Pest-control expert Stoy Hedges provides tips on how to keep creatures from invading your home.
- If a swarm of winged ants or termites are encountered within the home, don't spray them. Instead, save a few for a professional to identify and vacuum the rest. Immediately dispose of the vacuum bag in the trash outdoors. Spraying creates an odor and a mess to be cleaned later.
- A mouse can enter through a hole as narrow as the diameter of an ink pen. To get rid of rodents, temporarily plug holes in the wall with steel wool. Use wire mesh and expanding foam for more permanent results.
- To catch fruit flies, make a vinegar trap with a cup and a piece of plastic. Punch a hole in the plastic and flies will go in, but they will not be able to get out.
- Wool clothing is subject to attack by carpet beetles and moths. These items should be cleaned prior to storage and separated from adjacent items of clothing by a cover, such as the plastic bags that dry cleaners use.
- Brushing an item of wool clothing before storing removes larvae and eggs.
- Tape along all edges of a storage box to keep silverfish and spiders from entering stored items in attics and crawl spaces.
- Mice usually enter through the garage because the door is often not sealed well. Purchase two multiple-catch traps and place them on either side of the garage door on the inside of the garage. These traps capture up to 10 mice with one setting, usually just after the critters have invaded the garage.
- Vacuuming is the best way to deal with spiders because the webs, the spider and the egg sacs are removed all at the same time. There are also products on the market that are specifically designed to get rid of cobwebs. The more often the product is used, the fewer spiders that are usually seen. It also makes spotting new spider activity easier.
Guests Stoy Hedges
Manager of Technical Services / Pest Control Operations, Terminix
Home Office
860 Ridge Lake Blvd.
Memphis, TN 38120
Toll-free: 800-937-3783
Fax: 800-377-8317
E-mail:
info@svm.com
Website:
www.terminix.com
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