Pest control specialists say vinegar is a common household item and there is likely to be a bottle lying around your home somewhere, even if you didn’t know it was there. Most people buy vinegar for one specific purpose but don’t need a whole lot of it, thus creating a huge amount of leftover vinegar with no purpose. So, what can you do with all that leftover vinegar? Turns out, quite a bit according to pest control experts!

Here are some great ways pest control experts say you can utilize your extra vinegar and get some cleaning done at the same time!

Got the washing machine blues? Add two cups of white vinegar to a normal cycle set to warm. In order to get the full cleaning effect, make sure you do not have clothes in the washer. Pest control agents say this will get rid of any stale water smells and help eliminate the crud that has built up throughout many washes.

Looking for an all-natural way to clean your rusty, lime-crusted tea pots or stained coffee pots? Pull out that bottle of vinegar and pour a half a cup into the tea kettle or coffee pot along with a healthy dose of hot water. Pest control specialists say you should allow the mixture to do its magic for a half day then brush out any deposits that have come loose and rinse thoroughly with water.

If it’s good enough for your coffee pot, then surely vinegar is good enough to eliminate those tough stains in your bathtub, washbasin or sink. Add some cooking salt to the mixture and scrub onto the offending surface and watch stains disappear!

Next time you are looking for a more au natural method to do some basic house cleaning, pest control technicians recommend just putting your trust in the tried and true method of vinegar!

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As much of the world is turning to “green” solutions for almost everything, it would stand to reason that the pest control industry would get on board. This industry, especially, would stand to profit from coming up with non-toxic ways to eliminate pests since so many pest control treatments are hazardous to the health of children or pets and also are not environmentally friendly. Many of these solutions also require people to be displaced from their home or office, which can be quite inconvenient.

Bed bugs is one insect that has been plaguing Americans for several years, with each year getting more and more prevalent. Bed bugs are also notorious for being difficult to control, but now, with the help of a new “green” pest control solution, bed bugs are able to be eliminated without the use of harsh, toxic chemicals.

Pest control companies now use heat treatments to effectively eliminate bed bugs from your home or business. This non-toxic, non-chemical technique is able to affect bed bugs wherever they may be hiding. The heat will penetrate wall cavities, mattresses and other hard-to-reach locations. By evenly applying heat throughout an area, pest control technicians are able to kill bed bugs in areas where other treatments may fail.

Previous to heat treatments, pest control agents were not able to treat areas such as mattresses and boxsprings which are favorite locations for bed bugs. When chemical solutions are introduced, many were forced to scrap these items and buy new ones.

Heat treatments also work faster and require fewer treatments. If you think you could benefit from heat treatments, call your local pest control provider.

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The pest control industry is fueled by the needs and desires of its customers. And as topics such as recycling, global warming and conservation become more prevalent, many pest control companies are hearing from clients who are looking for the same quality of services without creating such a heavy carbon footprint.

Pest control companies are joining the band wagon and creating more environmentally friendly services. Even those clients who aren’t living “green” may find these services more preferable when they know their family or pets won’t be in danger when it comes to coming into contact with toxic chemicals.

Pest control treatments from mole baiting to bed bugs all have green remedies. For example, many pest control companies now offer heat treatment to eliminate bed bugs. Instead of using a spray, heat is introduced into the environment to kill bed bugs no matter where they are hiding and in every stage of development. All without the use of chemicals.

Even if your pest control company doesn’t offer all green services, they still may be able to offer natural remedies that aren’t official, but may work. But unfortunately, there are some pest control issues that must be corrected with the use of chemicals. However, if you stress the importance of using non-toxic remedies, your pest control agent may be able to help you find an alternative.

If you have any pest issues and are looking for a plan of attack that won’t threaten the health of your family or pets, call your local pest control company and ask for a consultation. Take this opportunity to discuss your concerns and find out if they offer “green” solutions to any of your pest problems.

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When you think of pest control, you may not think of head lice, but they are certainly a pest and they definitely need controlled if they find their way into your home. Lice are usually found on and in the hair and skin of a human. They bite the skin to drink blood and cause allergic reactions, including mild to severe itching.

These insects are the size of a sesame seed and lay their eggs in the hair of a human. Even though they are in your hair, you may not be aware of it immediately because it may take weeks for the itchy feeling to develop.

Bites are obvious if you’re looking closely enough and can be revealed by moving hair aside. Pest control specialists recommend using a comb to check through the hair of someone who is potentially infested, making sure to check around the nape of the neck and behind the ears.

Bites from lice are generally harmless, with the exception of causing an itching sensation. However, the incessant scratching can cause an infection and introduce germs into the small wound.

Lice are usually transferred by close contact with someone who already is infected. Despite the common association with sharing hats and pillows as a way louse is transferred, this is rarely true. In most cases, lice is transferred through head-to-head contact.

If you or your child should be unlucky enough to incur lice, your doctor or pharmacist can recommend a medicated shampoo to de-louse. Oftentimes the treatment will have to be re-applied because eggs are missed during the first treatment.

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Many homeowners may not be aware that there are effective pest control methods for garter snakes. Even better, there are some humane ways to eliminate garter snakes without having to kill them.

Garter snakes are the most commonly found garden snake that homeowners and landscapers encounter. They are abundant in all areas and climates from Central American to Canada. Most pest control experts will tell you that having a garter snake around isn’t necessarily a bad thing; you may have to make a decision of which is the greater evil: snakes or rodents? Garter snakes are not poisonous and only pose a real threat to mice, rats, voles, crickets, slugs, snails and other snakes which may be poisonous. However, if you have pets or children to worry about, there are some methods you can use to get rid of these slithering serpents.

Your local pest control company can capture and remove garter snakes with glue boards. Although the snake will be stuck, it won’t be harmed. A simple dose of vegetable oil will free the snake again. There are also a few ways you can try to prevent snakes, the most effective being your mowing habits. Pest control experts recommend keeping your grass short. Tall grass makes a perfect spot for garter snakes to lay in waiting for their next meal. You may also want to keep wood piles and other yard debris such as leaves as far away from your home as possible, as these are also favored hiding spots for snakes.

Another solution is eliminating the food source. Your local pest control company can help you eliminate rodents and other bugs that attract snakes. If there isn’t anything for them to eat, they will happily move on to another area where food is more abundant.

For all of your garter snake and rodent problems, call your local pest control company.

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You may well have heard this idea being thrown around all over the place: apparently we unwittingly swallow a steady diet of spiders in our sleep. As our mouths loll open, passing arachnids find themselves strangely compelled to crawl in, where we cheerfully gulp them down without knowing. Makes you shudder doesn’t it? Well before you start wearing a surgical mask to bed, you’ll be pleased to hear that this is just an urban legend.

Over the past few years, the idea has been trotted out all over the internet and beyond. Some sources say the average is seven in an entire lifetime, while others insist it’s eight in a single year. Even the lowest estimates are significantly higher than the true figure – zero.

Although it apparently stretches back further, most of this urban legend’s spread is a product of the internet age. A very deliberate product, as it happens – it was put online specifically to show how quickly false information could spread on the internet. Way back in 1993, when the web was young, a PC Professional columnist named Lisa Holst wrote an article about how many false facts where circulating on the internet. To prove how readily they were believed and passed on, she deliberately put out a load of made-up trivia and watched it spread. One of these was the spider myth, taken from an old 1950s book of bug-based folklore. Appropriately, the spiders thrived on the web, and she found it took off much faster than even she had expected. It became one of the most widely-quoted urban legends on the whole internet, and spread offline to appear in books of trivia and even national newspapers.

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Leyland Cyprus trees are generally resilient to most insect infestations because they are coniferous trees. Many insects prefer to nest and feed off of deciduous trees, however not all of them. One such pest is the spider mite. Pest control experts say spider mites are one of the top tree pests that can have a serious and damaging effect on the Leyland Cyprus tree. Thankfully, with the help of professional pest control specialists, you can protect your tree from the negative effects of this insect.

According to pest control authorities, spider mites have proven, along with bagworms, to be one of the most difficult insects to control. Since spider mites have been an irritant for Leyland Cyprus trees for so long, they have developed immunity to many of the different pest control treatments that had been used to eliminate these destructive insects. Spider mites pierce the tree with their mouths and suck out the sap (which is essentially the life force of the tree), resulting in discolored needles. If spider mites are allowed to feed without interruption, the needles will ultimately turn brown, die and fall off.

Spider mites can be a death sentence to the Leyland Cyprus, so it is important to have qualified pest control experts help you get populations under control as soon as possible. Pest control authorities do not favor the use of insecticides because other beneficial bugs will also be killed when the insecticide is applied. It is important to allow spider mite predators such as ladybugs to remain on the tree and create a natural pest control solution. For this reason, miticides are the recommended solution to heavy spider mite infestations.

To learn more about keeping your Leyland Cyprus safe from unwanted pests, call your local pest control company.

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Insect activity is a serious problem for Leyland Cyprus trees, according to pest control experts. Because this tree is a conifer and not a deciduous tree, it makes it an uninviting host for most insects. However, it is not altogether out of harm’s way when it comes to insects. Bagworms and spider mites are two of the most menacing bugs. Their presence can cause discoloration, defoliation and sometimes even death if they are left untreated and allowed to continually feed and breed on and within the Leyland Cypruss.

Bagworms are a real problem because with each generation, the infestation becomes larger and larger. A female bagworm lays between 500 and 1,000 eggs before she dies. When the bagworm larvae emerge, they either remain on the host tree or they will spin a silken thread and “fly” to a nearby tree or plant. Because of their ability to transfer to other plants, bagworms not only pose a threat to the Leyland Cyprus, but to all nearby trees and shrubs. Unfortunately, only a few generations of bagworms can annihilate an entire landscape. While the larvae cocoon in the bags they create, they feed on the surface of the leaves, stripping the leaf of its epidermis, or the skin of the leaf.

As they develop into caterpillars, entire branches of the Leyland Cyprus can become completely defoliated. Pest control experts say it is easier to control bagworm infestations by manually removing the bags they form in the early spring or fall before the larvae have hatched. However, if the Leyland Cyprus is too large for this to take place, the tree can be sprayed with an effective insecticide to eliminate current populations. If the bagworms have already hatched, they are more difficult to control with sprays, which makes preventative care so important.

Call your local pest control authority for more information on protecting the Leyland Cyprus from bagworms.

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Ants can be a frustrating problem when it comes to them invading your home. Ants can smell food from many miles away, so if there are any crumbs, food left out or spills, ants will find a way into your home to clean up after you. You can always rely on baits, but if you have children or pets in the home, here are a few natural remedies that are effective but safe for the entire household.

Grits. Yep, that’s right. Use more food to get rid of ants by using quick grits. The end result for the ants isn’t pleasant, as the grits expand in their stomachs and cause the ants to die. You can sprinkle the grits in any area where you have notice ants and voila! They will be gone.

Boric acid. Boric acid can is effective, but pest control specialists warn that you should be careful not to inhale the fumes from the acid as it can cause breathing problems. The toxicity is low to humans, but if you have asthma or other breathing complications, you may want to try one of the other methods. Janitorial experts recommend mixing two parts of something sweet with one part boric acid.

Lemons. Make a concoction of half lemon juice and half water in a spray bottle. Spray around areas where ants frequent, and as well as areas where they may gain entrance to your home such as windows, doors, etc.

Spices. Pest control experts say there are a wide variety of spices that can be used to eliminate ants; however, you have to strategically make a line of the spice that will make it hard for the ants to travel around. Peppermint oil, black pepper, cayenne pepper and cinnamon can all be used to get rid of your ant problem.

Pest control authorities say all these remedies will be effective, but the best way to keep ants out is by cleaning up crumbs and spills as soon as possible and not leaving food out.

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Anyone who is an animal owner probably knows that dogs and cats will eat the strangest things – including bugs. In fact, in my house, if there’s a fly, all I have to do is alert my cat to this fact (if he isn’t already on the job) and he will flit about the house until he catches that fly with his paw and quickly maneuver the insect into his mouth where he happily chews this buzzing treat. It’s gross, but honestly, I have no problem with it.

Letting our pets do our bug hunting for us is an all-too-easy task and you may not see any harm in the habit. In most cases, you both win – you get rid of the bug and the pet gets an apparently tasty snack. However, we may not consider that these insects could be hazardous to our furry friends.

If you or your neighbors have your lawn or landscape treated by a pest control company, there may be areas where you need to keep your family pet away from so he doesn’t come into contact with the chemicals. But what if insects that have had contact with the treated plants get into your home? They may have remnants of the pest control spray on them which could pose a serious threat to a cat or dog if ingested.

If your yard is being treated by a pest control company, you may want to ask about child- and pet-friendly applications. If those aren’t available, take steps to ensure your pet stays away from the area and for the time being, and dissuade them when possible from eating insects. This might mean you’ll actually have to do the bug-squashing yourself and your pup or kitty might get angry that you took away the hunt, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

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