How keep your house Pest Free?

By the time you notice a rodent, cockroach or other insect crawling through your home; it may already be too late. The sign of a single pest can indicate a much larger problem.

- Seal any cracks in walls or window and door casings and repair screens. Address leaks around sinks or plumbing. Moisture draws insects and rodents.

- Keep tree branches trimmed and avoid placing mulch close to the home foundation. Not doing so invites termites (who love moisture) and other insects to seek cracks and crevices.

- Clean gutters and downspouts. Don’t neglect outdoor fountains. Stagnant water and moist clogs in guttering draws insects.

- Avoid piled up trash and recycle bins. These are smorgasbords for mice, ants and spiders.

- Don’t stack wood near the house. Mice and spiders will ride into the house with the kindling.

- Avoid leaving pet food unattended outside, as it will draw mice and raccoons, ants and other insects.

- Don’t leave pet food unattended inside the house, either. Store dog food in a sealed plastic container.

- Vacuum and sweep floors and wipe kitchen counters frequently.

When mice or ants can’t find anything to feast on, they often don’t stick around. It’s also important to remember that weather can influence the behavior of certain pests. Rodents are more likely to enter the home in the winter, while bugs and insects will tend to visit during the warmer months.

Even though there are precautions you can take to help repel pests, it may be necessary to have a professional check your home, especially if you live in a wooded area or by water.

Getting rid of spiders:

These eight-legged creatures lurk around in the dark corners of your house. Before you try using any product to get rid of spiders, you may want to consider clearing up your house so that these spiders don't find a cosy environment to settle into.

- Lemon oil is a natural deterrent for spiders. They can taste the lemon oil with their legs and get repelled by it. Scrub down your cupboards, windows or spots where you normally find spiders with it.

- You can also try leaving eucalyptus leaves or baking soda in corners where you usually find spiders. They are also natural repellents.

Having said that, spiders eat cockroaches and other bugs, so having a few around your house (as long as they are not poisonous) may not be such a bad idea.

Getting rid of cockroaches:

It is usually said that after a nuclear blast, the only creatures surviving will be cockroaches. So is there any way of getting rid of these drain crawlers naturally?

- Bay leaves will help you get rid of cockroaches without killing them. Crush some up and place in your kitchen, drains and bathroom cabinets.

- Mix one cup baking soda with one spoon of sugar. Scatter it around the house. The sugar ends up attracting cockroaches whereas the baking soda works as poison.

Getting rid of ants:

These sturdy little creatures will somehow find their way to your kitchen if you've left food outside and they won't come alone. You'll usually find ants following each other to the food and back. The trick is to avoid letting them seek out your food.

- The simple things that you can do include keeping your kitchen clean, ensuring all the plates are washed immediately after eating, keeping your ants-attracting food like your honey jar in a bowl of water.

- Try using vinegar to wipe your kitchen top if you notice ant activity. The vinegar smell is a major repellent for ants.

- Try marking your kitchen area with turmeric, cinnamon or lemon oil. As far as ants are concerned, these are extremely effective in keeping your house ants free.