In this article, we’ve put together a set of tips to get rid of two very different, yet very common pests found in the home i.e., bed bugs and ants, so that you can transform your home into a pest-free zone.
Before following the instructions mentioned below, make sure you protect your skin and clothes. Other than that, follow the safety instructions on the product labels you choose to use. If in doubt, consult a pest control professional.
Remain vigilant long after you have eliminated pests from your home and maintain a regular cleaning routine to prevent problems from reoccurring.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs:
The key to getting rid of them is to be meticulous in carrying out the following steps:
Locate the main source of the bedbugs. This can be surprisingly difficult to do as bed bugs can live for long periods of time away from the host. Check the bed-frames, mattresses, any cracks or crevices in your furniture, walls, or appliances.
Don’t just keep looking in your bedroom; they like warm comfy places like sofas and car seats too.
Here are a few tips to help you get rid of bed bugs quickly:
Consider throwing away any infested removable items like mattresses, duvets and pillows
Wash all your bedding in a hot wash with Omo Sensitive, followed by tumble-drying where it is possible to kill any remaining eggs with heat
Then, vacuum your mattress and bedframe thoroughly to make sure any bedbugs or eggs are completely removed
Apply an insecticide according to the safety and usage instructions on the label
Zip your mattress into a bedbug encasement to prevent any remaining bugs from emerging to snack on you while you’re sleeping
Make regular checks for repopulation**.** Bed bugs breed rapidly and can live on an average 4-5 months without feeding, which means you should remain vigilant, even when you’ve performed the above steps meticulously. Tell-tale signs of repopulation are red or brown smudges on your sheets and itchy bites on your body.
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How to Get Rid of Ants
Next up – ants! Though these little insects seem like harmless pests – they don’t live on human blood like bed bugs, but they can quickly overrun a kitchen, particularly if you leave food lying out. Here are a few tips to help you get rid of ants quickly:
Wipe your surfaces clean of ant trails. Hopefully, ants tend to walk a fairly predictable route from their nest to your worktop by following scent trails other ants have left behind. This means if you watch ants for long enough, you can locate their point of entry and figure out where they’re heading next. Use a large sponge and soapy water to wash ants from your work surfaces and down your sink, and then follow up by removing the scent trail with a diluted white vinegar solution.
Block the point of entry. Ants tend to walk up walls and like to get into your home through cracks in window and door frames. Make sure these potential entry points are as sealed as possible (fill in any holes etc.) and then draw chalk lines in front of these thresholds to stop ants from attempting to cross into your home.
Locate and eliminate the nest. The last solution. If you can’t find or seal the point of entry, destroy the nest. Pouring boiling water on top is enough to destroy a colony.
Take precautionary measures. If you keep your kitchen and dining room clean and crumb-free, you’re less likely to have a problem with ants. Don’t leave food out in the counter and place opened packages in jars.
Key steps:
Locate the source of the infestation.
Eliminate any visible pests.
Sanitise the area to prevent future problems.
Vacuum the walls, floor, and furniture.
Spray the furniture with insecticide. Wear protective clothing, and keep the room well ventilated.
Launder soft items like toys, clothes, and towels in a hot wash, followed by tumble drying.
Seal other removable items in plastic bags to prevent bed bugs from escaping and place these in the sun, or the freezer for 12 hours to kill off any life inside.
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