When considering the various pests that might be found in your home or garden, it seems a bit overwhleming just thinking of the sheer number of them, as well as the many ways to combat them and get rid of them. Although it may be hard to keep pests out of the home entirely, you can certainly make a lot of headway, and if you are diligent, you can win the war and keep your home and garden pest free.
There are almost as many home and garden pest control products on the market to get rid of pests, as there are creatures and bugs, whether flying or crawling. Some folks, though, may not want to use harsh chemicals in their homes or garden, especially those that may be harmful to children and pets, and that has made organic pest control methods, also known as “old-fashioned” or “grandma’s remedies” increasingly popular.
Certain kinds of bugs are area-specific. Bugs that proliferate in the Southeast, for instance, might be more rare in the Northwest, but when they are in our homes, a bug is a bug, and we mostly just want to get rid of them. A few of the most common pests that are found in almost all parts of the country are ants, cockroaches, spiders, flies, fleas, ticks, termites and the one that really fills us with horror–bedbugs.
Ants – Normally ants like to live outdoors, but will come inside if a few happen to find a food source, not necessarily sugar or sweets, and leave a trail for others to follow. Probably one of the easiest to get rid of, ant sprays on the market may do the trick. Anyone opposed to using chemicals and sprays, however, can get rid of the ant problem with common ant traps found in any department or hardware store, including non-toxic insect traps.
Cockroaches – When a household pest is mentioned, many people would think of cockroaches because they are one of the most common, and may be some of the most disgusting. Non-toxic, safe, professional strength roach traps are available with a natural attractant that lures the bugs onto a sticky glue-based surface to dispose of them easily.
Spiders – Generally harmless–unless you encounter a black widow, brown recluse or hobo–and preferring the outdoors, spiders nonetheless rank high on the list of creepy-crawlies we don’t want to live with when they get inside our homes. When you find webs, remove them, and discourage their rebuilding by vacuuming and cleaning areas where they like to nest, such as cellars, closets and dark quiet areas. Getting rid of other bugs will eliminate the food source for spiders. Apply horticultural oil outdoors at places of entry as a deterrent.
Bed bugs – Unfortunately, this pest is on the rise in the United States again. They like to live in places where people or animals sleep. Look for eggs, flat tiny reddish bugs or stains, with a flashlight. Check every area of your bed, including bed rails. Lift the mattress and box springs. If they are found, use a solution of 1/2 cup of Borax in a gallon of warm water and scrub the area with a stiff brush. Vacuum the entire area. Steam clean your mattress and box springs. Apply a thin coat of Vaseline on bed rails. Coat the legs of your bed with Vaseline or just set the legs in tin cans of Vaseline to prevent reinfestation.