How Vacuuming Can Control Pests
Vacuuming is a legitimate pest control tool.
Many pest management professionals incorporate targeted vacuuming as part of their service, particularly in sites where they want to reduce the use of insecticides and promote integrated pest management. Pros use specialty pest control vacuums with various attachments designed just for pest problems. Special vacuum tools can even collect insects for identification and special filters can remove insect and mouse allergens from the air. But there’s plenty that you can do on your own with your household vacuum to prevent and remove pests:
- Vacuuming removes food for pests such as ants, cockroaches and flies are all attracted to food left out in the home. Some fabric pests such as clothes moths and carpet beetles are found in areas that are not frequently vacuumed where they feed on lint, pet hair and accumulated food crumbs
- Vacuuming can remove a large number of pests. Although vacuuming alone will not eliminate a pest infestation, it gives a head start for other pest control measures.
- Vacuuming is the recommended control for small numbers of pests that occasionally enter homes such as stink bugs, lady bugs, box elder bugs, millipedes and clover mites.
- Vacuuming can also remove droppings, shed skins, webs, egg cases, sawdust piles and other evidence of pests so that you can see if new evidence appears indicating an on going infestation.
- Vacuuming can remove dust and debris from surfaces, cracks and crevices so that an insecticide treatment is easier to apply, is more effective and it lasts longer.
- Vacuuming can fluff up your carpeting which will allow an insecticide treatment to penetrate the fibers.
- Vacuuming is the control choice in sensitive sites where insecticides can not be used such as around electronics, stoves or refrigerators.
- Vacuuming helps remove pest allergens that can cause health problems.
Check with your pest control company to see if they want you to vacuum before they come out for service. Vacuuming just before treatment means you are less likely to vacuum right after treatment, which could remove the applied insecticides. Whenever you are vacuuming for pest control purposes always be sure to discard the vacuum bag immediately after in a sealed plastic bag so that insects don’t escape or eggs hatch inside the vacuum.
Why You Can’t Have a Completely Pest Free Home
It’s important to know that while vacuuming can be an important part of pest control, no method will result in a completely pest-free home.
Studies have shown that that in every single house there are flies, beetles, ants, and spiders, and in nearly every home there are booklice, (tiny insects which feed on fungi and mold in areas with high humidity). They are found hiding under furniture, behind walls, in basements, on ceilings, and around shelves. Most of the places they reside in are not frequented by humans such as under floorboard and in radiators. They can live, breed, eat, die and reproduce, all without drawing any attention to themselves.
If you believe that your home or business is experiencing pest control or rodent issues, contact an F&W Pest Control professional today for a free inspection and quote.
