Pest control: Practical tips by animal

Troubled by fruit flies, mosquitoes, flies, wasps, spiders, mice, rats, martens, pigeons, gulls or even raccoons? Learn to control pests thanks to our practical tips by species!

Contents

• Fighting Insects
  • Bees
  • Fruit Flies
  • House dust mite
  • Cockroaches
  • Ants
  • Moths
  • Mosquitoes
  • Spiders
  • Flies
  • Wasps
  • Silverfish
• Fighting mammals
  • Marters
  • Mice
  • Rats
  • Raccoons
• Fighting birds
  • Pigeons
  • Seagulls

 

Fighting Insects

Bees

Nuisance:

• Bees have painful stings.
• The bee’s sting always breaks off and remains when it stings. Check your skin for a sting if you have been stung.
• They cause (severe) allergic reactions: anaphylactic shock.

Tips:

• Don’t walk barefoot on your grass.
• Cover food and beverages when eating outside to avoid attracting bees.
• Note: Bees are protected. You are absolutely not allowed to control them yourself. Contact a beekeeper through waspsnest.vlaanderen.

 

Fruit Flies

Nuisance:

• Fruit flies multiply quickly.
• They spread bacteria with their paws.
• They spoil fruits and vegetables when they sit on them.

Tips:

• Store fruit in the refrigerator.
• Dispose of food scraps immediately.
• Always clean your kitchen.
• Use scents that fruit flies hate such as: basil, lavender, clove or peppermint.
• Catch them:
  • Place a dish with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap to catch fruit flies.
  • Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of wine. Leave a little wine in a bottle with a narrow opening. The flies get in, but can’t get out.

 

House dust mite

Nuisance:

• House dust mites aggravate asthma.
• It causes allergies: stuffy nose, runny nose, itching of nose and eyes.

Tips:

• Use fans if necessary.
• Ventilate well, especially in the bathroom and kitchen.
• Use anti-allergenic covers for mattresses, pillows and comforters.
• Keep the bedroom below 20 degrees Celsius to limit their growth.
• Mop hard floors regularly with a damp cloth to remove dust.
• Use acaricide sprays specifically designed to kill dust mites.
• Keep humidity in the house below 50%. Use a dehumidifier if necessary.
• Vacuum regularly to effectively remove dust and mites from carpets, floors and upholstery.
• Wash bedding, pillowcases, blankets and stuffed animals weekly at at least 60 degrees Celsius to kill mites.
• Put things that cannot be washed in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for 24 hours to kill mites.
• Keep stuffed animals and other dust collectors out of bed as much as possible. Store them in locked cabinets. Wash them in advance at 60 degrees.
• Avoid thick carpets, heavy curtains and fabric upholstery. Opt for leather or vinyl furniture and wood or tile floors.

 

Cockroaches

Nuisance:

• Cockroaches transfer bacteria to food.
• They spread a foul odor.

Tips:

• Remove food debris and dirt.
• Repel them with the smell of bay leaves.
• Cockroaches like damp places.
• Repair leaks and use dehumidifiers.
• Keep your home clean, especially the kitchen and bathroom.
• Sprinkle boric acid powder in cracks and corners. This will kill cockroaches as they walk through them.
• Use coffee grounds in traps. Place coffee grounds in a pot of water and the cockroaches will fall in and drown.

 

Ants

Nuisance:

• Ants infest food supplies with their paws.
• They make nests in structures (wooden parts in your house).

Tips:

• Store food tightly sealed.
• Keep your home clean of food scraps.
• Make a solution of vinegar and water and spray it on walkways of ants.
• Sprinkle chalk or baby powder on areas where ants enter. They do not like the feel of these powders.
• Chase them away with the scent of cinnamon. Sprinkle cinnamon powder around their entrances.

 

Moths

Nuisance:

• Moths damage clothing and textiles.
• Moths gnaw on your food supply.
• Adult moths lay eggs in these places.
• The larvae lay eggs and damage surrounding objects with their droppings

Tips:

• Keep your food tightly sealed.
• Use a natural moth spray to repel moths.
• Store clothing in airtight bags or containers to keep moths away.
• Use lavender or cedar scent in your closet to deter moths.
• Clean your closets and drawers regularly to remove moths and their eggs.
• Place clothing that may be infested in the freezer for 48 hours to kill moths and their eggs.

 

Mosquitoes

Nuisance:

• Mosquitoes disturb your sleep by their sound.
• The bites itch and cause discomfort.

Tips:

• Place screens in front of windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
• Remove standing water around your home. That’s where mosquitoes breed.
• Plants such as lemongrass, lavender and catnip keep mosquitoes at bay.
• Use mosquito repellents such as DEET sprays and UV lamps that electrocute mosquitoes.
• Do you have space above and around your bed? Then hang a mosquito net. Tuck the net under the edges of your mattress.
• Mosquitoes are weak fliers and do not cope well with strong air currents. Use fans on your patio or in your home.

 

Spiders

Nuisance:

• Cobwebs are messy and unsanitary.
• Some species are poisonous: see a doctor if you suffer from the spider bite for a long time.

Tips:

• Remove cobwebs regularly with a vacuum cleaner.
• Close windows and doors tightly to keep spiders out.
• Make a solution of vinegar and water and spray it on areas where spiders frequent.
• Use scents such as peppermint oil, lemon juice, chestnuts or eucalyptus oil to repel spiders.
• Seal places where spiders hide (cracks, holes, etc).

 

Flies

Nuisance:

• Flies contaminate food with their paws.
• They make nests in structures (wooden parts in your house).

Tips:

• Keep your home clean and remove trash regularly.
• Keep your windows and doors closed or use a fly window.
• Use fly traps or sticky strips to catch flies.
• Use scents that repel flies such as white vinegar, lavender, eucalyptus, cucumber or cloves.

 

Wasps

Nuisance:

• Wasps are aggressive.
• They have painful stitches.
• They cause (severe) allergic reactions: anaphylactic shock.

Tips:

• Don’t walk barefoot on your grass.
• Place wasp traps a safe distance from your home.
• Cover food and beverages when eating outside to avoid attracting wasps.
• Engage a professional exterminator through wasp nest.vlaanderen. In most municipalities, the fire department no longer does this.
• Plant mint around your patio or use mint spray. Or roast ground coffee in a fireproof container. Wasps do not like these odors.

 

Silverfish

Nuisance:

• Silverfish damage paper, wallpaper and clothing when there are many of them.

Tips:

• Seals cracks and crevices.
• Check your home for moisture problems.
• Use of dehumidifiers if necessary.
• Keep humidity low by proper ventilation.
• Vacuum regularly to remove eggs and hiding places.
• Use lavender, lemon peel or cedarwood to deter silverfish.
• Sprinkle diatomaceous earth in cracks and seams. This natural powder kills silverfish by dehydration.
• Cut a potato in half and place it with the open side down. The silverfish will collect in it and you can easily remove them.

 

 

Fighting mammals

Marters

Nuisance:

• Marters nest in attics.
• Their droppings cause odor nuisance.
• They are active at night so you can hear them walking.
• They cause gnawing damage to (important) (car) cables and insulation.

Tips:

• Seal holes and cracks.
• Use ultrasonic deterrents that emit specific sounds.
• Seal roof openings, vents and other access points tightly.
• Store your pet’s pet food properly in a sealed storage box.
• Use scents that martens do not like such as mothballs or lavender oil.
• Do you have chickens? Then use fine mesh netting and install the mesh half a meter underground (in case the marten digs a hole).
• Note: Marters are protected by law. You can’t just fight them. If you kill it or destroy its nest, you will be fined.
• Bonus tip: Do you have more than 300 euros of marten damage? Then apply for compensation within 14 calendar days through the Nature and Forest e-counter.

 

Mice and rats

Nuisance:

• They contaminate your food.
• They can carry serious diseases.
• Their droppings have a very unpleasant odor.
• They cause gnawing damage to electrical wiring, pipes, furniture and structures.
• You can hear gnawing sounds and rustling, especially at night.

Tips:

• Engage professional pest control.
• Seals gaps and holes in walls, floors and ceilings.
• Poison can help, but be careful with pets and children.
• Use humane traps or traditional traps to catch the mice or rats.
• They don’t gnaw through aluminum foil. Use it to seal holes and cracks.
• Store food in sealed containers and keep a clean house free of food debris.
• Soak cotton balls with peppermint oil and place them on areas where they enter.

 

Raccoons

Nuisance:

• Raccoons search trash cans.
• They destroy your garden.
• They spread litter.
• They carry serious diseases.
• They nest in your attic.

Tips:

• Remove food sources from your garden.
• Make sure trash cans are securely closed.
• Use repellents such as ammonia to deter raccoons.
• Install automatic sprinklers or lights with motion sensors to chase away raccoons.
• Raccoons don’t like sudden flashes of light. Use a strobe light to scare them off.
• Raccoons are sensitive to loud noises. Use a radio to make noise in areas where raccoons frequent.

 

 

Fighting birds

Pigeons

Nuisance:

• Pigeons are pushy.
• They come close when they see food.
• Their droppings pollute your home.
• They eat seeds from freshly sown grass.
• Bonus tip: Do you have more than 300 euros of wood pigeon damage? Then apply for compensation within 14 calendar days through the Nature and Forest e-counter. You must meet the conditions.

Tips:

• Don’t feed pigeons.
• Hang a moving doll or imitation decoy.
• Use reflective objects such as CDs or special bird repellent strips to deter pigeons.
• Place nets or spikes on balconies, windowsills and roofs to prevent pigeons from landing.
• Devices are available that emit ultrasonic sounds to deter pigeons. These sounds are not audible to humans, but are audible to birds.

 

Seagulls

Nuisance:

• Seagulls make one hell of a noise.
• They behave aggressively.
• They steal food from your hands.
• Their droppings pollute your home.
• They pick open garbage bags and scatter trash.
• Bonus tip: Do you have more than 300 euros of gull damage? Then apply for compensation within 14 calendar days through the Nature and Forest e-counter.

Tips:

• Close waste bins tightly.
• Make sure there are no food scraps around your house.
• Place nets over your roof or patio to prevent gulls from nesting.
• Place a moving puppet, scarecrow or raptor silhouette to deter gulls.
• Seagulls are sensitive to laser light. Using laser pointers can help keep them away from specific areas.

 

 

Cost of professional pest control

The cost of professional pest control depends on many factors such as:

• The type of pests: species and number of animals.
• The extent of the pest infestation: size and severity.
• The location: accessibility and region.
• The treatment: the type (chemical treatment, non-chemical treatment), the products you use and the frequency.
• Additional costs: inspection, preventive measures (sealing, installing traps), quality assurance.

 

  Tips Need a pet in your house or apartment instead of pests? Then read our article: A pet in your apartment: 5 handy tips  Sources: Anticimex, Rentokill

Would you like to cite this article as a source? Then use:

Stiasteny, L. (2024, July 24). Pest control: Practical tips by animal. Apartment.com. Consulted on (date XX/XX/202X), from https://www.appartement.be /unpredators-control-thanks-practical-tips Related articles:

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