How To Protect Your Family Against Household Pests

Pests are one of the most disturbing burdens in a household. They bring damage to our belongings. Plus, they cause diseases to humans and animals. This is the reason why we need to find ways to protect our family against them.

Many individuals recommend using pesticides for pest control. However, safety specialists note otherwise. According to their findings, pesticides are composed of harmful substances. These can cause various illnesses such as food poisoning, organ failure, damage to the nervous system, and many more. 

Statistics have proven that households near companies that use pesticides are prone to acquiring the aforementioned diseases. This is because the chemicals leave harmful residue on water, crops, homes, air, and land.  If these are inhaled or ingested, it could lead to complications.

Pesticides seem like the easy way to eliminate pests, but it is a harmful way to do so. This is why you need to find natural ways of pest control. Here are some of the recommended methods for pest control this 2020:

Maintain a clean home 

This is the most cost-effective way to prevent pest infestations. This method ensures that pests do not find food and shelter in our environment. If pests see enough human activity around the house and garden, they are unlikely to dwell in our environment. 

One way to maintain a clean environment is vacuuming regularly. This works best to get rid of food crumbs that attract cockroaches, mice, and ants. Don’t forget to vacuum the unused areas in your house. Sometimes, pests access food and shelter in the unused and unnoticed areas. 

Another way to maintain a clean house is regularly organizing your things. Pests love clutter. It serves as their access pass all around the house. It gives them a place to hide and store their food. So, to get rid of these pesky creatures, organize as often as possible. 

Protect Pets from Pests 

Our pets are our family too. To some of us who live with cats and dogs, we need to upgrade our methods in eliminating these pesky creatures. If you think that a flea infestation is a minor issue, you thought wrong. 

These creatures cause skin allergies to our fur babies. This is common during the summer where flea activity is at its peak. Fleas can also cause anemia to our dogs. Although this happens rarely, it’s not impossible, especially in severe infestations. The symptoms of anemia on dogs is lack of appetite, lack of sleep, and lethargy. 

Fleas do not only affect pets but also human beings. In extreme numbers, they can cause skin diseases tapeworms. If these illnesses are not given medical attention, it could lead to complications.

To get rid of fleas in the household, bathe your dog regularly with specialized soap and water. Lather and let the suds stay for at least ten minutes. This will suffocate and drown the fleas, disabling them from latching on to their skin while you rinse. 

After bathing, check their skin for any flea left. Handpick these or use a flea comb to eliminate them thoroughly. Place the fleas on a solution of soap and water to kill them. The soap acts as an adhesive keeping the fleas on the water until they drown. 

Diatomaceous Earth 

This is another effective way to eliminate pests at home.  It is a white powder composed of fossilized algae called diatoms. Unlike pesticides, Diatomaceous Earth is non-toxic. It works mechanically in killing pests. It destroys their exoskeleton, dehydrating them from the outside.  The pest that and have to ingest or inhale the powder. They just need to walk over it. 

To use, sprinkle a generous amount of Diatomaceous Earth on the surfaces of your house.  Spread it thinly using a cloth or a broom. Let it stay for 24 hours. Then, replace it with another batch of powder. Do this regularly and control pests inside your house. 

Essential oils

While these are relaxing to our senses, it is an irritant to pests. You can use it as a spray barrier to repel various insects such as mosquitoes, fleas, cockroaches, ants, and many more.  Depending on the pests you are dealing with, there are specific oils for each. Citronella, for example, is good for repelling mosquitoes. Lavender and mint are effective in ridding your house from mice. Neem oil and Tea Tree oil are great for eliminating fleas. 

To use, simply mix essential oils with water and put it in a spray bottle.  Spray it on areas with high pest activity, and you’re all set. The downside to using essential oils is its duration.  Its smell usually lasts for 15 to 30 minutes. So, you need to reapply as often as possible. 

Clean your lawn 

Another way to maintain a clean surrounding is regularly caring for your lawn. This place should be your first line of defense. Pests cannot get near your house if your lawn is clean and tidy.

One way to maintain a clean lawn is mowing the grass regularly. Not only will this ensure the lush growth of your grass but also repels pests. Most pests are irritated by the sun’s rays. If the lawn is properly trimmed, pests don’t have a hiding spot during the daylight. So, they are deterred and will be forced to find another place to infest. 

As we all know, mosquitoes lay eggs on stable waters. If we don’t remove these possible breeding spaces, your family will be prone to mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue, Malaria, and Japanese Encephalitis. To prevent infestations, remove the water from containers, birdbaths, gutters, and canals. This might not prevent mosquitoes from your house but it will control their population around you. 

Another way to prevent infestations is moving shrubs and trees away from the house proper. Observe a minimum of six-feet interval from the shrubs to your foundation. This way, you can deter raccoons, ants, mice, and other pests. 

Fix Cracks and Crevices 

Many pests enter the house through small cracks and crevices on our walls, floors, and ceilings. One way to prevent infestations is by fixing or covering these entryways. This way,  pests are left to die outside during the cold. If you cannot do it alone, contact a professional to do it for you. 

Contact a professional

This is the most effective way to get rid of pests and protect your family for good.  With the help of a pest control expert, you can eliminate every pest in your environment. It will only take a few hours to do so.  With their assistance, you spend less effort, less time, and less money. 

These are only a few of the strategies to apply in protecting your family against pests.  If you do these methods regularly, you can prevent pest reproduction and eliminate them for good. Try these now and let the results speak  louder more than you can imagine.