Monthly Archives: February 2019

Rodents

Cincinnati Residents – 5 Tips to Prevent a Rodent Problem

Dealing with insects and rodents is something that you know you will be faced with as a homeowner in Cincinnati. Pests are an unavoidable fact of life, and it doesn’t look like they’re going anywhere anytime soon. That being said, letting rodents roam about your home freely certainly isn’t an option, so it’s a good idea to have a plan for prevention in place. Take a look below for the five best tips to prevent a rodent problem in your home.

Check The Outside of Your Home

Anytime you are able to see a visible crack or gap near the foundation of your home, you are almost sure to have some visitors of the rodent variety. Holes in the roof can be just as concerning.  Arboreal rats can easily jump onto the roof of your home, and if they find an entry point, they will move right in and make themselves at home. Rats can be incredibly destructive to your house and everything in it, so make sure you’re doing all you can to discourage a visit.

Keep Landscaping Well-Maintained

Shrubs and bushes that rest against your home can mask entry points and are also great hiding spots for rodents of all kinds. Trees that dangle over your roof are a great way for rodents to hop right on and search for a way in. By taking the time to keep the foliage in your yard trimmed and tamed, you are one step closer to keeping rodents away.

Check Your Attic for Activity

Go upstairs to your attic and take a good look around. See if you can spot any cracks or gaps where rodents could easily make their way in, and if you do, fill them in immediately. If you see signs of activity, such as chewed up belongings, wires, or insulation, or rodent droppings, set out a few traps and call a pest control company to come assist you in ridding your home of the rodents.

Clear Out Your Clutter

Rats and mice love a good, cozy hiding spot, and your cluttered home provides just that. If your garage is full of junk, or you have rooms in your home piled up high with books, collectibles, or other items, then it’s a good idea to start cleaning up right away. Allowing your home to remain in this condition invites not only rodents but a number of insects to make themselves at home. Rodents and insects are responsible for spreading a number of dangerous germs and diseases. In order to protect yourself and your family, take the time to do a thorough cleaning.

Contact a Local Pest Control Expert

One of the best ways to make sure your home remains pest free is to enlist the help of a trained professional. A local pest control expert will know exactly what to look for to determine if you have a full-on infestation. Not only that, but they will be able to exterminate the problem much more quickly and safely than you yourself could. Consider keeping up with routine pest control in order to ensure your home is protected from pesky pest intruders.

By following the tips above you will be well equipped to avoid a rodent invasion in your home. If you suspect that you may already have a few rodent guests staying with you, contact a local pest control technician as soon as possible. Rodents will avoid human interaction for the most part, but if they feel threatened they may strike out. For the safety of yourself and your family, it’s best to leave this one to the professionals.

Cincinnati Pest Control, Pest Control

Cockroaches in your Cincinnati home?

If you have roaches in your Cincinnati home, you know how difficult it can be to get rid of them. Not only are they disgusting and pesky creatures, but they seem to be invincible. If you’re desperate for relief from your roach infestation, take a look below for some tips and tricks on how to get rid of
them once and for all.

Keep It Clean

Food, water, and shelter are the major reason roaches like to come inside and make themselves at home. If you make these things easily accessible, chances are you will have a few roach visitors before too long. Keeping your home as clean as possible is the best defense against a roach invasion.

Cleanliness in your kitchen is especially important. Sweep and mop your floor on a regular basis, and be sure to get under baseboards, the stove and oven, and the refrigerator. Wipe up crumbs and spills immediately. Never leave dishes in the sink for long, especially overnight. Roaches love to come out and roam after everyone has gone to sleep, so a sink full of dirty dishes is like a
roach party waiting to happen.

Don’t leave food out on the counters – in fact, food storage is a big deal when it comes to roach prevention. Store food in airtight containers made of glass, plastic, or metal. Make sure you are checking all the nooks and crannies in your kitchen for crumbs that have been left behind. Any food source is fair game.

Vacuum in all other rooms on a regular basis, especially in areas where you eat. Crumbs that gather in the carpet are yet another food source for a roach. Wipe down crumbs or spills in these areas immediately as well.

Take Out The Trash

Your trash may be disgusting to you, but it’s one of a roaches favorite spots. If your trash doesn’t have a lid, this is an easy-access buffet for a roach. Invest in a trashcan with a lid, and empty your trash regularly. If you throw away food or liquids, take it out as quickly as possible. It’s also a
good idea to wipe your trashcans down on a regular basis. The food and gunk that builds up on and underneath these bins is just the kind of thing that roaches like to find.

Clear The Clutter

Piles of books, newspapers, magazines, and other items provide great hiding spots for roaches to hang out. Roaches aren’t picky about their meals, either. Paper, cardboard, and other non-food items are quite appetizing to a hungry roach. Keep clutter to a minimum, and never allow things to pile up on the floor. Rifle through stacks of books and magazines on a regular basis to make sure no one is hiding out inside. You might be surprised what you find.

Find Their Entry Point

Take a good look around your home for any cracks or gaps from the outside in. While roaches are great at finding miniscule spots to enter, a large gap that is visible to the naked eye is like an open invitation. Check around windows, doors, and any other entry points, and install weather stripping if
you can see sunlight. Also, make sure you have good screens that are free of holes or tears. Seal up any other cracks that you find with caulking, or call in a repairman if it’s a big enough hole that it requires a professional fix.

Bait Them

If you don’t feel like you have a full-blown infestation at this point and have only seen a few stragglers, you can attempt to take a do-it-yourself approach. However, it’s important to note that where you see one roach, there are likely many, many others. If you’re determined, though, invest in some roach bait. Roaches will eat the poisonous bait and take it back to share with their friends. Eventually, this should kill the majority of them off.

Place the bait where you know they will encounter it: areas where you have seen activity, or in the kitchen where they will likely be hunting for food. It’s important to note that this isn’t the quickest method, and it may take several weeks to kill them off. Also, always use care when using DIY pest
control methods. Keep children and pets away from the bait, and use care to keep it away from your food sources.

Call The Experts

If your methods have been unsuccessful, or you simply want to get the job done as quickly as possible, call in a pest control expert to help you out. These professionals likely have years of experience and will know exactly how to treat the issue to get your home roach-free as quickly and efficiently as possible. Roaches are notoriously difficult to exterminate, so using a professional technician is often not only your best bet, but the only one that will get the job done for good.

Roaches are most certainly an unpleasant intrusion in your home, but they are unfortunately one that most of us will encounter at some point in our lives. If you are prepared and knowledgeable,
getting rid of roaches in your home doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Follow the above tips and your home should be free of roach visitors before you know it.