With reported rises in the number of rats and bedbugs, it is likely that many of us are sharing our living space with some pest or other. How can you go about getting rid of them? And what can you do to avoid them moving in to start with? Here, pest controllers share the secrets to an infestation-free life.
Be vigilant
Rodents and cockroaches are the most common callouts for the UK’s pest controller of the year, Josh Bates, who is based in Croydon and works for Cleankill. “Large blocks of flats throw up challenges,” he says. “When you’ve got so many people living under one roof, you are exposed to all sorts of things coming in. I’ve had quite a few bad bedbug infestations recently.”
People who travel a lot are more susceptible to bedbugs, as there is a chance they can get into luggage and be carried on to public transport (although Bates is unconvinced that the London underground network is riddled with them).
Textile moths are a big problem in central London – Bates has seen them on trains in the city. They can cause costly damage: one couple in the capital are suing the previous occupant of their home for more than £36m after claiming the house was “infested with millions of moths”, resulting in damage to their clothes and property. Pests can strike at any time, regardless of your domestic circumstances.
Don’t delay dealing with a problem
If you need to get help, report the problem sooner rather than later, says Louise Chapman, AKA The Lady Mole Catcher, who lives in Norwich and helps solve all kinds of pest problems around Norfolk. “I had a guy phone me and he said: ‘I’ve got this mole – it’s been here for three months.’ I thought: ‘Well, you should have called me three months ago; then I could have caught it.’”
Bates says: “Some people hope that if they ignore the problem, the pests will go away. For instance, they might spot a few mouse droppings and get rid of them in the hope the mice won’t come back. Inevitably, once rodents have found a way into your home and they start to breed, the problem will only get worse. The same goes for pests like clothes moths. If there is a little bit of damage somewhere, you probably have moths in other places in your property and they will multiply if you don’t take action.”
Tell your neighbours
Although it can feel embarrassing to share the news of a pest problem, it is a crucial step in getting rid of vermin once and for all, especially if you live in a flat or terrace house.
Ian Furlong set up Independent Pest Control and Hygiene Services in Liverpool in 2009. He says pests can easily run through the lofts of a whole terrace and get worse. “This is unless each property speaks to each other, which is what we encourage them to do,” he says.
There’s no point in feeling shame about it. “It’s not that you’re dirty – it’s just an environmental pest,” Furlong says. Cockroaches spread like wildfire when people are living in close quarters, he adds, and are one of the hardest things to eradicate.
Basic housekeeping works
Pests can access even the most pristine palaces, but good housekeeping every day can eliminate the crumbs they might feed on, says Furlong. “And rats have got to have water to survive. Any plant pots out in the garden that might not have plants in them, and people leave because they’ve been too busy to move them, can fill up with water; it’s an ideal source for rats.”
Eliminate entry points
“Look for cracks and entry points to prevent pests from coming into the house,” Bates says. “Mice can get through gaps of 6mm. The sort of cockroaches we have in the UK get in through tiny cracks and crevices, so it is important to fill in areas like that with sealant.”
Rats are incredibly good at getting into houses. “I’ve seen them chew a hole through a concrete kitchen floor,” says Chapman, so they can easily chew through expanding foam. Furlong suggests filling any holes in your property with sturdier materials such as wire wool.
Cluster flies are another problem. It is very difficult to stop them coming in, Chapman says: “Flies can get through small cracks and they like a nice, warm loft space or a south-facing window.” She once saw a 4ft clump of flies in a loft. You can try putting up fly tape, but Chapman tends to use an insecticide. She has another business removing bee colonies and rehoming their inhabitants in her colleague’s apiary.
Ethically speaking, prevention is better than cure. “Pest controllers have the stigma of kill, kill, kill,” says Kieron Bewes, a pest controller in east Devon. “I am trying to get away from that and be more environmentally friendly.” Bewes’ business is called Green Rock because, he says, “I try to work with Mother Nature, not against her. I’ll only use rodenticides as a last choice. I am a big fan of proofing.”
Try a trap
“I tell clients to try to save money by putting out a couple of traps themselves,” says Furlong. “But you get people with a massive fear of them because if they trap something, they are not going to be able to deal with it. So they would rather pay.” For some clients, he has to manage expectations that he is not “the old Pied Piper, where I’m going to blow a whistle and everything is going to run away; it’s not like that”.
Bates adds: “As professionals, we follow the code of responsible rodenticide use. So we are only going to use things if necessary and we’re going to use them in a responsible way that is only going to target what we are trying to get rid of.”
Avoid hoarding
All the pest controllers say their most challenging jobs have been at the homes of hoarders. “If someone’s hoarding, there are lots of warm places for pests to sleep,” says Furlong. Bates adds: “Rodents don’t hibernate, so they are active all year round. We tend to get more callouts around this time of year as the temperature drops and the heating comes on. What the mice are after is basically somewhere warm to nest, with food.” Furlong suggests keeping your belongings on shelves rather than on the floor.
Natural remedies are unlikely to leave you pest-free
“Cedar wood balls might be advertised to keep away adult moths from your clothes, but it’s the larvae that eat keratin and that’s what causes damage to your clothes and carpets,” says Bates. “I’ve been in a lot of flats and houses that stink of peppermint, which people have used to try to deter moths, and they’ve still got a massive issue, so I wouldn’t necessarily say that is the best thing.”
Cats don’t always help
People often assume their feline friends will rid them of rodents. Quite the reverse: “Cats sometimes can be the cause of the problem,” says Furlong, “because they will carry things like mice in through the cat flap overnight when their owners are in bed,” and these pests can make themselves at home before you’re even aware.
Put dry foods in containers
Cereal boxes are ideal for rodents: they use the cardboard for nesting and “inside they’ve got their food source”, says Bates. “Put cereal in a sealed plastic container instead and keep things higher up, where mice are less likely to get in.” If you have fruit flies, there will be a fermenting sugary substance somewhere, so deep clean and keep food in containers.
Be aware of bird feeders
“I put bird feeders out that attract rats, mice and squirrels,” admits Furlong. “If you notice a problem with rats, take the bird feeders away.” If you are set on keeping your bird table, Bewes has a surprising trick to try to keep rodents at bay: “Nail a slinky toy on the post at the top, just under the table.” If a rat tries to run up the post and grabs the bottom edge of the toy, its weight will drag down the coil and it will slide back to the bottom. “It is a really cheap and effective way of stopping them getting on a bird table.” And always use premium fat balls, as they are less likely to crumble and fall on the floor, he says. Feeding pigeons is ill advised because they are a pain to get rid of and their fouling can be hazardous.
Bates also stresses the appeal of bird feeders to squirrels, which can cause all kinds of problems if they come inside: “If they get into a loft space, they can cause quite a lot of damage to the rafters.”
Squirrels, however, are Bewes’ favourite pest to deal with. “They are quite cheeky. They will stick their head up behind a box and look at you and wave, then disappear again. They are easy to catch because they are inquisitive, like mice. If you give them something to hide in, they will pop in there quite readily.” Cutting back any overhanging trees near the house will prevent them accessing the property, he adds. And wisteria – though lovely – can also be problematic for helping give pests access, says Chapman.
If you discover rats, don’t move a thing
It may sound counterintuitive, says Bewes, but, “with rodents, you want to leave stuff exactly as it is. Rats have neophobia, which is a fear of new things. If you start moving stuff around, they will be too scared to go into a trap. So you need to leave things absolutely where they are, which is very difficult if you’re panicking because there’s a rat in your kitchen and you want to remove the food source.”
When buying secondhand furniture, check for bedbugs
Bedbugs don’t limit themselves to beds. “You need to look for blood spots or brown blotches” on all your furniture, advises Bewes. “You are also looking for the actual pest and where they have shed their skin. You want to really go through with a fine-tooth comb on the upholstery and underneath, too.”
Put dog food away
Put the dog’s food and water bowl away at night, says Furlong. Rats are very resourceful creatures.
Keep compost and wood stacks well away
Compost is a difficult one, Bates says, as people want to do the right thing environmentally, but unfortunately a compost heap is “a nice place for something like a rodent to burrow in, because you’re providing a food source and it is warm”. Keep compost heaps 6 metres (20ft) away from the property, if possible. The same goes for stacks of logs. “Rats have guard hairs and mice have whiskers that they use to navigate. So where you have things stacked, they actually feel quite safe.”
Fully commit to eradication
If you employ a pest controller to get rid of bedbugs, you need to work with them, says Furlong. “Because we say: ‘You’ve got to empty all your rooms, you’ve got to wash your clothes and your bedding at the hottest wash that you can.’ But people say they haven’t got time. So you can’t guarantee that you’re going to get rid of the problem.” You don’t necessarily have to get rid of your mattress, although people often do, “because it makes them feel dirty”.
Don’t skimp on flea treatments for pets
“Off-the-shelf flea treatments for pets are not as effective as if you get it from a vet,” says Bewes. “Yes, the vet is more expensive, but not as expensive as a pest controller coming around to treat fleas.” If you do have fleas, you need to do lots of vacuuming, he adds. “They have got different life cycles, so keep vacuuming them up. And remember to empty the bag. Don’t just shove it in the closet, because they will all come out and you’ve wasted your time.”