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Saturday, March 24, 2018

Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Bed Bugs in Fairfax County

bed bugs FairfaxWith recent reports in the news of bed bugs in public buildings, like schools, in the greater D.C. area, you may be wondering what you can do to protect your family and your home from bed bugs. While bed bugs were nearly eradicated in the 1960s, they have made a huge comeback in recent years. The bed bugs themselves do not spread disease, but they can cause other problems including allergic reactions. Add that to the fact that they are hard to treat and exterminate, and you can understand why it is important to avoid getting them completely. A typical bed bug extermination treatment doesn't always eliminate them, and sometimes there needs to be additional treatments.

1. Check Before Any Hotel Stay


One of the best ways to protect yourself from getting bed bugs is to complete a throughout check of your hotel room before you stay the night. You should check the bedding to make sure it is free from stains and droppings. Bed bug droppings are small, but will smear a rust color stain if touched. Look behind the headboard to make sure you do not see signs of droppings or the bugs themselves. If your room looks clean, then you should still be careful with your luggage. Never place it directly on the bed or on the floor. Use the luggage rack that is provided in the room.

2. Check Your Luggage Before You Take It Inside


Bed bugs can crawl from one location to another. Be sure to check your luggage for signs of bugs before you leave the hotel room. You should also look for bed bugs again before you take your luggage inside of your home. You can purchase a special suitcase heater that will treat the luggage for bed bugs by heating it up. This can work as an extra precaution after any trips

3. Be Careful with Purse, Briefcase and Backpack


Many bed bugs are being spread in public buildings like schools or municipal buildings. Bed bugs do not travel around on people, but they will crawl into someone’s bag, and then out of it again looking for a new place to call home.  Students can bring bed bugs to school in a backpack, and then they will wander out and infest the school or wander into another student’s backpack, especially if the backpacks are stored close together. When you are in a public place try to keep your bag or purse off the floor to reduce the chances of picking up bed bugs. If there are issues at your child’s school, then you may want to stop sending your child with a backpack until the situation is addressed.

4. Rethink Your Gym Bag


Gyms are another common area to pick up bed bugs without realizing it. Often a person will not realize that they may be spreading bed bugs when they take their bag to the gym. The bed bugs can get out and wander around the locker room looking for a new place to hide. If they wander into your gym bag, then you may end up taking the bugs home with you. If possible, you may want to consider changing and showering at home. If this is not feasible with your schedule, be sure to check your bag carefully for bed bugs before putting it in your car or taking it home.

Friday, March 23, 2018

How Can I Stop Rodents from Getting in My Home?


Rodents can quickly damage your home and they spread a number of serious illnesses including hantavirus. It is very stressful to realize that you have rodents in your home leaving trails of droppings and urine as they scamper through your kitchen in search of food. They are expert climbers and can get into almost any space. It is important to take steps to prevent rodents from getting in your home.

Check for Holes Around Your Foundation


Periodically check your home for places where rodents can find their way into your home. If you see signs of holes or chewing, you should take the steps necessary to fix the holes. This could mean replacing wood or it could mean installing exclusion barriers in those spaces. If you have damage from other pests like termites, rodents will take advantage of these weaknesses to work their way into your home, so you should make those repairs correctly.

Look in Your Attic and Under Your Eaves


Another area that rodents will get into your home is through your roof or under your eaves. They can walk across electrical wires or climb on trees and drop onto your roof. You should check your roof for loose shingles or areas that the rodents can easily get in and make the necessary repairs. Check under the eaves too. Be sure that grates are installed over each the vents to keep rodents out.

Trim Back Tree Branches


Tree branches that hang over your home or brush up against the side of your home can provide another access point for rodents to get into your home. Trimming back any bushes or trees will provide the extra protection against rodents and other insects.

Check Areas Where Pipes Enter Your Home


Rodents will come in through any area where there is a space or weakened wood. The areas around the pipes can be weakened if there is a leak in the area. You can install exclusion barriers or replace wood that is weak or rotting to keep rodents out of your home.

Keep Your Home Clean


Rodents are attracted by strong smells, and they can more easily set up house in a home that is cluttered and not as clean. Cutting down on the clutter and taking out the trash each night can reduce the chances of getting rodents. Be sure to do your dishes each night and to store all your food in airtight containers. These steps can cut back on the smells in your home and make your home less attractive to rodents.

Monday, March 5, 2018

How to Protect Your Pets from Fleas and Ticks

puppy in a cuphttps://www.pexels.com/photo/black-and-brown-short-haired-puppy-in-cup-39317/

Seeing your furry friends uncomfortable and irritated because of fleas and ticks will surely ruin your day. Don’t let this issue get out of hand-  take these simple steps today.

Pay attention to your pets all the time


Many people believe that fleas are only a problem on hot summer days, but this isn’t totally correct. According to many experts, certain types of fleas and ticks can breed and suck animals’ blood even in winter. That is why vets highly recommend year-round defensive measures for your vulnerable pets. Nowadays, there are many different products available to use against fleas, and pet owners have hundreds of choices. Don’t use cats’ products for dogs and vice versa, because “one man’s meat is another man’s poison”. Most importantly, ask your vet for advice and strictly follow the instructions for the best efficiency and safety. If you don’t see any results, try another brand until you find one that works. Lastly, remember to check the expiration date on the packaging.

Clean your pets regularly


wet puppies in a sinkhttps://pxhere.com/en/photo/1055567

 Combing and bathing your animals frequently allows you to identify a flea infestation as soon as possible, and will give you time to find out about solutions to treat it. This step is even more important when you have just walked the dog. Always do a comb through afterwards to check for fleas and ticks. When you see even one single flea or tick, then it’s time to give your pet a warm, soapy bath. Afterwards, apply some natural repellents such as mint or lemon essential oil to keep parasites away.

Defend your home


All your efforts with your pets may be for nothing if you ignore your own home. Hygiene is the most effective way to keep your living space flea-free. Cleanliness prevents ticks and fleas from finishing their life cycle. Pay attention to any areas that your pets have contact with, such as your mattress, bed and carpets. Tick and flea larvae like these places because they are dark and they can hide away undisturbed. Although fleas may have not yet have appeared in your house, it will only be a matter of time before any developing eggs will hatch. The solution is to vacuum carpets, mattresses, and furniture regularly, and to wash bedding frequently. When you vacuum, pay special attention to any hard-to-reach corners.  In addition, bear in mind that fleas can jump into your house via the windows or a balcony. To prevent this, plant some containers with mint in them or install glass screens to avoid this situation.

Protect your garden


dog with a ballhttp://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/Spaniel-Animal-Dog-Portrait-Garden-Canine-2862040

On a sunny spring or summer day, nobody wants to miss out on a chance to sunbathe in their beautiful garden. Unfortunately, however, most gardens are full of favorable conditions for fleas and ticks to hide and breed. There’s no way of keeping your garden completely flea-free, but you can keep them away from your pets. Firstly, don’t let your lawn get too long. Fleas hate to be exposed to sunlight, therefore, keep your grass short and don’t hesitate to prune your trees and let more sunlight through. Secondly, put up a wall or fence to minimize the risk of your pets coming into contact with other strange animals. Just one unexpected guest can become the cause of a serious flea infestation. Thirdly, never allow your garden to become messy with a lot of rubbish like rotten leaves, bottles, overgrown shrubs, or other debris. Last but not least, grow different kinds of mint in the area close to your house to repel fleas. We are sure that they will move as far away as possible to avoid the offensive fragrance.

To sum up


We hope that you have now learned some useful tips on how to protect your pets, your home and your family. Keep your eyes on your pets themselves, as well as both the inside and outside of your house. Apply these useful tips and you should never have to worry about flea infestations.