Keep Your Home Pest Free After Summer Vacation

Keep Your Home Pest Free After Summer Vacation

May 11, 2018 | Pest Control

As summer approaches we kick off the start of vacation season. We’ll soon be taking advantage of warm weather, sunshine, and school getting out to take off to the beach, camping in the mountains, or just visiting out of town relatives. But people aren’t the only ones hitting the road – pests take advantage of our travels to hitch a ride back home with us too! What can you do to keep these pests from turning your home into an insect’s paradise? Check out these tips to keep your home pest free this summer.

In The Car:

Bed bugs, fleas, ticks, spiders, and roaches like to catch a ride with you from destination to destination, especially on road trips.

  • Keep car windows closed as much as possible when you’re on the road, especially when you drive through wooded areas.
  • Keep the interior of your car clean and dehumidified.
  • Clean up any food and drink spills immediately.
  • When you arrive at your destination check the sheets, carpet, curtains, and bathrooms for any signs of pests.
  • Elevate your bags in the room and keep them sealed tightly when they’re not in use.
  • Check your socks and the inside of your shoes every morning before you put them on.

On A Plane:

Silverfish, bed bugs, and even moths can hitch a ride in your suitcase. You can pick these up in hotels, your relatives’ homes, and even in the airport.

  • Keep your bags sealed when you’re not using them, whether it’s in a hotel, in your car, in the airport, or on a plane).
  • Wash and dry your clothes as soon as you get home.
  • Don’t keep food in your carry-on bags.
  • Don’t take any trash off the plane when you disembark.
  • Once you unpack, put your bags in the dryer for at least 20 minutes.
  • Inspect everything you bring home for pests, even after you wash and dry it.

In The Woods:

Camping is one of the most challenging environments for pest control. Let’s face it – pests live outdoors!

  • Keep your food in sealed containers and make sure to store them at least 10 feet from your camp site and at least 8 feet in the air.
  • Make sure you store your firewood at least 20 feet away from your camp site.
  • Seal your sleeping bags inside your tent when you’re not using them.
  • Check your sleeping bags for pests every night before getting in them.
  • Sleep under a mosquito net.
  • Wear bug spray.
  • Dispose of any food scraps immediately.
  • Wash and dry all of your things as soon as you get home, including your tent, your sleeping bags, your clothes, and even yourself).
  • Check your whole body, especially any skin folds for ticks.

In Someone’s Home:

One place we don’t often think about picking up unwanted pests is in the homes of our relatives. Pests, however, don’t discriminate – they can be found in even the cleanest of homes.

  • Inspect the furniture where you’re staying as soon as you arrive for signs of pests.
  • Change the sheets upon arrival.
  • Don’t hang your clothes up in the closet.
  • Elevate your bags and keep them tightly sealed when they’re not in use.
  • Wash and dry your clothes and bags immediately when you get home.

If you suspect a pest problem when you get back from vacation, contact a pest control professional for a thorough inspection.

The Summer Big Three: Roaches, Mosquitoes, & Termites

The Summer Big Three: Roaches, Mosquitoes, & Termites

May 4, 2018 | Mosquito, Pest Control, Termite Control

As we approach the warmer and more humid months, the chance of encountering pests increases. While some are more occasional invaders, there are some that will make it a point to stick around.

Cockroaches

With the weather changing and a large amount of rain in the forecast, your home provides cockroaches with shelter and an ever-flowing food source. The larger roaches you may encounter are more than likely American cockroaches; an infestation that is normally easy to stop with a quarterly pest service. However, if you notice smaller roaches in the kitchen and/or bathroom of your home, you may be dealing with German cockroaches. They are a much harder infestation to control and will usually require a monthly treatment by your exterminator.

Mosquitoes

There is a consensus in the South that mosquitoes are despised, and we would all like them gone. Unfortunately, they seem to be here to stay, as they thrive in this area due to the humid climate. Also, because of where we are located, our mosquito season starts before other regions in the U.S. They are more of a hazard than just a casual annoyance; mosquito bites have the potential to spread diseases like Malaria, Dengue, and Zika. At Northwest, our Mosquito Reduction Service reduces adult mosquitoes and limits mosquito breeding around your home, reducing your risk of mosquito bites and mosquito diseases.

Termites

In the pest world, we refer to the warmer months as “swarm season.” This is when pests that have been overwintering emerge and begin to swarm. Termites only swarm once a year and, here in the South, the type you will see swarming are Subterranean termites. The ones you see flying around your home are not the ones that will cause destruction; however, it’s a sign that a termite colony is nearby. A termite inspection by a professional exterminator will not only look for signs of termite damage around your home but will also provide you with a personalized plan for treatment, if damage is found, and prevention moving forward.

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