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Hometalk is where people share and help with everything home & garden

Pest Control

Pest Control

333 Followers | 1307 Posts

If you've had a pest infestation, you know the value of pest control. Pest control isn't just about pesticides - it can be pest prevention, too. There are many proven non-toxic pest control tips that have been discussed on Hometalk. From preventing spring time ants to tips for getting rid of fruit flies, you'll find some great pest control tips right here. You can also search Hometalk for ideas on ways to make your pest control maintenance effective and healthiest for you and your family.



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Pest Control: Mice in the House

First found mice droppings in the pantry, then under the sink. Now it seems they're everywhere. Landlord has put out mice bait under the house and mouse trap in the house but the mice are too smart for that. Now they're crawling on my kitchen counters, which are devoid of food except for the fruit/veggie bowl they got into last night. What to do?
Eileen
Eileen San Antonio, TX Yesterday
5 Comments | Post Comment | 138 Views
  • Ann Cushley
    Ann Cushley 2 hours ago
    all great ideas...but I think Sia is right call the landlord..he should be responsible but ...»
    make sure he does something if not followKMS and i'm not familiarwith D-con..good luck I hate those dirty little sneakers!!!!!!

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  • They are about 2 inches long, black with yellow spots, lots of legs and if you pester them the curl up.

Home Maintenance & Repairs: Bug I.D.?

When I was a kid I used to see these every fall as school was starting the kind of swarmed. Thousands of them died in the gutters when the rains started (and smelled bad). I can't remember their name, nor the folk lore that went with their appearance. Right now there are a fairly large number of them wandering around our property. Anyone know what they are and/or anything else about them?
Donna Shipley-Richie
Donna Shipley-Richie Mckinleyville, CA 14 hours ago
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Gardening: My pomegranate tree is being attacked by ants!

I love looking outside and seeing how well our pomegranate tree is dong this year. We've raised it over the past 6 years from a tiny sapling and now it's producing some beautiful fruit. ...»

But the other day my daughter came running inside screaming, "The patio is swarming with ants!" I went out to see what was going on and I see a ton of ants making a line across the lawn and headed directly for the pomegranate tree. They were climbing up the trunk and crawling all over the leaves! By nature, I'm the "live and let live" type when it comes to insects outdoors. So I left them alone, assuming they could do no harm. But this morning I noticed that many of the tree's leaves have shriveled up and I'm afraid that ants will kill the tree or at least ruin the fruit.

Does anyone have any information that can help me?

First of all, why are the ants suddenly attacking this tree?

Can they do real damage?

If so, what is the simplest way to get them to stop and keep them off of the tree?

I prefer a natural remedy to using chemicals, but if only chemicals will help I'm willing to go that route.

Yair S
Yair S 4 days ago
19 Comments | Post Comment | 780 Views
  • Yair S
    Yair S Yesterday
    Thanks a million April and KMS . I'm learning so much here!
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Pest Control: How to get rid of frogs.

Last year my husband and I decided to put an above ground swimming pool, which, within a week was full of frogs and frog eggs (yuk)... We drained it and filled it up again only to have these unwelcome guest back within days, this time we cleaned the pool without draining but put chemicals only to make the pool useless to humans. No pool last year. We decided to drain it and take it out. Today we still have no pool but hoping to put it back within the next few weeks, today my husband ...»
noticed we have frogs in our back yard, I am sure they can't wait to go swimming... How can I get rid of them? HELP!!!

Organic Cleaning Services
Organic Cleaning Services Gastonia, NC on Apr 22, 2013
8 Comments | Post Comment | 257 Views
  • Organic Cleaning Services
    Organic Cleaning Services Yesterday
    Makes perfect sense. Thank you Virginia
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  • Ants lying in Windex. 3

ANTS? Easy, Safe Solution!

An exterminator told my friend that when you begin to see ants, they are the scouts. Stop these and you won't have ants. My son discovered that if you spray them with Windex (or any other glass cleaner), they are exterminated. Keep after it for a while and you won't have ants. We have used this for years. 2 days ago our humming bird feeder leaked onto the concrete front porch...the liquid got down in the crack between brick and concrete so there was not way to flush it out. Ants ...»
appeared quickly, I sprayed them with Windex. Watched through the day and kept spraying them. Now ant free! Safe for kids, pets and environment! It is worth a try before you spend hundreds.

Jeanette S
Jeanette S Atlanta, GA on May 13, 2013
142 Comments | Post Comment | 48750 Views
  • Janine Serresseque
    Janine Serresseque 2 days ago
    An ant will not cross a barrier if talcum powder. When I feed my cat outdoors is sprinkle a ...»
    circle of pwder around her bowl. The ants will come right up to it but they will not cross it.

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You Won't See This in Better Homes and Gardens

If you're having a picnic in the woods in Pa. and you see a painted squirrel, it's probably the work of my husband. Read the full story: http://livingrichonless.com/you-wont-see-thi...
Living Rich on Less - Susan
Living Rich on Less - Sus... Huntingdon, PA 4 days ago
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  • Photo of cinnamon by Adam Verwymeren courtesy of Networx.com. http://www.networx.com/article/8-household-uses-for-cinnamon

4 Household Uses for Cinnamon

Did you know that cinnamon can be used as an air freshener, a bug repellant, and a mouth wash?

Moth Repellent: Replace foul-smelling mothballs with cinnamon-stuffed sachets. Combine the cinnamon with a handful of other spices, like cloves and bay leaves, and you'll have a moth-free house that smells great.

Ant Repellant: Has an army of ants invaded your home? Apartment Therapy suggests using cinnamon to keep the little critters at bay. Sprinkle the powdered ...»

version of the spice around any openings or crevices that give insects entrance to your home and they will steer clear, perhaps heading for the more welcoming environs of a neighbor's home instead.

Air Freshener: Combine water and a few drops of cinnamon oil in a spray bottle and you've got an instant air freshener that's both economical and all-natural.

Mouthwash: Mouthwash is one of those products that's so easy to make, it's a wonder we ever buy it. For an effective cinnamon-flavored mouthwash, simply add nine tablespoons of cinnamon to a cup of vodka. Let the mixture sit for two weeks and then strain through a coffee filter.

Chaya K
Chaya K New York, NY on Nov 12, 2012
13 Comments | Post Comment | 9530 Views
  • Marie S
    Marie S 5 days ago
    I am diabetic type 2 and it does work for me also.
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  • are this ones good or bad for your garden? 1

new visitors ughhh..

i find this ones on the ground ...
Maria C
Maria C Las Vegas, NV on Jul 31, 2012
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  • Wendy M
    Wendy M on May 14, 2013
    We have a lot of grubs up our way in Vermont. For the past few summers my husband and I have ...»
    been adding new gardens and adding better soil since we are all sand here. We have what we think is the same Robin that follows my husband around the yard and when he finds a grub he throws it on the land near her and she eats it right up. Best fed bird we know!

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  • Head Lice

Head Lice

A very common problem, especially for school-aged children ages 3-12 years old (girls more often than boys). Head Lice are tiny, wingless parasitic insects that live among human hairs and feed on extremely small amounts of blood drawn from the scalp. Their bites cause extreme itching of the scalp, leading to skin irritation and even infection in some cases. Although they don't spread disease, Lice are very contagious and and just downright annoying. They can quickly spread from person ...»
to person, especially in group settings (schools, childcare centers, slumber parties, etc.), through head-to-head contact, sharing clothes, bed linens, combs, brushes and hats (FYI: Lice are not spread through pets). Lice can't jump or fly, they have specially adapted claws that allow them to crawl and cling firmly to hair. They lay eggs (nits) on hair shafts close to the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping them warm until they hatch in 1-2 weeks. Early treatment is extremely important to prevent further spreading. Over-the-counter medications or prescription medications are available to kill Lice. These medications are insecticides and it is crutial to follow the directions as indicated on the product label to ensure a successful treatment and to avoid the risk of causing harm. After treatment, you must comb out the eggs (nits) using a fine-tooth comb (usually comes with the product, but can be bought seperatly at a drug store). Seperate hairs into sections and comb one section at a time (works best on wet hair). Repeat complete treatment in 7-10 days to kill any new hatched nits. If your child is under 2 years of age, you should not use medicated treatments. You will need to remove nits and lice by hand, be patient, this can be very time-consuming. Purchase the fine-tooth comb, wet and condition hair, seperate into sections, comb one section at a time. Repeat every 2-3 days for 2 weeks. In addition, wash all bed linens and clothing that has recently been used by anyone in your home who's infested, in very hot water and dry on high for at least 20 minutes (Anything that can't be washed should be dry cleaned). Vacuum carpets & upholstered furniture in your home & car (Medicated spray is available, but use with caution, especially around small children). Soak hair-care items (comb, brush, hair ties, band, etc... in medicated shampoo or very hot water for at least 30 minutes or just throw them away & purchase new ones. Since Lice are easily passed from person-to-person in the same house, it is highly recommended to treat all family members to prevent re-infestation (Call your doctor is problems persist after treatment). It is also important to talk to your kids about Lice & how they are spread (School nurses can provide information as well). Emphasize that although having Lice can certainly be very embarrassing for them, anyone can get them and that they are not a sign of uncleanliness or poor hygiene. Kids need to understand that they have not done anything wrong and reassure them that as aggravating as getting rid of these annoying insects can be, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
A-1 Watkins Pest & Termit... Long Beach, CA on Nov 19, 2012
3 Comments | Post Comment | 549 Views
  • Eulenspiegel
    Eulenspiegel on May 12, 2013
    Our whole family went through several bouts, as well!! ...»

    We bought the over the counter R.I.D. Head Lice Treatment. And one of those metal fine-tooth combs, especially made for nit removal.

    We had the devil of a time getting rid of them, in spite of following all instructions to the letter.

    I was getting worried about having to repeatedly apply such a 'toxic' active ingredient, too.

    Then the school nurse gave us the best advice we ever got!!!

    After treating the hair, rinse well with a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water.

    The nits are 'glued' to the hair shaft and washing does NOT get rid of them. The nits are pretty darn waterproof!

    And while there's a certain amount of stigma associated with having head lice -- some think it's a sign of poor hygiene -- in reality, the cleaner and less 'greasy' the hair is, the easier it is for the nits to become firmly attached to the shaft.

    The vinegar/water rinse dissolves what holds the nits to the hair shaft and they're rinsed away.

    That takes care of new ones coming along, but it doesn't hurt the lice that already have taken up residence.

    While the OTC poison will take care of that, I opted for what I hope is a safer method (although a bit of a pain in the behind.)

    I just kept rinsing well with vinegar/water. Every day for 40 days.

    The lifespan of a louse is 3 to 4 weeks.

    If you can just keep getting rid of the nits (which hatch within 12 days), the already hatched lice will eventually die off.

    Like I say, within 3 to 4 weeks. I just kept it up for 40 days to make sure.

    That worked in our household but even if you want to go with the 'once and you're done' OTC medication, I STILL recommend following it up with a thorough vinegar/water rinsing!!!

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  • The two ingredients needed to get rid of fruit flies. 3
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How to Kill Fruit Flies w/2 Ingredients

You can quickly, easily and inexpensively get rid of fruit flies without using harsh chemicals by making your own mixture with apple cider vinegar and dishwashing liquid. Find out how here:
Mary Beth
Mary Beth Coraopolis, PA on Oct 02, 2012
14 Comments | Post Comment | 17158 Views
  • Marg C
    Marg C on May 11, 2013
    This works wonders...and yes it has to be the Apple Cider Vinegar because of 'fruit' base of ...»
    this vinegar but the main reason that the dishwashing liquid (any will do) has to be added is because it makes it slippery so they can't just land on top of the vinegar and then fly off...they have no choice but to drown in the slippery stuff and drop to the bottom

    But first and foremost...find the source and throw it out!!

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