Deirdre O Meara 
As spring and summer months approach, it is common to see various pests invading homes. From ants to rodents, these unwelcome house guests can be a real pain to deal with. However, there are plenty of ways to get rid of them and deter them from entering your home in the first place.
According to Robert Collins at Myjobquote.co.uk, common culprits during this time of year include carpet beetles, rats, mice, mosquitoes, flies, and ants. To help homeowners deal with these pests, Fantastic Services pest control expert Jordan Foster and experts from HomeServe share their top tips to banish all unwanted creatures and creepy crawlies.
Rats are responsible for 56% of HomeServe’s extermination calls and can cause a lot of damage to homes. They chew through wires, damage furniture, and create fire hazards by nesting around electrical items. To keep them away, Robert suggests using onions as rats dislike their scent. Additionally, feathers from their natural predators can be placed close to their habitats or visible entry points to your garden to deter them.
Flies are another common pest that can be physically removed from your space using fly swatters or sticky traps. To keep them away, Jordan recommends keeping your surroundings clean and removing any potential breeding sites for flies, such as standing water or food waste. Fly-repellent sprays or natural essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, or peppermint can also be used. However, it is important to follow instructions carefully and keep children and pets away from these products.
Ants can be deterred with vinegar, which can be combined with equal parts of water and sprayed around ant-infested areas. Baking soda and powdered sugar can also be mixed together and sprinkled around areas where ants have been seen, as sugar attracts ants, but baking soda kills them. Natural ant repellents such as peppermint, cinnamon, and tea tree oil can also be mixed with water and sprayed around areas where ants have been seen.
Contrary to popular belief, conkers do not scare off spiders. However, a vacuum cleaner or broom can be used to remove spider webs, removing the spiders’ primary shelter and their main food source. Peppermint oil or vinegar can also be used to emit a strong scent that repels spiders. Alternatively, spider catchers are great devices for humanely removing spiders from your home.
Moths can be a nuisance, especially if they damage your clothes or other fabrics. To keep them away, Jordan suggests keeping your storage spaces clean and well-ventilated, as moths are attracted to dirty, dark, and undisturbed areas. Moth-repellent sprays, sachets, or natural oils such as lavender, cedarwood, or eucalyptus can also be used to repel moths. Moth traps containing sticky substances or pheromones attract and capture adult moths.
Slugs can be stopped in their tracks by using copper tape across common entry points as the tape will emit a small charge and stop the slug from going any further. For slugs that are already in the house, salt can be used to dehydrate and kill them.
If all else fails, it may be time to call in the experts for help. Pest control companies can help deal with full infestations and offer advice on how to prevent future ones.
In conclusion, there are plenty of ways to deal with pests and prevent them from entering your home. By keeping your home clean and well-ventilated, using natural repellents, and blocking entry points, you can keep your home free from unwanted guests.
