HOW TO GET RID OF INSECT IN THE HOME?

An insect-infested house can quickly become a real nuisance for the people who live in it. This is one of the reasons why we recommend regular house cleaning, as insect infestation is often linked to a lack of cleanliness. It can also be particularly triggered by the season, especially when the heat sets in.

Among other insects, cockroaches, ants and fleas can be a real nuisance when they invade our homes.

However, there are tricks to combat them in the long term.

Fighting ants

Ants are attracted to sugar and food scraps in the kitchen or dining room. They can easily invade your home if there’s an ant farm in the garden or outdoors. To get to the root of the problem, you need to detect it first, then pour hot water and black soap over it. This radical method is the most effective way of preventing them from regularly feeding on the rest of your meal.

In the home, locate the path they take, on the worktop or walls, then create an olfactory barrier to repel them. You can smear surfaces with lemon, bleach the smell is strong enough to repel insects or coffee grounds. Note that this last solution is not recommended for walls, as it can be messy.

Killing moths

Moths are small insects that thrive in dark, enclosed spaces. They usually infest wardrobes where clothes are usually stored. To get rid of them, get into the habit of shaking and brushing clothes that have been in wardrobes for a long time, to drive the insects out. If possible, protect the most valuable silk, fur or cashmere items with protective covers, and place moth repellents inside wardrobes to keep them out or prevent infestation. You can also make your own homemade moth repellent with bunches of mint or oranges pricked with cloves. The scent of these fruits and plants acts as an insect repellent. If you opt for natural solutions, remember to renew them as the scent fades.

Getting rid of cockroaches

Cockroaches are very tough insects, because of their high resistance to poisons. Most commercially available insecticides work by using the female’s scent to attract cockroaches. The cockroaches then die as soon as they ingest the product.

However, as these bugs have a tendency to multiply exponentially in places that are not always accessible, you need to make sure that you always maintain hygiene in the home. In particular, it’s advisable to reduce food and water sources such as crumbs in the kitchen, rice grains, grease and so on. Do the dishes immediately after each meal, and make sure the sink is clean and dry after washing your plates. Get into the habit of flushing dead cockroaches down the toilet, as their eggs can continue to hatch even after the cockroach host has died. Throwing them in the garbage would be tantamount to giving baby cockroaches a chance to hatch and infest the house again. Lastly, check that the insecticides you use has the most deadly substance to kill those insects: boric acid, propoxur, hydramethylnon, etc.

Getting rid of fleas

Fleas infest homes that have domestic animals. If you have cats or dogs, make sure you give them a bath and treat their fleas with substances recommended by the Vet.  Once your pet is cleansed, clean the carpets, mattresses, and plinths.  Simply apply a pest control product to these areas, then steam or hot-water clean. Pay particular attention to where your pet usually sleeps. It’s best to have him sleep in his own bed rather than on the sofa, carpets or beds.

To kill any remaining fleas that may have taken refuge in the floorboards, make a flea trap with a saucer filled with water, in the middle of which you light a candle. Fleas are attracted to light, and when it’s dark they’ll naturally drown in the saucer. You’ll find more homemade flea repellent tips in this article.