parasites that can be picked from any given area that is infested whether it is a hotel, gym, store, offices among other places. These bugs are able to hide in luggage, humans and personal belongings hence they take a ride back home with you to your apartment or townhouse without your knowing it. Travellers have a tendency of picking this tiny parasites and the fact is that an infestation can be really hard to eliminate. It is therefore very helpful to try as much as possible to prevent the infestations and here are some of the things you can do to keep them at bay.

At home

Because it is possible for anyone to bring the bed bugs home, a few home tips can help you reduce the chances of an infestation.

– Get rid of clutter around the home so that you have an easier time finding the bed bugs in case they are present.

– Wash your bed linens on a regular basis and try as much as possible to use hot temperatures as the fabric can handle than allow them to dry properly. Bed bugs cannot stand too much heat and this can be a simple way of getting rid of a few before they breed into an infestation.

– Inspect any second hand furniture you might purchase for your home use. A close inspection can help you take the necessary steps before you bring infested furniture into your home.

– Take the time to inspect your home after you move in, after a trip or after you have had visitors sleep over or stay for some time in your home. It might seem ridiculous but it can go a long way in helping you prevent an infestation.

When Travelling

Because it is much easier to pick bedbugs when you travel and probably sleep in infested facilities, you also want to make sure that you take the necessary measures to reduce the risks.

– Check all possible surfaces for infestation signs. Rust colored spots or stains on mattress tag, seams, bed sheets and even bed skirts can be very good signs that there is an infestation.

– Check out possible bed bug hiding areas including beneath the mattress, headboard, furniture and bed frame. Remember that even though they come out at night usually to feed, they can be found a short distance from the bed during the day. Check around cracks and crevices just to be sure.

– Keep your luggage elevated on a rack away from walls and the bed. This is important because it is common for bed bugs to hide behind picture frames, electrical outlet panels, artwork and headboards.

– Pay close attention to your luggage when repacking and even when you get back home. Make sure you unpack away from the bed and store luggage away in your closet away from the bedroom if possible.

– If you are suspicious about your accommodation facility during travel, place your clothes into the dryer as soon as you get home for 15 minutes in high temperature settings.