Get Rid of Household Bugs

Bug Fumigation vs. Yard Fertilizer

Household bugs can damage homes, spread disease, and contaminate food�not to mention give everyone the creepy-crawlies. Whether they are ants, termites, cockroaches, fleas, bed bugs, stink bugs, or some other household bug, they need to go! So what are ways to get rid of household bugs?

Janet Hurley, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service, Bugwood.org

Bug Fumigation for Household Bugs

A pest control specialist can usually treat household bugs without the expense and hassle of full-home fumigation, but sometimes bug fumigation is what's necessary to eradicate a deep-rooted infestation. This process, often called "tenting" because of the tarp placed over the home to seal in the fumigate, is far more involved than having an exterminator show up and spray problem areas. You'll have to leave your home for a few days. Fumigation is the sure-fire solution if your home is infested with household bugs that burrow into the wood of your home�primarily termites and carpenter ants. It is also the surest method to exterminate bed bugs, which are difficult to locate and reach with spray pesticides. Ultimately, the decision whether to fumigate will usually depend on the extent and location of the infestation.  

The Bug Fumigation Process

If you do need fumigation, this is how it will go. 1. You'll have to leave home until the fumigation is complete. The length will depend on several factors�including of course the degree of infestation�but the time you'll be away from your home can be as long as a week. 2. A tarp will be placed over the house to create a sealed environment. The tarp is usually plastic rubber that keeps the fumigates from releasing into the neighborhood. 3. The fumigate (usually sulfuryl fluoride) is released into the home. Sulfuryl fluoride is a gas, not a liquid like spray pesticides, allowing it to penetrate into areas unreachable by sprays and to kill household bugs not detected by inspection. 4. After the fumigation has done its work, the home is wholly ventilated until the poisonous gases reach a safe level of 1 part per million or less. 5. You'll be able to return to your home with no worries. Because sulfuryl fluoride doesn't leave a residue, you won't even have to wash dishes or clothes after you return.   A Cluttered Basement

Consult with a Pest Control Specialist to Determine If You Need Fumigation

You don't need to request fumigation when you call a pest control specialist to inspect your situation. Ask for an inspection first, and once that's done, the exterminator will go over the severity of your infestation and the options to treat it. If fumigation is needed, you'll be told why and how long it will take.  

Fertilizing Yard Rids Household Bugs

Now that spring is in full swing; it's time to start thinking of the many household bugs that have come out to play. These household bugs even have health risks that you should know about. They've said goodbye to the colder months of the year, and their primary goal is to make their way into your home, by any means necessary. There are some techniques that you can use to keep your home protected, whether it's by preventing household bugs from getting inside your home or how to eliminate them once they're in. One possible solution to some pest problems is often overlooked, and the funny thing is that it has other benefits. We're talking, of course, about fertilizer, which is intended to help your lawn or plants grow and thrive. The question is, does fertilizing your yard get rid of household bugs?   Live Bed Bugs on Box Spring

The Effects of Nitrogen-Based Fertilizers on Household Bugs

There are two types of fertilizer that you should be aware of. The first group consists of fertilizers that are nitrogen-based. A fertilizer's job, no matter the type, has a primary goal of helping plants grow, as mentioned above. The ironic thing about using a nitrogen-based variety of fertilizer is that it actually seems to attract some insects rather than repel them. It appears that these pests can seek out nitrogen, which acts as a sort of beacon for them. For the most part, this means that any plants treated with a nitrogen-based fertilizer may end up being more susceptible to leaf-eating insects.

The Effects of Organic Fertilizers on Household Bugs

In recent years, there has been an influx of natural fertilizers that serve as an alternative to the nitrogen-based ones. Studies have shown that crops that utilize organic fertilizers have a higher success at resisting problematic insects, and this effect trickles down to household bugs found in your yard. The fact that they are environmentally friendly only helps to attract more homeowners and agricultural firms to them. Some of these fertilizers are bottled and sold, while others -- which run the gamut of manure, coffee grounds, and everything in between -- can be made at home. According to the research, if you're hoping that fertilizer will help curb the insect problem in your home, you're going to want to go with a choice that is organic. However, the effect of these fertilizers on your household bugs is somewhat up in the air, as it is dependent on a variety of factors. For instance, an insect might pass through your yard but perhaps won't come into direct contact with the fertilizer. The bottom line is that, while fertilizer might not help too much, it certainly can't hurt to try.  

Other Ways to Get Rid of Household Bugs

Household bugs can cause damage in numerous ways, from damaging homes, spreading disease, causing allergies and asthma to worsen, and contaminating food. Whether they are ants, termites, cockroaches, fleas, bed bugs, stink bugs, or some other household bug, they need to go! Now, the question is, how to get rid of household bugs? Fortunately, if you're noticing signs of household bugs�such as cockroach droppings or termite-damaged wood�there are steps you can take to eradicate the pests.  

10 Ways to Get Rid of Household Bugs

1. Make sure you have no open food packages, dirty dishes, exposed pet food or garbage cans. 2. Reduce piles of clutter particularly around areas where food is stored. 3. Thoroughly vacuum everywhere possible. Pull out refrigerators, stoves, and furniture and vacuum the areas underneath and behind their usual locations. 4. Wash hard surfaces such as countertops and tables with warm water mixed with a mild soap or detergent. After cleaning wipe again with clean water to rinse. 5. Clean small appliances such as toasters and microwave ovens. 6. Wash all rugs, curtains, and dirty clothes. 7. Conduct a methodical examination of your home, looking for and sealing gaps, cracks, and holes in walls, baseboards, windows, and screens, as well as leaky faucets and pipes. 8. Attach door sweeps on doors that lead outside. 9. Install mesh screens on air vents, smaller the � of an inch. 10. Call a professional pest-control exterminator. Most pesticides are mostly ineffective, and can be dangerous if used improperly. Call an exterminator today, and solve it right the first time!

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