Last updated 3 months ago
Although hiring an exterminator is undoubtedly the most effective and most convenient way to rid your home of unwanted insects and rodents, you can reduce the risk of infestation with a few easy at-home remedies. Fortunately for homeowners with minor pest problems, there are a number of tried and true do-it-yourself extermination options that pose no threat to the environment or your family’s health.
Humane Pest Traps
Environmentally friendly and humane mousetraps are available and can be an effective way to get rid of the lone mouse that wandered into your home. If you see large amounts of droppings, nests, or other signs of a rodent infestation, however, you will want to hire a pest control professional. This will be more effective, inexpensive, and hassle-free than buying and setting countless traps.
Mint Plants
Growing peppermint and spearmint plants in your home can actually help solve some of your pest control problems. While growing mint will not kill the insects that are currently occupying your floors, walls, and cabinets, it may incite them to leave. Purchase a few mint varieties and plant them throughout your home to encourage your uninvited guests to leave and deter other pests from entering your home.
All-natural Pest Deterrents
Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, garlic, and salt can be mixed with water to make a spray that can help mitigate and eliminate minor pest control problems. Properly storing and containing food products is another major way to discourage pests; find airtight containers for grains and other foodstuffs, or even consider freezing certain items. For major infestations or reoccurring pest control problems, contact a highly rated exterminator with competitive prices.
Sweet Baking Soda
Baking soda has several do-it-yourself household applications, and it costs next to nothing. To create a substance that is harmless to you and the environment but deadly to roaches, mix baking soda (45%), powdered sugar (45%), and powdered yeast (10%) together. The sugar attracts roaches, and the baking soda and yeast kill them. This simple DIY solution is highly effective.
Some pest control problems require the services of a professional exterminator. If you are looking for an experienced NYC exterminator whose pest control methods are chemical-free and cost-effective, call Wipeout Exterminating at (347) 632-0836 today.
Last updated 4 months ago
Bed bugs do not like to be disturbed, which is one of the reasons why they can be so difficult to locate once they have taken up residence inside your home. To learn about some of the most common places bed bugs hide when they are not busy snacking on you at night, watch this informational video.
You’ll hear from an established research entomologist who describes the places where you are most likely to find bed bugs in the home. Favorite bed bug hangouts include the cracks, crevices, and seams of box springs, headboards, couches, and sofa chairs.
One drawback to living in New York City, America’s largest metropolitan area, is that bed bugs thrive in densely populated urban areas. If you are looking for a bed bug removal expert to clear your home of bed bugs without the use of chemicals, call Wipeout Exterminating at (347) 632-0836.
Last updated 4 months ago
After being nearly eradicated from New York City for nearly half a century, bed bugs are back with a vengeance. A 2010 Health Department report revealed that New York has a higher concentration of bed bug infestations than any other U.S. city, with a reported incidence rate of one in every 14 households. Fortunately, you can take steps to prevent a bed bug infestation.
When Traveling
Many New Yorkers unknowingly bring bed bugs home with them upon returning from vacation or a business trip. To avoid being attacked by bed bugs while traveling, remove the bedding and closely examine the mattress in any hotel room you stay in. Instead of opening your luggage on the bed, open it on a table that is located far away from the bed. Closely examine your clothes and all luggage compartments before leaving your vacation or business trip locale.
Upon Returning Home
Immediately after you return home from your trip, inspect your luggage again. Wash your clothes in hot water, and freeze any delicate items that cannot be washed on a warm cycle by placing them in plastic bags or Tupperware containers in the freezer.
At Home
Even if you haven’t been traveling recently, your home may be susceptible to bed bug infestation. Reduce your risk of infestation by:
- Regularly cleaning your home, keeping an attentive eye out for bed bugs, changing bed sheets, and cleaning your headboard and all furniture located near your bed.
- Vacuuming your curtains and furniture, in addition to carpet.
- Installing a bed bug protective kit on your mattress.
- Not bringing beds or upholstery from the street into your home.
- Storing your coat on a high coat rack while you are at work and checking your briefcase or purse before heading home at the end of each day.
By following these recommended practices, you will be less likely to experience a bed bug infestation than most of your New York neighbors. If you suspect that bed bugs have found their way into your home, contact a bed bug removal expert right away. For environmentally friendly bed bug extermination services from a highly recommended pest control company, call Wipeout Exterminating at (347) 632-0836!
Last updated 4 months ago
Bed bug removal and pest control are important topics that any homeowner should know a little bit more about. To find out more about pest control, call Wipeout Exterminating at (347) 632-0836 and check out these websites:
- Bed bugs aren’t just for beds anymore. This article discusses how these insects are common even inside public libraries.
- The Illinois Department of Public Health has an excellent webpage aboutrodent colonies and their impact on large cities.
- Rodent infestations are serious matters: One man recently lost his entire home to a fire caused by squirrels eating through the electrical wiring. Find out more by clicking this link.
- Bed bug-sniffing dogs are becoming a common line of defense against pests. This article from Reuters reports on two bed bug-sniffing dogs recently put to work by the New York City Housing Inspection team.
- Many experts blame the resurgence of bed bugs on the increase in international travel, so it should come as no surprise that airplanes can be infested by bed bugs. Forbes.com reports on the subject.
Last updated 4 months ago
New York is arguably the greatest city on earth, but the bad part about living in any city is that pests are present throughout the year and infestations may have to be handled by an exterminator. Because there are so many climate-controlled buildings around, bugs and rodents can infest an area irrespective of the season. However, there are certain pests that you’re more likely to encounter during the winter. The nuisances that come in from the cold include:
Cockroaches
Cockroaches may be found indoors at any day of the year, but as the city cools off after a long, warm summer, the cockroaches flee the inhospitable outdoors and move indoors. Your kitchen or bathroom cabinets, particularly those that contain plumbing, are especially attractive to cockroaches. The cabinets are damp, warm, and close to food, creating the ideal environment for a cockroach. Expect to see a surge in the number of roaches and roach droppings during the winter months.
Rodents
Because they’re warm-blooded mammals, rodents such as rats and mice always seek out the warmest environment. While they might be content to forage through dumpsters during the spring and summer, when it’s snowy outside, they’d much rather be inside your house. A rodent infestation is an extremely serious problem. Cockroaches can cause or exacerbate asthma, but rodents can actually carry diseases and even cause house fires. These animals like to live in your walls, attics, and any space between apartment floors—all places that contain electrical wiring. Rodents chew through this wiring, which can cause sparks and eventually an electrical fire. Besides being potentially dangerous, rodents are always a nuance, chewing through and getting into food, clothing, and other items. It’s imperative to call a pest control company as soon as you notice rodent droppings.
If you’re concerned about the presence of seasonal pests in your New York City home, call Wipeout Exterminating. Wipeout Exterminating is a chemical-free green exterminator that specializes in ridding your home of pests without using harmful toxins. We also specialize in bed bug removal. For more information, call us at (347) 632-0836 today.
