Experts warn against viral hacks to keep pests out of homes this summer
Following on from last weekend's heatwave, temperatures in Scotland are continuing to warm up. However, with hot weather comes unwanted visitors. During the summer months many households grapple with the nuisance of pests invading their homes.
If ant, fly or even rat infestations go untreated, they can lead to health hazards, including E. coli and Salmonella. While there are many hacks to control pests ourselves, not all of them are effective. Experts are nowdebunking some of the common DIY pest control 'myths' to help you banish the bugs for good.
Tony King, owner of pest control company The Pied Piper, said: "Prevention is your most valuable do-it-yourself method. I always stress how important it is to seal up crevices and holes, as mice can slip into dime-sized holes and rats can slip into holes that are the size of a 20p coin.
Steel wool combined with caulk or foam sealant is great to work with when sealing these gaps up, like around pipes on sinks, in utility closets, or in the basement. It's also a good idea to store all of your food from the pantry in air-tight containers, like rice, pasta, cereal, and even pet food. Eliminating the food sources is merely half the battle.'
Pest Control Hacks that don't work
Using Peppermint or Eucalyptus Oil to repel insects or rodents
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If you're out of mouse traps or don't want to call an expert, you might be tempted to use peppermint or eucalyptus oil to keep mice away. While it's true that some pests don't like strong smells, natural oils aren't a long-term solution, and they'll often just find another way into your home.
Using bucket traps or sticky boards to kill rodents
Tony said: "With mice, do-it-yourself traps like bucket traps or sticky boards are a tempting option. But if you're not able to catch a single mouse, such methods barely scratch the surface.
"Rats are clever, typically suspicious of foreign objects, and sticky traps can result in prolonged suffering without addressing the root issue. An outbreak of full scale requires exclusion work, sealing entry points, and careful baiting methods that most do-it-yourself kits cannot offer.'
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Using white vinegar or a mixture of lemon juice and water to keep ants away
While it's true that acidic chemicals such as vinegar and lemon juice will kill or deter ant pheromone trails, this won't affect their nests or colonies as they often linger in walls or under building foundations.
Spraying vinegar on countertops or windows and hanging bags of water to repel flies
Flies often buzz around food and our kitchen bins, and fruit flies love food scraps in drains. Some people try spraying white vinegar on the counter in an attempt to attract and then trap flies, but it isn't enough. Another common hack is hanging bags of water to repel flies, but there are no proven beneficial effects of this.
Sprinkling baking soda on mattresses or rubbing alcohol on a bedframe to repel bed bugs
If you're experiencing a bedbug infestation, you might be tempted to use common DIY tricks like sprinkling baking soda on mattresses to dehydrate them or using rubbing alcohol, but these are not reliable solutions. While baking soda's dehydrating properties could kill a bedbug, it won't affect the colony, nor will rubbing alcohol.
Josh Clarke, from the London waste removal experts Clear It Waste, said adequately securing garbage is key if you have a pest infestation or suspect one.
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