If you see a cockroach crawl across your apartment floor, your first inclination is probably to place an angry call to your landlord. But pest control is a two-way street. Sometimes tenants create conditions in their apartments that draw bugs, and soon they spread to other units. As long as landlords and property managers have a regular program of pest maintenance, they're doing their part to curb the problem.
Tenants have to hold up their end to prevent issues that entice cockroaches and other pests into their apartments. Often, the biggest problems revolve around garbage storage and disposal. In these instances, the tenants are the first line of defense because trash largely comes from individual units.
As part of their daily cleanup routine, tenants in multi-unit complexes should make sure that all food is put away in airtight containers or plastic bags every day. Keeping food out, including scraps left on dirty dishes in the sink, can draw insects. Any spills that leave residue are also fodder for their feeding habits.
It's not enough to put scraps into the disposal - it must be run each day so the garbage disposal can grind it up and send it down the drain. For apartment dwellers who don't have a garbage disposal, they'll need a container with a lid for easy disposal. If at all possible, wet garbage should be disposed in separate plastic bags or in a separate container. If garbage leaks into the trash receptacle, it should be wiped clean or it may draw roaches and other pests.
If landlords cannot control the pest population themselves, they should leave the job to the professionals. Hiring a commercial pest control company like Abell Pest Control ensures a thorough inspection, treatment plan and advice on prevention for the future.
Correct maintenance by property managers goes a long way toward preventing a pest infestation in a multi-unit dwelling or recurrences. Trash receptacles should be kept a distance from the apartment building so that pests don't have easy access to the complex.
Both trash cans and recycling bins can accumulate debris and liquids that will draw bugs if they aren't cleaned out periodically. If residents are able to dispose of their trash daily, property managers should encourage this or inform them about keeping the trash in apartments within closed containers until trash removal takes place.
Keeping communication open between landlords and tenants is important so that both sides do their best to keep the premises clean.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
