Household PestsGet the creepy crawlies out of your home for good with these solutions. By ELIZABETH MILLARD

 

How To Get Rid Of Fleas, Ants, Fruit Flies, And Other Household Pests

Get the creepy crawlies out of your home for good with these solutions.

ByELIZABETH MILLARD

ANNASQERG/GETTY IMAGES

No matter where you live or how old your house or apartment may be, you’re likely at risk of hosting some very unwanted guests. Even with immaculate cleaning skills, pests can become a problem for any home—thanks to pets, frequently opening doors, and weather changes that bring bugs inside for warmth. And a dream vacation can result in a nightmare if bed bugs stowaway on your luggage. (Here are 4 simple ways to get your kitchen in tip-top shape.)

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No matter where those creepy crawlies came from, it’s time to evict. Here are some suggestions for how to prevent common household pests, and what to do if they show up anyway:

• SubscribeFLEAS

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Fleas

Feel something crawling on you, but when you look, there’s nothing there? Fleas are the likeliest culprit, says Marty Huff, a pest specialist and owner of Seattle-based Sound Pest Control. He suggests this easy way to check: Lay a white sheet on a carpeted floor and drag it across the surface of the carpet with your feet. This will disturb any fleas that are hiding, especially since they’re attracted to white surfaces. If you see them when you do this, it’s time to get to work.

Pets are the biggest source of fleas, so give yours some type of flea prevention treatment like wearable devices, spot treatments, sprays, powders, or shampoos. (Here's how to keep your pet pest-free.) For your home, flea bombs are the most effective, Huff says, but can be very toxic, so make sure your family and pets can be out of the home for at least several hours. Also, follow the instructions and buy only what you need for the square footage of your space.

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Ants

May we all have the persistence of ants. According to Timmy Griffin, pest control technician for Fantastic Pest Control in London, killing ants that are invading your home is a stopgap measure. In fact, it may even make getting rid of them completely even harder.

“Unless you find their point of entry, killing them will cause the ants to create a new trail to follow, which you won’t be able to see easily,” he says. “Then, ant removal will be harder.”

Instead, take the time to look for where they’re getting in. Griffin says sprinkling coffee grounds there and around windows and doors is a simple, non-toxic solution. Another is to dissolve 1/2 cup of sugar into a cup of warm water and add 2 tablespoons of Borax. Soak cotton pads (like the kind you’d use for makeup removal) in the solution and put them near the ants. They’ll collect the solution and bring it back to the queen, which will be fatal for her.

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Fruit flies

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Fruit flies

Fruit flies don’t usually pose any health risks and have a short life span. But boy, can they be annoying. Fortunately, they’re also easily prevented, according to Jim McHale, owner of New York-based J.P. McHale Pest Management.

As anyone with overripe bananas can report, fruit flies breed in fermenting organic matter, and true to their name, they love fruit. But they can show up with any type of spoiling food. McHale recommends cleaning up around garbage cans and fruit bowls, as well as flushing out kitchen drains with very hot water to eliminate food scraps there. (Ahem, here are 6 things you should be cleaning way more often than you do.) To control a short-term infestation, fruit fly traps tend to work well.

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Bed bugs

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Bed bugs

Fruit flies may be irritating, but bed bugs are downright nasty, notes Matteo Grader, a specialist for London-based Panther Pest Control. Telltale signs are red, itchy marks on your body when you wake up—which means that the bugs have spent the night crawling out of your mattress and feasting on you. (Here are 10 things everyone needs to know about bed bugs.)

“These need to be treated immediately, or your whole premises can become infested,” he says, suggesting that you bring the mattress outside where it can be vacuumed and treated with pesticide. But the solution's not usually that simple, especially if the infestation has expanded throughout your house, or your neighbors have the pests, too. In which case, check out the Environmental Protection Agency's guide to DIY bed bug control, or call an exterminator in to help.

In terms of prevention, these bugs are often picked up when traveling, so Grader advises checking luggage outside first, and never getting unpacked in the bedroom.

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Cockroaches

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Cockroaches

Although cockroaches seem indestructible—and way too fertile—it is possible to oust them from your home. Griffin advises a very thorough cleaning first, to eliminate what attracts roaches, which is food crumbs and water. Look behind and alongside appliances where they might cozy in, and wipe everything down with warm, soapy water to collect crumbs and spills. (Try these 9 DIY cleaners that don't contain nasty chemicals.)

Keep all food—including pet food—in tightly sealed containers and keep trash stored in cans with tight-fitting lids. Griffin recommends cleaning out the garbage can with ammonia regularly, to control odors that might attract roaches. And pay special attention to your pipes.

“Cockroaches like dark and humid places, so fixing leaking or sweating pipes is a must,” he says. “Dry all sinks, tubs, and showers completely, and plug the drains.” That will force the roaches out into the open for food, he adds, and that makes products like roach traps more effective.

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Spiders

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Spiders

Compared to bed bugs and roaches, spiders might seem like a minor problem. In fact, spiders can often control pests on their own, since they trap and eat flying insects. But although they’re usually harmless, you may opt to reduce or eliminate them if they’re starting to bother you, says Judy Black, vice president for pest control brands Western Exterminator, Ehrlich, and Presto-X.

The easiest way is by knocking down their cobwebs. She suggests using a vacuum, which will suck up both the webs and the spiders. If they’re too high for your vacuum, you can place a pillowcase over the sweeping end of a broom, and “sweep” around corners in a basement, attic, or anywhere in the home. If you have both spiders and other crawling pests, setting traps around could be an effective strategy.

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Prevention is key!

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Prevention is key!

Feeling itchy yet? Even thinking about potential infestations can make anyone feel under siege. But with the right mix of prevention strategies and products, it’s possible to kick pests out, and keep them out.

Jett Hovell, pest controller at Fantastic Pest Control Australia, suggests a monthly inspection of areas like baseboards, doors, attics, and basements to look for potential entry points that can be sealed. “Every infestation is a result of us not taking the steps to prevent it,” he says. “Keeping track of what’s happening in your home is very important.”

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Tags: HEALTHY HABITS