6 steps to get rid of fleas in your home

A flea infestation can irritate everyone in your household – these nasty little parasites don’t mind who they bite. Fleas are also notoriously difficult to get rid of once they’ve set up home, due to the rate at which they reproduce and the extent to which they can spread throughout the house. You need a solid plan of action to quickly and permanently oust them.

If you discover fleas on your dog or cat, how can you make sure you’re dealing with the whole problem? The secret is a dual approach: treat not just your pet, but also your home.

How to get rid of fleas from your home

1. Treat your pet and all other animals. Even if you’ve only seen fleas on one pet, assume your other pets have them as well. Maintain a regular, long-term treatment schedule for each pet to help stop an infestation in its tracks and reduce the risk of re-infestations in the future.

2. Wash your pet’s bedding using the hottest possible wash setting. The hot water will help kill any remaining eggs or larvae. This is an essential step for eliminating all the fleas on your first attempt. Wash the bedding in this manner at least once a week for three to eight weeks. Place bedding outside in direct sunlight to dry. If your pet likes to sleep in other places like your bed, make sure you wash this too.

3. Vacuum all the floors, carpets, rugs and sofas regularly and thoroughly. Remember to empty your vacuum cleaner and dispose of the bag after each use to prevent eggs from hatching inside, which can lead to another flea infestation in the future. Continue to vacuum at least every other day for three to eight weeks.

4. Use a veterinary-approved household flea spray or a flea fogger throughout your home. Make sure to follow the instructions and thoroughly treat your pet’s favourite haunts. Read the label and instructions to keep your pets safe from any potentially harmful chemicals while you treat your home. The pupae stage of the flea (the stage just before fleas become adults) are notoriously hard to kill. It is recommended you vacuum before using any chemicals, to stimulate the pupae to hatch, so the adults can be exposed to the chemicals and killed.

5. Don’t forget to address common flea hiding spots. Fleas love to hide in cars and behind and under furniture – but people often forget about these spaces. Remember to vacuum any fabric surfaces inside your car, and make sure your pet sits on a blanket that can be changed and washed regularly. Treat areas behind and under furniture by vacuuming and following up with a flea spray.

6. Clean all of your dog’s or cat’s soft toys. Even your dog’s beloved squeaky plush or your cat’s toy mouse can harbour flea eggs and larvae. If these toys can’t be washed, they may have to be thrown away.

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What is the Difference Between a Pest Control Expert and an Exterminator?

No one ever wants to find bugs, rodents, and other pests within their home. When they do, the first thought is generally how to get rid of them as soon as possible. If you have found yourself in this situation, your first thought may be to contact an exterminator that can eliminate the problem. At one time, any person that eradicated a home of pests was known as an exterminator, and that was the case up until the 1970s. Today though, pest control has come a long way.

While exterminators still certainly exist, there is another branch of pest control that is more effective, safer for humans and pets in the home, which is more often than not the better answer. Upon spotting pests in your home, you may not actually want to call an exterminator. Instead, you may find it better to contact a pest control expert.

The Goals of Pest Control Experts and Exterminators

Although pest control experts and exterminators have many differences between them, they also have one common goal. That is to eliminate any pest you may have in your home, regardless of whether you are dealing with bed bugs, rodents, termites, or any other pest. When determining whether you want to hire a pest control expert or an exterminator, it will depend on the methods they use, and which ones you believe are best for you, your home, and the people within it.

The Methods Exterminators Use

When you imagine ridding your home of certain pests, you may envision your entire home being tented while you have to leave the premises for several days on end. This method is still applicable in some situations, but an exterminator may use them regardless of the type of pest you are dealing with. An exterminator’s job is simply to eradicate the pests from your property, using whatever means necessary.

To do this, exterminators often use dangerous pesticides, and will simply apply them to every corner of the home. They do not generally have any regard for what types of pest control methods are considered safe, or how they will affect the people and pets within the home. As long as the pests are gone when the exterminators are finished their job, they consider it a job well done and will move onto another property.

The Methods Used by Pest Control Experts

Like exterminators, pest control experts will also employ methods that will get rid of the different pests in your home. The difference is the procedures they will use when doing it.

Put quite simply, pest control experts are not only there to get rid of the bugs and leave until they have to come back to do the job again. Although sometimes ongoing pest control services are necessary, pest control experts will find the root cause of the problem so that they can more effectively correct it.

For example, if the pest you were trying to eliminate were mice, a pest control expert would find how they were getting into the home, block those access areas, while also using bait and traps to get rid of the mice that had already made their way inside. Pest control experts understand how pests act and behave and therefore, it is much easier for them to identify a problem and tackle it head-on.

These methods are much more effective because they tackle the problem as a whole, not just a small portion of it. This type of method is known as integrated pest management, and it is the only method that will ensure pests are eliminated from your home, and that they do not come back.

Of course, there are other types of pests that require more than a bait and trap approach. If you are dealing with an ant problem, for example, a pest control company may have to come in and spray pesticides. While this may sound very similar to the job of an exterminator, it is quite different. The pesticides that pest control experts employ are generally much safer to use, both for the professional and for those inside the home. As such, you do not have to leave your home, but your pests do. When there are any dangers associated with a certain pesticide or other chemical, a pest control expert will warn you of those dangers and advise on how to protect yourself.

Our Pest Control Experts in the Northwest can Help with Your Pest Problems

When you find pests in your home, it is crucial to understand the difference between an exterminator and a pest control expert. At Pest Control Expert, our pest control experts know the methods that are effective at eliminating pests from your property and ensuring they do not come back. We understand the importance of dealing with the entire problem and not just one aspect of it. If you have pests in your home, call us today at +1 (213) 600 5328 or contact us online to request a quote and to learn more about how our methods can help.

5 Methods of Bee Removal Without Killing Them

The honey bee population is dwindling. Bees are some of the most important insects out there because they pollinate, allowing food to grow. Farmers even rent beehives to pollinate their crops. So if you have a bee problem, it’s best to get rid of them without killing them. Also, who doesn’t like honey? Without honey bees, we have no honey. So here are a few methods to get rid of bees without killing them.

Smoke

Smoke is probably the most effective way of getting honey bees away from your home and keeping them away. Honey bees are very sensitive to smell and when they smell smoke they think it’s a forest fire, causing them to leave and most likely never come back. Build a smoky fire with cardboard and dead firewood right under the beehive. Don’t stick around to watch the bees get smoked out. They will become aggressive when agitated so it’s best to go back inside.

Garlic Spray

Once again, bees have a strong sense of smell and we all know garlic has a very strong scent. Crush a couple of cloves of garlic and mix it with water to create a garlic spray. Spray it around your home and around their hive to try to get them to leave.

Citronella

Citronella works on mosquitos and bees. If you have beehive inside, then you can use citronella candle to get them to leave. It won’t harm them, but it will take a while to get them to leave. You’ll have to leave the candles burning for a few days in order for it to be effective. If it’s windy outside or raining then the bees won’t go out into it, so make sure you do this on a day when it will work best.

Peppermint

Peppermint has a very strong smell that honey bees don’t like. If you have a particular area of your home that you don’t want bees to frequent, plant peppermint plants. You’ll drive the bees away, plus you’ll get to use the peppermint when needed.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon’s strong smell repels honey bees. Spread it over the areas that you want to repel the bees. You’ll have to do this daily for about a week for it to last longer. This method works well if you want to drive bees away from your home, but not completely out of your yard. If you don’t mind having bees around, but don’t want them around your porch or doors, then this method should work for you.

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5 BEST WAYS TO GET RID OF COCKROACHES

Not sure how to get rid of cockroaches? You’re not alone. Cockroaches are one of the most common household pests in the world.

On average, roaches can range anywhere from one-half to 3 inches long. The three most common cockroaches in the United States are the German, Oriental and American roach. Different roaches can be attracted to your home for different reasons. Knowing the type of roach you are dealing with can help when deciding how to get rid of them. For instance, the most common roach found indoors is the German roach. The German roach is attracted to water. Reducing access to water sources in your home can help reduce a roach infestation.

There are plenty of other prevention methods as well, such as daily cleaning and proper food storage, to prevent an infestation. But how do you get rid of cockroaches once they have already entered your home?

Roaches enter homes in search of food, water and shelter. Once they have infested an area, they can multiply quickly, posing a threat to your comfort and health. It is important to get rid of cockroaches before an infestation occurs. Roaches are known to carry bacteria that can result in food poisoning, diarrhea, allergies and skin rashes. In large numbers they can also produce a foul odor.

Before deciding how to kill roaches in your home, it is best to develop a plan. The most effective roach control typically requires more than one type of treatment method.

HOW TO ELIMINATE COCKROACHES

• IDENTIFY PROBLEM AREAS WITH FLASHLIGHT AND GLUE STRIPS

When considering what cockroach control method to use, it is best to first examine your home for possible roach infestation sites. Do this by using a flashlight to search popular roach hiding spots, including behind the refrigerator, under the sink, crevices in cabinets and shelves, closet door corners, bathroom cabinets and closets.

Use roach glue strips to locate large infestations. Based on your flashlight inspection, decide on the most strategic areas to place strips. Monitor those areas for a few days to a week. Strips in high-traffic areas will catch the most roaches, and these areas will need the most treatment.

• USE CAULK TO CLOSE GAPS TO PREVENT FURTHER INFESTATION

Traps can be effective in reducing existing roach populations, but they won’t get rid of roaches on the outside trying to break in. To prevent a roach infestation from expanding, use caulk to fill possible entry points, including gaps between walls or tile, small crevices and entry holes. It will also help to use weather stripping on doors and window seals.

• PLACE GEL BAIT BAIT STATIONS TO EFFECTIVELY REDUCE ROACH POPULATION

Gel bait can be an effective roach killer. Gel bait usually comes in the form of a tube and can be applied under baseboards, in cracks and crevices, and near areas that are most likely to attract roaches. While gel bait can be effective in getting rid of roaches, it can also result in a number of dead roaches lying around your home.

Another popular method when deciding how to kill cockroaches is the use of bait stations. Bait stations work by attracting roaches into stations to feed on poison. The poisoned roach then travels back to its home location, dies and is eaten by the other roaches, further passing on the poison. Bait stations work partially to get rid of roaches, but do not target all roaches in a home. They also pose an issue because they contain poison and look unappealing when scattered around your home. Some roach hotels only contain glue to trap the roaches, not bait and poison them.

• BORIC ACID POWDER FOR ADDED EFFECTIVENESS

Boric acid, a substance found in products like clothing detergent and toothpaste, can be one of the best roach killers. Unfortunately, it is also easily misapplied and subject to displacement by air currents, sending the material into areas where children and pets can come into contact with it. Made by chemically combining boron and water, boric acid is low in toxicity to people and pets but deadly to cockroaches. When used incorrectly, boric acid will lose effectiveness and is not typically recommended as the sole method for getting rid of cockroaches.

• PEST MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL

Hiring a Pest Control Expert specialist to treat a roach infestation can increase safety, offer a more effective approach to getting rid of cockroaches and provide an ongoing solution to cockroach control. It also eliminates the need to have traps scattered around your home.