Nobody moves into a house excited about dealing with a pest problem. One minute, you’re sipping coffee in your kitchen, and the next, you’re sharing your pantry with ants on a snack run!
Knowing the most common home infestations can help you identify unwanted visitors and kick them out!
Termite Infestations
Termites are like nature’s demolition crew, which is great until they destroy parts of your home. These pests dine on wood, and unfortunately, that might include your floors, walls, or furniture.
If you notice hollow-sounding wood, mud tubes along your home’s foundation, or termite wings near windows, you might have an infestation.
Keeping mulch and firewood far from your house can help. You can also schedule a pest control service to inspect your home regularly and catch termite activity before it gets out of hand.
Rodent Infestations
Mice and rats can squeeze into surprisingly small spaces, chew through nearly anything, and turn your home into theirs! Rodent droppings in cabinets or scratching sounds in the walls usually signal their presence.
Rodents also pose health risks, such as spreading diseases and contaminating food. If you’re not sure what’s lurking, check out a guide on identifying a rodent infestation in your home so you can stop mice or rats in their tracks.
Cockroach Infestations
Cockroaches exist to remind you how much you hate bugs. They love warmth, moisture, and food crumbs, making your kitchen and bathroom their favorite hangouts.
Droppings resembling tiny black pepper grains, a faint musty odor, or shed skins hint at their presence. Unfortunately, cockroaches can stir up allergies and spread bacteria, too.
Clean your kitchen, seal your food, and empty trash bins before they overflow to keep away roaches. When all else fails, bait traps and professional exterminator services can help you handle the issue.
Ant Infestations
When ants invade, it feels like they brought all their friends to join the house party. It’s no wonder why they’re among the most common types of home infestations!
Whether it’s sugar ants in your pantry or carpenter ants chomping on wood, they seem endless.
If you spot little trails of ants or find their nests near your home, you might have an infestation brewing. Be sure to wipe down surfaces regularly and tightly seal food.
Putting down bait traps is a great way to beat them at their own game. If they’re pesky enough to chew through structural wood, that’s your cue to call a professional exterminator.
Bed Bug Infestations
Bed bugs are sneaky, stubborn, and, quite frankly, gross. These tiny pests can hitch a ride on luggage or secondhand furniture straight into your home.
Waking up with itchy, red bites, spotting blood stains on your sheets, or noticing dark spots near mattress seams could mean they’re biting into your good night’s sleep.
Bed bugs multiply quickly and resist many over-the-counter treatments, so skip the guesswork and call in professionals. Also, inspect secondhand items thoroughly before taking them home, and keep luggage off hotel floors when traveling.
