Latest news with #pestcontrol
The Sun
3 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
The 40p trick to keep moths out of your home this summer – they hate it but it'll make your pad smell super fresh
Abigail Wilson, Senior Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, IF you've noticed the emergence of moths in your home, fear not, we've got just the thing. With spring in full swing, many of us will spot the unwanted insects fly into our homes. 2 Not only can moths find their way into our belongings, make holes in clothes and eat our food, but professional pest control services can cost hundreds of pounds too. Luckily for you, a storage expert has revealed that prevention is key and has shared a purse-friendly trick to help keep the pests far away from your home. And don't worry, there's barely any faff involved. Chris Hutton, an expert from Adams SelfStore, shared a "simple and highly effective solution" that will banish moths for good. And not only will it get rid of moths, but it'll ensure your pad smells fresh too. Chris explained: "While we might find lavender 's scent calming and pleasant, moths find it repellent. 'All you need to do is place a sachet where moths are likely to hide, wardrobes, drawers, or anywhere they can make a home. 'Once they catch a whiff of lavender, they'll make themselves scarce. "Simple as that." The expert recommended placing lavender sachets around homes in places such as "wardrobes, under cushions, in storage boxes, or even inside your pantry to keep moths away from your most vulnerable items." Top Pest Control Tips for Your Yard Not only this, but he warned that although small, moths "can cause big problems". Chris also stressed: "The key to dealing with moths is staying one step ahead. IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass. 'With just a small investment in lavender, you can prevent damage to your belongings." But that's not all, as he claimed that doing so will ensure you "enjoy a peaceful, moth-free home this spring." The key to dealing with moths is staying one step ahead Chris Hutton According to Chris, a 50g bag of lavender can be bought for as little as £2 online. He recommended using just 10g per sachet, which will cost you only 40p per pouch, making this trick great for those on a budget. And with temperatures set to soar and summer right around the corner, there's no time like the present, with now being the perfect time to take action and keep moths at bay.
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
The simple way to keep mosquitoes out of your home and away from you using an item you'd throw in the bin
MOSQUITOES may not pose a huge health risk in the UK, but that doesn't make them any less annoying. The pesky critters are prone to biting, leaving us with itchy red marks that we'd all rather avoid this summer. 2 Unlike other pests, which are often attracted to the scent of food, these critters can seek out humans and animals by the carbon dioxide we emit. They also use other cues such as body odour, body heat and sweat to pick out their next victim. So while sitting out in the garden or keeping the windows open on a hot summer evening sounds great, the reality is often different. Usually, you spend half the time with a curled-up magazine swatting the pesky critters away. Thankfully, there's a much easier way to keep mosquitoes out of your home and away from you, and it won't require you to do a workout. Many pest control experts reveal that coffee grounds are the key to keeping them away. Experts at WW Gardening recommend drying the coffee grounds out and then placing them on a fire-resistant container like a metal tray. You can then light the grounds with a match like you would incense. Brett Bennett, director of operations, PURCOR Pest Solutions recommends: "Burn it like incense – so, you'll form a little hill of coffee grounds, make a divot in the top, and add a wick there to burn." You then want to place the tray near an open window or close to where you're sitting in the garden to keep them away Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Garden Pest-Free The smoke and scent of the coffee will prevent mosquitoes from wanting to get up close and personal. Another bonus from the tip is that you won't have to spend any money as used coffee grounds are perfect for the hack so long as you let them dry out. While the hack can be used to deter one or two mosquitoes, it may not work for larger groups. Homes & Gardens reports it may not be effective for larger swarms of mosquitoes. Keep pests out all summer IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass. In addition to using burnt coffee grounds, there are other ways to keep the critters out of your home. Mosquitoes also hate the scent of citrus fruits and cloves, so you can try using oils around windows and doors to keep them away. It has been revealed that several other pests do not like the smell of burnt coffee, including slugs, bees, wasps, and snails. ou can also use them to help get rid of ants by sprinkling the grounds around your garden. Coffee can also act as a natural fertilizer for plants, contributing to healthy plant growth.
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
I'm a home expert, my £1 trick will keep rats out of your house & garages – you probably have it in your kitchen
IT'S fair to say that rats are among the most unwanted household pests and if you've got them they can be hard to get rid of. Traps and pest control can be expensive options but according to experts a simple and inexpensive kitchen item will do the trick when it comes to repelling rodents. 1 According to Plumbworld, bathroom and kitchen expert, white vinegar can help protect homes, garages and sheds from rodent intrusions—without the need for harsh chemicals or professional intervention. Rats rely heavily on their sense of smell to find food and navigate their environment. The pungent, acidic scent of white vinegar overwhelms their senses and disrupts scent trails they use to revisit specific locations. 'When applied to common entry points and nesting spots, vinegar makes the area far less attractive to rodents,' explains a Plumbworld spokesperson. 'It's a natural deterrent that many households already have in the cupboard.' This approach is not only safe but also sustainable, offering a practical alternative to toxic sprays and poisons. Experts recommend soaking cotton wool in undiluted white vinegar and placing it in key problem areas. These include under kitchen appliances, behind bins, along skirting boards and inside garage corners. The strong smell is enough to make rats think twice before entering. 'You can also mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle,' the spokesperson adds. 'Use it to clean surfaces and mop floors in utility areas or garages. Not only does it repel rodents, but it leaves everything fresh and clean.' This dual-purpose solution means households can manage cleanliness and pest prevention in one step. One of the main advantages of white vinegar is its accessibility. Found in nearly every UK kitchen and available for under £1 in most supermarkets, it's a cost-effective option that doesn't sacrifice safety. Watch moment Birmingham binmen sprint for their lives after huge RAT falls out of rubbish and scurries around their feet 'Unlike chemical deterrents, vinegar is non-toxic and safe to use around children and pets when applied correctly,' says the spokesperson. 'It's also biodegradable, so it won't harm the environment.' This makes it ideal for families seeking low-risk, everyday methods to manage their home environment responsibly. In recent months, homeowners are reporting noticeable reductions in rodent activity when used regularly, especially in colder seasons when rats seek indoor warmth. Though not a complete solution on its own, vinegar works best alongside other prevention methods, such as sealing gaps and removing food sources. 'It's not a miracle product, but it's a great first line of defence,' the spokesperson says. 'It's affordable, easy to use, and widely recommended by people who've seen results firsthand.' A Plumbworld expert concludes, 'For under £1, white vinegar is one of the smartest, safest deterrents you can use. It's simple, cost-effective, and it works.' IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
The easy cotton wool hack that keeps wasps out of your home this summer & it takes seconds to do
AS the summer months approach, more and more insects make their way into our homes. While most of them are totally harmless, there's one we'd all rather avoid - wasps. 2 Thankfully, a pest control expert has shared a simple way to keep them out for good without using harsh chemicals. And all you will need to keep them deterred from entering your home is some peppermint oil and some cotton wool. Wasps and hornets are known to have a hatred for mint - and so sprinkling mint around your property might be just the repellent you need. Clancy Bros Pest Control also suggests using peppermint oil as an alternative. To complete the hack all you need to do is put a few drops of the oil into the cotton wool, reports the Express. In addition, cleaning sensation Chantel Mila has shared her tactic of placing peppermint oil-infused cotton balls under bin liners to ward off insects while also keeping odours at bay. She also suggested vacuuming the cotton wool dabbed in oil up so the scent permeates the house to keep wasps out. Mila, who shared the advice with her 1.6 million followers, also noted that she places a mint in jars full of water near windows to block fly entry. The cleaning whizz also combats spider invasion by wiping down walls and floors with orange oil as spiders detest its smell. Chantel also revealed that doorways are a critical point of entry for insects. Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Garden Pest-Free "Dirty door tracks can be a breeding ground for bugs, so wrap a cloth around a blunt knife to clean them easily," she said. Wasps also detest the smell of cayenne pepper, according to Eliminate Solutions. To create a repellent, mix one teaspoon of pepper with one cup of water and spray it around your home to keep these pests at bay. Citronella, a citrus scent commonly found in perfumes and soaps, is renowned for its insect-repelling properties, particularly against mosquitos, but it's also effective in warding off wasps. The pest control firm suggests "burning citronella candles to infuse the outdoor area" as a deterrent. In addition, keeping homes free of exposed food and drinks is crucial to prevent these insects from venturing indoors. Timothy Wong, a director at MandM Pest Control, shared with the Martha Stewart website that wasps are attracted to carbohydrates found in fruits, sugary drinks, and sweets, which explains their presence near picnic areas, rubbish bins, and inside homes. IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Bedbound pensioner's toe is chewed off by a RAT while 88-year-old was waiting for council to send an exterminator round
A bedbound pensioner had her toe chewed off by a rat while she waited for the council to send a pest exterminator to her home. The 88-year-old's daughter, Andrea Scott, first raised the infestation with the Labour-run local authority after seeing one of the rodents run from an armchair into the kitchen of her mother's home. Ms Scott was shocked when they told her that her elderly mother would have to pay £297 for the council to send round a pest exterminator - a cost out of reach for the diabetic pensioner, who has not been named. Even once she had paid for the treatment herself Ms Scott, who lives in a council-supplied house in Southampton, Hampshire, was given a date weeks away for the exterminator's visit. In the meantime she laid her own rat traps and poison in her mother's home to try and catch the rodents but none were caught. The situation drastically worsened on May 20 when Ms Scott got a call from her mother's carers who had discovered that a rat had chewed through the 88 year old's sock and the top of her toe, including the toenail. Ms Scott, 56, said the carers 'screamed' when they saw the puddle of blood on her mother's bed and that the whole family are still in shock, more than a week later. 'I was horrified and a week on our family are still in shock,' she said. 'Mum is diabetic meaning she has no feeling in her legs - the only positive is that she was not in any pain. 'She is currently in hospital - she just keeps saying "I can't believe what has happened". 'The council chose not to support a vulnerable old lady and look at what has happened.' Ms Scott continued: 'Why should any council tenant be forced to pay to get rid of the rats? 'Her carers found a puddle of blood and screamed when they saw what had happened. 'It's been so traumatic for mum and the whole family - I won't ever let her back in that house. 'From the research we have done it's the bedbound who are most vulnerable.' Neighbours of the 88-year-old told Ms Scott that they had also been having problems with rats. A Southampton City Council Spokesperson said: 'We take all reports of pest sightings seriously and encourage residents to report them to us using our website so that our team can assess the situation and work with the resident to deal with the issue. 'In response to a report made on Tuesday 27 May which raised the issues of a rat infestation and potentially unsafe electrics, the council are attempting to arrange an urgent visit from both the pest and electrical teams to investigate this issue further. 'Our thoughts are with the individual and we will continue to work with the family to ensure her mother's home is safe and free from pests.'
