Pesticides are chemicals that are used to either kill or damage pests. Insecticides are used to control insects, herbicides are used to control weeds, fungicides are used to control fungus and moulds, and rodenticides are used to control rodents. Insects such as flies, cockroaches, and mosquitoes, as well as rodents such as mice and rats, when observed inside or outside the home, can all be considered household pests.
Household insecticides can be purchased at supermarkets or hardware stores and are intended for use around the home or garden by homeowners. Although home insecticides are widely available, this does not imply that they are safe.
They are poisonous, and if used recklessly, they may harm the user’s health, as well as the health of their family, pets, and the environment.
Why Do You Need to Prepare Your Home for Pest Control?
Pest control services, in general, do not include the preparation of your house for treatment. This involves removing food or clothing from the area of concern, or moving furniture, and other large household items away from the region that has the suspected infestation.
Nonetheless, after completing a site risk assessment, a reputable pest control company should be able to provide you with advice, guiding you through the dos and don’ts of prepping your house for a thorough assessment and treatment.
The objective here is to guarantee that the treatment goes off without a hitch, but more importantly, that you cover all of your bases and that no area remains untreated. Otherwise, sloppy preparation might lead to unsatisfactory outcomes or, worse, increase the chances of re-infestation.
Choosing Which Pesticides Are Safe For Indoors
When insecticides are used indoors, there are some safety protocols to follow:
- Before spraying aerosol (spray) insecticides, cover or remove bird cages and fish tanks, and transfer other pets to a location a safe distance from the source of the pest infestation. Many insecticides are lethal to birds and fish.
- Remove (or cover) any food, cooking utensils, and personal objects from the treatment area. Post-treatment and before preparing any meals, thoroughly clean the kitchen benches.
- Avoid using surface sprays in places that are frequently handled by family members, such as furniture. Surface sprays should only be used in low touch point areas, such as along skirting boards.
- Leave the room while the pesticide is permeating the space. When safe to return, open the windows to let the air out and increase natural airflow.
- After taking preventative measures, you can utilise baits as a first line of chemical defence against insects or rodents. These are often effective and may be used with little danger of pesticide exposure as long as they are kept out of the reach of children and pets.
- Pesticides that are not included in baits or traps should typically be administered to specific areas rather than sprayed across the entire room. Moreover, many chemicals designed for outdoor usage are harmful to use indoors because they remain poisonous for longer indoors than they do outside.
Choosing Which Pesticides Are Safe For Outdoors
When insecticides are used outdoors, there are some safety considerations:
- Before using the insecticide near your home, make sure all doors and windows are closed.
- Do not use pesticides outside on wet or windy days. The weather can affect the pesticide’s efficacy and cause harm to other animals, people, and the environment.
- Before spraying the insecticide, cover fish ponds, grills, and vegetable gardens.
- Relocate pets and take their bedding, food, and water dishes to a safe and distant location.
- Do not water your garden after a pesticide or insecticide is applied. There should be a waiting period advised before watering can resume
- Monitor plants and birds for a few days following the application to ensure that the pesticide is not causing undue harm.
- Inform your neighbours if any external pesticides are being applied.
- For rainwater tanks, it is important to ensure precautions are taken to avoid over-spraying onto the roof and surrounding guttering. If there is a chance that pesticide residue can wash into the tank, you should divert the collecting hose away from the tank until after the next rain period.
Before Having Pest Control Services
While the precise directions to follow may vary depending on the situation, there are some general actions you can undertake to prepare before the pest control services arrive. No matter what sort of pest you have, it is critical to notify the provider if anybody in the home is pregnant, under the age of one, or has any known allergies so that appropriate measures and any extra precautions may be followed.
Make sure the technician is aware of any pets you have, and keep their food and bedding well away from the treatment location. To protect cages or tanks from treatment, it may be essential to cover them or transfer them temporarily.
Other general actions you may take before a pest control company booking include:
- Keeping a record of places you’ve spotted bugs within your home.
- Get rid of bugs and eggs by mopping the floors and cleaning the carpets.
- Store your household items and food properly.
- Move heavy furnishings and any appliances from proximity to the walls.
The amount of preparation will frequently rely on the sort of treatment performed by the pest control company, whether it is bait, fumigation, or other chemical treatments. To guarantee safety and the greatest results, make sure to follow the recommendations supplied by your pest control provider.
Preparing For Ant Control
Ants are generally exterminated using pesticides carefully placed around your property. To provide the greatest results from the pest control service, it is important to properly clean your home. Vacuuming, wiping up spills, and sweeping floors thoroughly, concentrating on the removal of any crumbs, to encourage the ants to visit the bait stations. Similarly, removing any exposed food from cabinets and benchtops and storing it in ant-proof containers will assist overall.
Preparing For Termite Control
Termites are generally managed by establishing bait stations around the perimeter of the building, administering liquid treatments along the foundation, and/or spot treating the termite-infested portion of the wooden structure with a termiticide that will kill the colony.
The treatments are not harmful to the household, but it’s always important to be prepared and ensure that no indicators of termite activity are overlooked. Following preparatory instructions is critical to ensuring the treatment’s effectiveness.
Here are some things you can do to ensure your home is ready for a termite inspection:
- Remove any furniture and items from near the wall and ensure all locations are available for easy access for an examination so that any indicators of termite activity are not overlooked.
- Allow as much natural light inside by opening all blinds to the house, for the inspection and access to window frames.
These procedures will make it simpler for pest control specialists to identify and then eradicate termites from your house swiftly and efficiently.
Preparing For Cockroach Control
Cockroach control, like ant removal, needs a clean house for the pests to be more attracted to the bait. Any food that is easily accessible should be covered and carefully stored.
To remove any visible cockroaches or eggs, you can use a vacuum, but remember to remove the bag and clean the vacuum afterwards. You should also take out the rubbish every night to avoid drawing roaches to the rubbish bins inside your home.
Preparing For Flea Control
Fleas may spread throughout your home, from your pet to your household furniture. It is critical to coordinate flea eradication from all available sources at the same time to ensure that no sources of infection remain. Here are some general guidelines to take to prepare for flea control:
- Launder all pet and human bedding in hot water.
- Vacuum carpets and mop floors, paying special attention to walls and corners, and bringing dirty vacuum bags outside after usage.
- Thoroughly clean any furniture coverings with hot water or a vacuum.
- While the house is being sprayed, take any pets to the vet for flea checks and/or treatment. Plan to stay away from the house for a couple of hours or until the pest inspector advises it’s safe to return.
Following these measures will assist in removing fleas from your home and preventing their recurrence.
Preparing For Rodent Control
If you discover indications of a rat or mouse in your home, chances are there are more lurking behind the walls. To eliminate these pests, you must first prepare your house for rodent management.
This may be accomplished by taking the following simple procedures before service:
- Keep all food, including packaged items, in cans, jars, the refrigerator, or a sturdy plastic container in a closed cupboard.
- Repair any gaps in the walls or baseboards, and seal any doors that do not fully close.
- Remove appliances from benchtops or from under the kitchen sink if this is where evidence of rodents can be found.
- Clean the floors and take away the rubbish regularly to eliminate any food sources.
Keeping your home clean can assist in driving any rodents in your home to the pest control service’s traps. This will aid in the removal of any concealed rodents from your property.
Preparing For Spider Control
Following standard pest control procedures such as vacuuming, keeping the home neat, and making the home accessible for treatment can help to prepare the home for spider management. If you come across any cobwebs while cleaning, carefully remove them and any visible spiders.
A spider infestation is sometimes an indication that you may have other pests in your house. A pest control service can assist you in managing any infestations to keep your house pest-free.
After Having Pest Control Services Undertaken
In general, there are after-service recommendations to ensure that the treatment is as successful and safe as possible. Each treatment procedure will have a different time frame recommendation before returning to the premises, so make sure to follow the professional’s directions.
It is important to ensure that the location is well-ventilated and safe to enter post-treatment. Furthermore, avoid spraying insecticides or using harsh cleaning solutions in the treated regions as these chemicals may interact with pest control treatments, reducing their efficacy.
Finally, keep children and pets away from bait as well as any treated surfaces. Following the right steps before and after your pest control treatment will assist in keeping your family healthy and your home pest-free.
Key Points
The actions you must take to ensure that you obtain the greatest outcomes from the service are just as essential as the steps you must take to prepare for the treatment.
Different pests behave in different ways. Pests can be removed more quickly and with less chance of harm to other creatures by identifying the troublesome species. Professional pest treatment always begins with identifying the pest of concern.
Make sure that your pest treatment professional has received extensive training in pest identification, behaviour and treatment.
And because pest control is a continuous prevention process, periodically monitoring your home for signs of insect activity as well as implementing changes in line with best practices for keeping pests at bay, may assist in guarding against infestations in the future
Contact us for more information about pest control preparations.