If you notice something crawling on your floor or scurrying through the cabinets, it may be time to call a pest control service. Interestingly enough, even the cleanest of houses can become havens for all sorts of insects and rodents. Let’s take a closer look at some common pests that an exterminator may encounter.

1. Ants

Ants may decide to take shelter in your home for a variety of reasons. In some cases, it is because they have found a source of food such as sugar spilled on the kitchen floor. In others, it is because they have found a warm spot in the walls where they can hibernate during the winter. Carpenter ants can be especially destructive, so make sure to call a pest exterminator if you see signs of them in your home.

2. Wasps

During the summer months, wasps like to build nests under your roof, in your attic or any other place where they are safe from predators. Unlike bees that only have the ability to sting once, a wasp may sting multiple times. Those who are allergic to their stings could suffer severe injury or die from just one prick from this flying invader. One way to get rid of wasps is to spray chemicals directly into their nest or knock it down when they are gone during the day.

3. Mice

If you see a single mouse in your home, it is likely that there are more hiding within the walls or just outside of the house. One way to reduce the odds of seeing them in your home is to keep your grass as short as possible during the year. This is because mice like to hide in tall grasses before making their way into your warm home. Since this creature can multiply quickly once it establishes a niche in your house, you should call a pest extermination company quickly.

4. Rats

A rat is generally thought of as a larger type of mouse. While they are related in some ways, rats are generally more aggressive and will bite if provoked. Rat bites can cause infections that can lead to pain or other health problems. They also like to bite cats, dogs or other animals that they come across, which could lead to large vet bills even if you are left alone. Like a mouse, a rat colony can expand quickly, which makes getting rid of one as soon as possible your top priority.

5. Cockroaches

Cockroaches have been around for millions of years because of their ability to adapt to almost any environment. Once they have invaded your property, it may be necessary to fumigate the entire premises multiple times to properly deal with the infestation. In extreme cases, you may need to bulldoze your home and rebuild it somewhere else.

Even if your home can be saved, cockroaches can cause significant damage as well as spread diseases. Unlike termites that tend to live in walls and underneath the ground, cockroaches will make their presence known, which may make it easier to identify the problem and call for help quickly.

If you are dealing with a pest problem in your home, do not hesitate to call for help immediately. A trained professional may be able to diagnose the cause of the problem and take steps to put an end to it as quickly as possible. This may make it possible to enjoy your home again free from the fear of getting hurt or sick by invading insects or rodents. The Reliable Pest Control website is a useful reference for more information.

When you are downsizing to a smaller home or apartment, engaging in a renovation project or getting your home ready to sell, a storage center is a great idea. Putting your extra belongings into self storage provides you with more space and a tidier living environment. Consider these four tips for packing up your hobby supplies and putting them into nearby storage units.

1. Protect Fibers from Insects

It is important to protect fibers from insects such as carpet beetles and moths. If you will not be accessing your storage units for a while, consider washing and drying your fabrics and then sealing them in a vacuum-sealed bag. The vacuum sealing process removes the air that the insects would need in order to hatch or develop into larvae. If you are putting yarn into storage, use vacuum-sealing bags. They compress the skeins or hanks of yarn, which will also help you to maximize your storage space.

2. Seal Organic Materials from Insects and Rodents

Fabric and yarn are not the only organic materials that are interesting to insects and rodents. They will also go after cardboard, paper, stickers, canvas and other materials. There are many home remedies for discouraging insects and rodents from accessing these materials. Moth balls are a good deterrent. Vacuum-sealed bags are another good choice. Keep in mind that rodents can chew through plastic, so you will need more than one type of barrier.

3. Remove Moisture from Papers and Fabrics

Even a low level of moisture could cause your scrapbook, card making, sewing and quilting supplies to grow mold or develop a musty smell while they are stored. If possible, pack them with silica gel packets. The silica gel absorbs moisture from small, enclosed spaces. The papers or fabrics should also be sealed so that no new moisture can get into the box or bin where they are stored.

4. Drain or Dispose of Any Combustible or Pressurized Fluids

If you have leftover paint thinners, mineral spirits, glues, spray paints or other products that are under pressure or combustible, do not store them in self storage centers. Even in a climate-controlled unit, these products could burst, damaging the things that you have stored. It is best to dispose of such products safely at a specialized hazardous waste collection center. These products often have a short shelf life anyway, and would be unlikely to be in a usable condition after they have been stored for many months or years. Similar items, such as oil or water-based paints, oil pastels or embossing powders may also not store well for more than 6 to 12 months. For more information, there are some helpful resources on the Storage City website.