Common Household Pests and How to Get Rid of Them

As a homeowner, unfortunately, there will come a time when you see the signs of household pests welcoming themselves into your space. While this can seem disheartening, embarrassing and frustrating, it’s a challenge many, if not all, people face multiple times throughout the years.

Household pests of all kinds (there are quite a few) can cause tremendous amounts of issues, damage and health risks if left untreated or if they roam freely around your property. If you happen to notice signs of household pests, you cannot afford to ignore them or delay treating them. Understanding the types of pests you may find around the home, knowing the correct treatments and processes to mitigate them, and putting measures in place to avoid them is significantly important to save yourself from stress and money troubles in the future. 

So, let’s take a look at the unwanted guests you may see from time to time and how to best manage them - (hopefully for good!)

Rodents:

One of the most common annoyances for anyone who owns or rents a residential property or commercial space are mice and rats. These pesky animals can enter spaces through the smallest of openings and scurry across the ceilings - so not only do you know that they are there, but you can hear them, too! They enter our buildings on the hunt for both food and shelter; however, these small, furry creatures have been known to cause quite a lot of damage to wooden structures and electrical wiring, as well as carrying and spreading multiple diseases.

Signs you have rodents:

Gnaw markings on wood, droppings across the floor, scattering sounds across floorboards and unusual behaviours from household pets (cats mostly) are just some of the ways you will notice mice and rats.

How to prevent rodents:

The maintenance of traps around the home, keeping areas clean and clear of food waste, sealing up potential entry points, and, in more significant cases calling a professional for an extermination, are all fairly successful and easy ways to manage the rodents in your home.

Termites:

The silent destroyers, as they are so commonly referred to. Termites chew through the flooring, wooden surfaces and occasionally wallpaper, all while remaining undetected. This infestation can cause vast amounts of damage to property both internally and structurally, so it’s important to remain aware and alert.

Signs you have termites:

You may notice termites present in your home if you see visible damage to wooden furniture or structures, mud tubes on exterior walls and an excessive number of flying insects seen around the home, too.

How to prevent termites:

Opting for the help of a professional is often the best route to take when trying to mitigate termites, and a pest control service can help you with this. Treatments often used in these cases are bait systems and soil treatment.

Cockroaches: 

One of the more stubborn types of house pests to get rid of is cockroaches. These resilient creatures like to gather where food is found, often contaminating it while spreading germs and causing health conditions, including asthma and allergies.

Signs you have cockroaches:

These roaches tend to be fairly visible, so you may see them; however, you can also notice them by finding droppings or an unusual musty smell throughout the home.

How to prevent cockroaches:

This can be fairly simple: you can mitigate cockroaches by staying on top of property cleanliness and ensuring food waste is put away in sealed bins. You can also use insecticides and baits to protect your home from them.

Ants:

This is a household pest that many overlook. While they may seem small and insignificant, ants can be very persistent when it comes to invading homes. Ants typically enter most homes during the summer months on the hunt for food and shelter, which can be why they are often found in kitchens.

Signs you have ants:

Unfortunately, the only way to know if ants have taken up residence in your home is if you see them. This will typically be easy as they come in large quantities.

How to prevent ants:

One obvious way you can limit how many ants enter the home is by sealing their entry points; this could be small cracks in door frames or gaps around windows. You should also make an effort to keep your home clear of waste and food out on the sides and accessible to these pesky creatures. Finally, many people opt to lay repellents, baits and sprays to avoid ants altogether.

Bed bugs:

One of the more disturbing household pests is bed bugs; these creatures tend to remain hidden during the day but conveniently come to life at night. Bed bugs are pretty self-explanatory; they love to reside in our beds and feed on human blood, so it is essential to put measures in place to avoid and get rid of them as soon as they become apparent.

Signs you have bed bugs:

As well as those who live in your home gaining noticeable itchy bites across the body, you may also become aware of bed bugs when mattresses and furniture have unusual dark spots, or you find blood stains across your bedding.

How to prevent bed bugs:

Now, this can be a household pest that is slightly more troublesome to remove from the home; however, it can be done with the combination of vacuuming the home, placing down chemical treatments, and cleaning all areas that are prone to them.  If you struggle to get rid of your bed bug infestation, you may call upon the help of a professional pest control service.

Wasps:

Finally, the flying pest that nobody wants to see! Wasps become incredibly more persistent infesting homes during the spring and summer months. Now, these household pests can be particularly dangerous to those allergic to them - not to mention the pain they cause all humans if and when they sting. For this reason, be it a few flying around the home or a nest in the attic, removing them is essential.

Signs you have wasps:

The only way to know if you have a wasp nest near is by seeing a large number of wasps in and around your home.

How to prevent wasps:

There are safe ways to remove these wasp nests. However, it is best in these circumstances to call a professional pest removal company to handle this issue for you. They will come equipped with the safety wear and tools needed to remove the nest and prevent them from returning.

Dealing with household pests can be challenging, as well as being slightly overwhelming and, at times, scary and concerning. That being said, with the right methods of prevention, including sealing entrance points for these small creatures, staying on top of hygiene and cleanliness as well and finding a professional team to assist you, you can reduce the number of pests you find throughout your home and mitigate the chances of them returning in the future. 
To find out more about pest control products, check out the Powered Now product catalogue.