I’m a pest terminator – the trick to banishing pesky flies, slugs and spiders from your home
WHETHER it’s ants invading the kitchen or moths chomping through your clothes, unwelcome house ‘visitors’ can be a real pain – and difficult to get rid of.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to get rid of them, and also to deter them trying to live in your home in the first place.
And there are some common culprits at this time of year, with Robert Collins at Myjobquote.co.uk revealing: “You’re more likely to see carpet beetles, rats, mice, mosquitos, flies and ants especially during the spring and summer months.”
Here, Robert, Fantastic Services pest control expert Jordan Foster and experts from HomeServe share their top tips to banish all unwanted creatures and creepy crawlies…
Rats
Rodents are the biggest home intruder according to HomeServe – responsible for 56 per cent of their extermination calls.
Damage to the home is commonplace with rodents chewing through wires, damaging furniture or even creating fire hazards by nesting around electrical items.
My Job Quote pro Robert says: “Rats really don’t like onions.
“Just the scent of an onion is one of the best non-toxic ways to get rid of rats from your garden.
“Cut a few onions into slices and spread these slices around the edge of your garden or close to any visible entry points.
“Research has proven that rats are also smart enough to sense any
threats within their surroundings.
“A great way to deter rats is to place feathers from their natural predators close to their habitats or close to any visible entry points to your garden!”
Flies
It will soon be that time of year when you want to open your windows – but flies instantly seem to see this as an open invite.
Fantastic Services expert Jordan says: “Do your best to keep your surroundings clean and remove any potential breeding sites for flies, such as standing water or food waste.
“Flies can be physically removed from your space using fly swatters or sticky traps.
“The best way to keep flies away is to use fly-repellent sprays or natural essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus or peppermint.
“Fly baits or insecticides can be used to eliminate flies.
“However, it is important to follow the instructions carefully and keep children and pets away from these products.
“Using an electronic fly zapper or bug zapper will attract and kill flies.
“To get rid of the infestation, consider contacting a pest control company.”
Ants
Jordan says: “Vinegar repels ants. Combine equal parts white vinegar and water and spray the solution around ant-infested areas.
“You can use vinegar to clean surfaces to remove the ants scent trail too.
“Baking soda and powdered sugar can be mixed together and sprinkled around areas where you’ve seen ants.
“Sugar attracts ants, but baking soda kills them.
“Natural ant repellents include peppermint, cinnamon, and tea tree oil.
“Mix a few drops of the oil with water and spray around areas where you have seen them.
“Food and crumbs attract ants, so keep your home clean and free of spills and crumbs, and food should be stored in airtight containers.”
Spiders
The idea that conkers will scare off your eight-legged invaders is an old wives’ tale, according to Homeserve experts, but there are other ways to deter spiders.
Jordan says: “A vacuum cleaner or broom can be used to remove spider webs, removing the spiders’ primary shelter and their main food source.”
Robert adds: “Use peppermint oil – Peppermint oil emits a strong scent which repels spiders.
“Add 15 – 20 drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle with water and spritz this in any areas where you’ve noticed spiders in the home.
“Vinegar also works in the same way as peppermint oil. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water and spritz around your home.
“Alternatively, spider catchers are also great devices for humanely removing spiders from your home.
“The device holds the spider securely in the fibres so you can move it
outdoors to be released.”
Moths
The presence of moths can be a nuisance, especially if they damage your clothes or other fabrics.
Jordan says: “Keep your storage spaces clean and well-ventilated, as moths are attracted to dirty, dark and undisturbed areas.
“Use moth-repellent sprays, sachets, or natural oils such as lavender, cedarwood, or eucalyptus to repel moths.
“Moth traps containing sticky substances or pheromones attract and capture adult moths.
“Wash clothes and fabrics thoroughly before storing them, and place them in airtight containers.
“To remove moth larvae, vacuum the affected areas thoroughly, then dispose of the vacuum bag immediately.”
Always keep seasonal clothes vacuum packed in the wardrobe, and open food in the pantry stored in sealed containers too.
Slugs
Homeserve experts recommend using copper tape to stop slugs in their tracks.
Slugs enter buildings in search of food and will remain in any damp areas, for example a damp cellar or behind kitchen appliances.
In the first instance, it’s important to identify their entry point and block them with a sealant to stop them being able to come into the house.
You can also stick copper tape across common entry points as the tape will emit a small charge and stop the slug going any further.
For slugs which are already in the house, you can use salt to dehydrate and kill them.
Ask for help
Finally, if you have unsuccessfully tried to deal with your pest solution yourself, it would be wise to call in a trusted specialist to help you get to the root of the issue.
They’ll have specialised equipment and training to help get your home pest free, and will advise on how to stop the problem from recurring.