How to get rid of bugs in an apartment

There’s nothing worse than waking up in the morning only to be greeted by a swarm of bugs in your apartment. Unfortunately for many people living in apartments giant cockroaches and other pests are common problem that many people face. These pests can become even more of a problem for those who live in certain locations or conditions that foster the breeding of the creatures.

These infestations are both annoying and a potential health hazard and once you spot them chances are there a lot more lurking away. When you do first notice any signs of infestation it is important that you act as soon as possible as to stop it from getting any worse.

If this situation seems all too familiar we are here to help and have several ways in which you can effectively get rid of bugs out of your apartment.

Prevention is the best method for elimination

The best way to get bugs out of your apartment is to ensure that they don’t get in at all. Once they are in it can be quite difficult to eliminate them. This section will cover some simple steps to ensure that infestations don’t start in the first place.

If you already have a bug infestation it is still recommended that you adopt these techniques as it will slow down their breeding process making it harder for them to survive when you practice other elimination methods.

Sanitation habits are very important when it comes to eliminating pests. Rodents and insects need water, food and shelter to survive so by eliminating their survival conditions you can lessen their hold on your home. A lot of the time if you catch the early signs of infestation and follow good sanitation habits you will be able to stop the infestation before it gets out of control.

You want to keep you kitchen as clean and tidy as possible. That means washing and putting away dishes, wiping down countertops, rinsing and drying sinks, empty toaster crumb tray, sweeping and/or vacuuming the floors, mopping at least once a week and using a trash can with a tight fitting lid.

Stopping pests
Photo: Laterjay, Pixabay

Getting rid of clutter around your home will also eliminate potential havens for these pests. You should throw away old cardboard boxes, secure papers, don’t put anything under your bed unless it’s in a container and get rid of any unused items around your home.

Moisture is a haven for pests as it gives them a water source as well as a damp environment to flourish in. Fixing leaking taps, pipes and seals will ensure that the pests have the hardest time getting a reliable water source.

What to do once they’re in your home

Once the pests are in your apartment it can be difficult to eliminate them all but there are a couple of methods that you can try. Ultimately the type of pest infestation you have will also determine the most effective measure of elimination. For example the best method to get rid of ants may be different if you were to try and eliminate a nest of cockroaches.

Inspect your properly thoroughly

Once you notice even the smallest of signs that your apartment has a pest problem you should give the place a thorough inspection. Check in between all gaps, holes and cracks that are near your appliances.

Insects thrive on heat so they tend to hang around power packs, modems and other electronics. Be sure to also check around door and window frames and look for any droppings or damage that are obvious signs.

Identify the enemy

Once you have given the place a thorough inspection you should have a good idea of what type of pest you are dealing with. This will make the elimination process a lot easier as you can start using techniques that are specific to that creature rather than a broad idea. Generally you can identify what you are dealing with via the many crawling bugs everywhere or the droppings left by the enemy.

Fill any cracks

Small insects love to live in cracks and is the main passageway that they make it into your home from the outside. Get some caulk or silicone filling to block any obvious entries in which insects would likely travel through.

You also need to take into consideration if you are renting the apartment that you should always check with the strata management before taking on any task regardless of how small it is. The worst thing you want when trying to eliminate pests is to get a bill from your strata.

Methods of elimination

Once you have done the basics of sealing off any entries and you know what type of pest you are dealing with, the next step is to start to elimination process. Now we have mentioned that the best suited method depends upon what type of pest you are dealing with. We have got a couple methods of the most common types of bugs that you will encounter in your apartment.

How to get rid of cockroaches?

Get rid of cockroaches
Photo: Hans, Pixabay

Getting rid of cockroaches can be one of the most difficult bugs that you will encounter. They take a lot more to eliminate than just a couple of sprays of insecticide. Once they get into your home they multiply rapidly and can get into everything – even hiding in your internet modem!

To start with you should have followed all of the previous steps including good sanitation habits as to not give them any sustenance. You can hire an exterminator to come out and set up baits but you can also purchase the stuff they use online and do it yourself for a fraction of the cost.

Simply get some gel baits and place them in common cockroach habitats. This includes hinges of cupboards, cracks, and electronics and around taps and other water sources.

How to get rid of ants?

Keep ants out
Photo: Francok35, Pixabay

Cleanliness is the most common and effective method in dealing with an infestation of ants in your home. Following good sanitation habits should eliminate the problem if the infestation isn’t too serious. However if it has gotten out of control you may want to seek chemical control.

Bait treatments are the most effective at eliminating the problem from the source as they get infected and take it back to the nest where everything then gets infected. Rather than a quick fix, killing off the entire nest is your best pet in eliminating the problem.

How to get rid of bed bugs?

Bed bugs
Bed bugs are a serious problem. Photo: Maxop-Plus, Bigstock

Bed bugs are a serious infestation and the professional services can run at a pretty high cost. The main point when trying to get rid of bed bugs is commitment as if you lapse in the process you will be set back to square one. Linen that is infested needs to be washed thoroughly while mattresses either need to be covered in bed bug proof covers or replaced altogether.

If they make it into your clothing consider dry cleaning them or throwing them out if regular washing doesn’t get rid of the problem. Stuffed animals and books should be placed in air tight bags along with vapour strips to kill all of the bugs. Once you have done the initial work you will need to spray and check regularly for new bugs in order to stop the infestation from reappearing.

Mike Smith
Mike Smith
Executive Editor at Best in Australia. Mike has spent over a decade covering news related to business leaders and entrepreneurs around Australia and across the world. You can contact Mike here.
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