Recognize and fight vermin in the house

There are numerous bugs that, under certain conditions, feel right at home in the household. For example, moths like to attack kitchen supplies or expensive clothing items, and house dust mites and bed bugs don’t even stop at our beds. This is sometimes not without negative consequences for our health.

Once clothes moths, flour moths or mice are there, it can be challenging to get rid of them quickly. See in pictures what each pest looks like, where the bugs come from, and what helps ban them from the house as effectively and consistently as possible.

bed bugs

Bed bugs, or house bugs, are red-brown, hairy pests that feel particularly at home in beds. Bed bugs are very shallow, so that they can hide in crevices in furniture. The pests feed on blood, which they get by pricking the skin. Bed bug saliva can cause skin irritation with itching that sometimes lasts more than a week.

Fight bed bugs

Getting rid of bed bugs effectively can be challenging. Pests are becoming more and more resistant to insecticides, among other things. One method to combat them is heat treatment with temperatures above 50 degrees. Bed bugs are often brought home from vacations or travel. So, better examine your next hotel bed before you sleep in it. After the trip, clothes should be washed at 60 degrees. Textiles from the flea market could also be contaminated and should always be washed thoroughly.

flour moths

The flour moth is one of the most common household pests. The approximately 1 – 1.5 centimetres long moth mainly infests dry bard supplies such as flour, rice, pasta and oatmeal. The flour moth does not cause any damage but lays its white, oval, oblong eggs in the bard. Caterpillars hatch from them, which then attack the supplies, where they leave their droppings, among other things. Eating bards contaminated by mealworms can cause allergies and gastrointestinal problems.

Detect flour moth infestation.

If you see a flour moth in the kitchen, its caterpillars are probably also frolicking in the bard supplies. In such a case, inspect your pantry thoroughly. Are there any holes in the packaging? Are there lumps in the flour and other bards? Can cocoon webs be found in the bard or the pantry?

If there is a flour moth infestation, only one thing helps:  All infested supplies must be disposed of consistently. A flour moth problem often persists longer than necessary because not all infested bards are in the trash. The pantry should be thoroughly cleaned after the bard has been inspected. Wiping cupboards and drawers with vinegar water has also proven effective against flour moths.

Pheromone traps attract male moths and can also help eliminate the household pest.

To prevent flour moths in the home, it is advisable not to store dry bard in its paper or plastic packaging but to pour it into glass containers that can be tightly closed with a screw cap, for example. In addition, supplies should be consumed quickly – hoarding increases the risk of flour moth infestation. It is best to clear out your supplies at regular intervals.

clothes moths

The clothes moth is related to the flour moth and can cause much damage. It is also one of the most common household pests. Instead of eating bard, the clothes moth eats through textiles, preferably made of natural fibres such as silk or wool. In principle, all textiles in the house, including upholstery, curtains, and carpets, can be attacked by the clothes moth. Synthetic garments are less likely to be affected.

Fight clothes moth

First, all infested textiles must be located. Look out for holes, larvae, webs and eggs. Also, check behind upholstered furniture, under rugs and hard-to-reach corners of the house.

Damaged clothing should be discarded. Clothing near infested textiles should be washed at the highest possible temperature and, if possible, dried in the sun or a tumble dryer. This will kill any eggs and larvae. Sensitive items of clothing that cannot withstand high temperatures can be placed in the cooling compartment. Also, clean all wardrobes, chests of drawers and other pieces of furniture very thoroughly, not forgetting any corners. The more thorough you are, the higher the chance that you will quickly get the moth problem under control.

It is also advisable to thoroughly clean the infested room or, even better, the entire household. Carefully vacuum carpets, upholstery, mattresses, etc., and wash curtains, cushions and covers. Empty the vacuum cleaner bag after each vacuuming to prevent the clothes moth from multiplying.

The smell of lavender and cedarwood repels clothes moths. Therefore, lavender bags in the closet and lavender oil can also be used as home remedies against pests.

cockroaches

The cockroach, better known as a cockroach, is also a familiar unwanted household guest. The leading causes of cockroaches are poor hygiene in the kitchen and leftover bard.

The German hospitality industry is obligated to report cockroaches, as the pest can pose a health risk to humans. Anyone who discovers the light-shy, nocturnal pests in their home should drive the uninvited guests away as quickly as possible.

Fight cockroaches: How to drive away cockroaches

Consistent cleaning and hygiene is the first step in dealing with a cockroach infestation. Carry out thorough basic cleaning in the kitchen and all other affected rooms, and always keep everything clean in the future.

Proven home remedies for repelling cockroaches are catnip and bay leaves. The smell drives away the dreaded kitchen pest. Simply spread the leaves or catnip in the places where you suspect the harmful cockroaches.

You can sprinkle a mixture of baking soda and sugar to kill cockroaches. The cockroaches are attracted to the sugar and eventually die from eating the baking soda. Cockroaches are often challenging to get rid of. If the above tips don’t work, consult a pest control professional.

House dust mites

House dust mites are found in practically every household. They feel most comfortable in beds and mattresses due to the warmth and high humidity, where they feed on human skin flakes. The tiny pests cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Dust mites themselves cannot cause or transmit diseases. However, many people are allergic to the pest’s droppings. The allergy appears in inflamed mucous membranes, sneezing, runny nose, and itching and can trigger asthma.

Anyone suffering from a house dust mite allergy should invest in heat-resistant bed linen suitable for allergy sufferers that can be washed regularly and at high temperatures. There are also unique covers for mattresses that are impervious to mites.

Sprays are available in pharmacies that can be used to spray bedding and mattresses to keep mites away. Keep the household as dust-free as possible by regularly vacuuming and damp mopping so that house dust mites do not have a place to live.

fruit flies

The fruit fly “Drosophila melanogaster” is about 2.5 millimetres in size and is characterized by its brown colour and reddish eyes. The flies are harmless to health, but most people find them a nuisance. Fruit flies are attracted to acidic bards such as fermenting fruit or rotting potatoes. Organic waste, which should be emptied daily, is often affected.

After mating, the fruit fly usually lays its numerous eggs in ripe or rotting fruit, where the soon-to-be-hatched larvae sit next to the bard source.

Regular airing is recommended to get rid of fruit flies in the home. A mixture of vinegar, water and a squirt of dish soap can act as a natural trap in the kitchen. There are also numerous traps for fruit flies available in the hardware store, in which you can put a piece of fruit, for example, to attract the flies.

In the fight against fruit flies, carnivorous plants have also proven themselves in the infested area.

mice

Mice are often found, especially in the basement, in attics, and in storage rooms. They usually enter the house through small holes and gaps in defective windows and doors. They forage for bard sources such as vegetables, fruits, and dry goods there.

For ethical reasons, you should avoid using mouse traps that kill the animals. There are far more humane ways to declare war on mice.

The smell of vinegar repels mice. It can, therefore, be worth wiping floors with vinegar water. Essential oils, strong-smelling spices, such as chilli powder or cayenne pepper, and plants, such as chamomile or peppermint, can also help drive mice out of the house. Another alternative is live traps.

woodlice

Woodlice are entirely harmless and harmless but have no place in the household. They are naturally found primarily in the soil, so they are often found working in the garden. The tiny crustaceans feed on dead plant parts and are essential to the ecosystem. You should only take action against the actual beneficial insects outdoors if woodlice also causes damage to plants.

However, if woodlice spreads in the house, the conditions in the affected rooms should be checked. Woodlice only feel comfortable in high humidity and when they find enough to eat. A possible cause for a large number of woodlice in the household can be, for example, incorrect storage of fruit or vegetables. Potatoes, in which they eat large holes, are particularly popular with woodlice. There may also be a moisture problem.

Combat woodlice in the household

To get rid of woodlice in the house, care should be taken that the humidity is not too high. Ventilation is a straightforward and effective measure here. Once you have eliminated the reason for the woodlice’s visit, you should attract the animals, for example, with some rotting fruit in a bowl, and then put them outside.