One of the most common miniature pests you can find in your home is the dust mite. In the UK allergic reactions are most commonly caused by dust mites. They actually affect more people than pollen or other allergies. Which is why you don’t want them in your home. Here we are going to take a look of how to get rid of dust mites in your home.

Reduce items that collect dust

These are the objects that provide a dust mite with an all you can eat buffet. Dust mite soften live deep inside the fibres of old furniture and are difficult to remove. If you cannot eliminate all traces of dust mites, they will re-infest your home very quickly. Common items you will find dust mites in are pillows, mattresses and blankets. These all have a shorter lifespan. So it’s better to replace them.

Use anti-mite products

Wash everything you can like bedding, curtains, clothing and toys. Then move on to cleaning carpets in your home with a special anti-mite shampoo. Be careful when purchasing anti-mite products as they can be irritant to skin.

Clean surfaces that collect dust

Feather dusters won’t do the job here because they stir the dust up into the air. Afterwards the dust, along with the mites, will fall back down onto the ground. Getting a damp cloth will remove all of the dust it touches no matter where it is. This eliminates a dust mites food source so you have more of a chance of ridding your home of them.

Allow sunlight into your home

Washed bedding and clothing can be hung outside or in places that get a lot of direct sunlight. Air out heavy rugs and curtains as much as possible, remembering that direct sunlight kills dust mites.

Reduce the humidity and temperature

Dust mites thrive in a humid warm environment. This can be prevented by airing out your home. You can also purchase air purifier to keep your home dry.

Adopt a minimalist approach

The more items you have means the more dust that collects. You can’t clean everything individually on a weekly basis. You wouldn’t have time to do anything else! Lose the items that you haven’t used in the last year or put them into storage. The less things you have around the home collecting dust the better it will be.

Mice are cute little creatures to many people. But they are only cute when you keep them as a pet or see them in nature at a distance. They aren’t so cute when they end up in your house. What attracts mice to your home?

Let’s explore this question in more depth, along with how you can reduce the likelihood of that happening.

So What Is Attracting Those Mice?

Food

Food is one of the biggest attractants for all pests. That includes mice. Food left out, crumbs, rubbish containers that haven’t been emptied, spills and messes, can all attract mice to a home. Grease, and other food remnants that we don’t often consider, attract mice too.

Cluttered Homes

Cluttered homes are not necessarily dirty ones, but a lot of clutter does make it hard to clean properly. Crumbs and other items that attract mice build up and you quickly end up with a problem. The other thing about clutter – even in the cleanest of home – is it gives mice a safe place to hide away and settle in.

Easy Access

Mice love places that they can easily get into. That means holes in walls, doors that aren’t properly sealed, and similar access points. Think about it like this…the easier food and shelter are to get to, the more likely they will be to try and take advantage of these resources.

Looking For Warmth

Animals of all kinds, including pests, desire the perfect living climate. For mice, that means a source of warmth. If a mouse can get into your home and it finds that your home is warm, they will make it their home too.

How Can You Keep Mice Out?

Block All Entry Points

We mentioned ease of access above. When trying to prevent mice and combat an existing mouse problem, you want to eliminate as many entry points as possible. Fill holes, use wire mesh, and properly seal your entryways.

Have A Predator In Your Home

Mice don’t want to be around those that hunt them. The most common household pets are often mice predators. Cats are a prime example. A cat will help to keep mice away. They are the exact opposite of what attracts mice to your home!

Clean, Clean, Clean

Now you know what attracts mice to your home, we need to take those incentives away.

As we already mentioned, food is one of the biggest motivators of all pests. Cleaning your home and removing clutter will prevent mice from wanting to come to your house, and choose your neighbour‘s property instead. While cleaning won’t necessarily get rid of mice in itself, you can’t start to tackle a mouse problem until you have a scrupulous regime.

Make sure to keep it up. Regular vacuuming, organisation, and taking out the rubbish will all help to prevent mice from returning once your Diamond pest control technician has worked his magic.

Proper Food Storage

Keeping food in sealed containers helps to prevent pests from smelling it. Any in-home composting should be fully sealed to prevent the smell from getting out. Don’t leave any food related items lying around uncovered.

Pest Control Services

Whether you want help and advice about mouse proofing, or you have an active infestation, Diamond‘s pest control services are one of the most effective ways to combat mice. Our experts not only know the right methods to use, but also can help identify potential attractants for pests.

It’s very possible to have fleas in your home, even if you don’t have any pets. Having fleas without pets sounds surprising, but it’s not an uncommon occurrence.

There are a few explanations of why you are experiencing a flea infestation without having any household pets.

• Fleas can hitch hike back home with you on your trouser hem or socks after a walk in the park or other places with long grass.
• Stray cats and dogs around the neighbourhood can drop them off by your door.
• Local rodents such as squirrels, foxes, badgers, rats and mice can all spread fleas around your garden, which then transport themselves into your home.

Many wild animals are prone to having fleas. As they cross your threshold or go through your garden they can drop off fleas. They can also drop off their eggs, which will then hatch. Even when you walk through your own garden, fleas will cling to your clothes and get a free ride into your home. You can see how easily an infestation of fleas without pets can occur, without you knowing.

Facts About Fleas

Flea eggs will hatch in around one to six days. It all depends on the temperature they are exposed to. A flea can then live from three to four months without a host. If fleas have been dropped off in your garden, they can wait this amount of time patiently for you to walk by and take them into the warmth of your house…and the promise of a free lunch!

Joking aside, though, flea bites are uncomfortable and can also pose a serious health risk. Fleas can transmit diseases. They are also hosts of tapeworms, something which occasionally infects humans, especially young children. This infection can occur when fleas are ingested accidentally. If you do experience a flea infestation, it’s important to eliminate them as soon as possible. That is where Diamond Pest Control come in.

Stopping Fleas From Infesting Your Home

Now you know a bit more about how and why it is possible to get fleas without pets, let’s look at a few suggestions on how to avoid them.

• Wash your bed linens, vacuum the carpets, floors and furniture regularly.
• Avoid walking through tall grass where fleas tend to hide.
• Keep lawns and vegetation in your garden well maintained.
• Empty the vacuum bag outside and dispose of the contents in a sealed bag.
• If you think you have a problem with fleas, contact us straight away to treat the problem.

A Few Extra Tips For Pet Owners

If you do have a pet or might have on in the future, here are some ways you can prevent fleas from infesting your home.

• Check your pets frequently for fleas or flea dirt.
• Be aware if they are scratching, licking or biting themselves excessively.
• Bathe your pets on a regular basis.
• Wash the pet bedding, collars and plush toys frequently.
• Talk to your vet about preventing the problem with ongoing flea treatments.

These facts and tips will hopefully stop you from picking up any unwanted visitors. If you don’t own a pet but have fleas anyway, don’t be shocked. It really could happen to anyone.

The signs of rats in your loft are easy to spot if you know what you’re looking for. Or if you realise you even need to look. But rats in UK attics often go unnoticed until they start to invade other areas of the home. There are several different signs you can keep your eye out for to help you find out if rats are infesting your attic.

If you do find any rats in the loft, remember you need to deal with them as soon as possible.

Rats can find their way into other areas of your home and contaminate food sources. Even if they only stay in the loft, diseases can be spread through the ventilation system of your home. Here are some simple ways to find out if you have a rat infestation in your attic.

• Noises

Rats are active at night. There are some things that can cause them to wake during the day, such as bad weather or loud noises. Pay close attention to any noises you hear that are coming from your loft at night. This is when rats will be looking for food and building their nests. Scuffling sounds are one of the signs of rats in loft spaces. You can always leave a small recording device in the loft if you don’t fancy staying up all night.

• Chew marks and footprints

Gnaw markings and rat droppings around your home are a definite sign of a rat problem. Any hard surface will be gnawed on by a rat. Electrical wires are also another one of their favourite things to chew. If you’re not finding obvious signs of rats, lay some talcum powder down. Inspect if there are footprints over the next few days.

• Droppings

Another one of the clear signs of rats in loft or attic voids is droppings. Rats will leave a trail of faeces if they’re scurrying around your attic. It’s most common to find them around food sources. In the loft, you will find droppings around where the rats are nesting. You can also look for rat urine using a black light. You’ll be horrified by how much rat urine can get all over kitchen work surfaces and utensils.

• Possible entry points

Look around your attic for possible signs of entry. Rats can fit through small openings. Check the whole loft for spots a rat may have entered from. Preventing rats from getting in in the first place can save you a lot of time and money further down the road.

Remember that if you are suffering from a rat control problem you need to get in touch with a professional pest control company. Only they can fully eradicate a rat problem and ensure that rats don’t enter your property again. At the first signs of rats in loft or anywhere else, give Diamond a call. We will come out promptly.

Bed bugs are horrible creatures that disgust many a homeowner in the UK. A bed bug infestation can grow very quickly if it goes untreated. Professional bed bug control services are important if you have spotted the sings of bed bugs in your home. They can be difficult to notice.

Many people believe that you can get rid of bed bugs by exposing them to cold temperatures for a short period of time.

This is not true. Can bed bugs survive in winter? Yes, they can. Read on to learn more about it.

How Do Bed Bugs Survive The Winter?

Winter temperatures do present a challenge for normal bed bug activity. But they are more than able to survive at this time of year. As long as they have a blood meal, a bed bug will continue to live. The feeding activities for a bed bug usually happen indoors where we’ve got the heating on. They don’t stop spawning even in the winter, causing a big bed bug infestation problem at any time of year.

So what kind of winter temperatures can a bed bug withstand? Bed bugs have been known to live through short-term exposure to temperatures as low as -25 degrees. However, they are not completely resistant to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Your home freezer can actually be a good way of getting bed bugs from your clothes and bed sheets.

Keeping Your Items Outside In Winter

It might seem logical that keeping bed bug infested items outside in the winter will get rid of them. After all, freezer space is precious. This is not the case though. You shouldn’t assume the cold outdoor weather in winter will kill off bed bugs. You will never be able to be 100% certain that no are no more bed bugs on your things.

The reason why the freezer is a great way to get rid of bed bugs is because the weather fluctuates. Sun and other factors can keep bed bugs warm. Even when it seems bitter outside. They won’t get the exposure to the cold temperatures that are needed to kill them. Continuous freezing temperatures are crucial for killing bed bugs.

Professional Bed Bug Services

Attempting to do some DIY pest control on a bed bug infestation usually results in things getting worse. An experienced professional pest controller like Diamond Pest Control is always the best solution. If you are struggling with a bed bug problem in your home, don’t expose your items to the freezing winter cold. Call our team today.

One of the most at-risk items on your property when it comes to foxes, is your outdoor rubbish. Foxes are clever creatures that are cunning as well as agile. They can sneak into your garden without you or other animals noticing. That is part of what makes them such amazing hunters.

Your bins (and your good standing with the neighbours) need extra protection when it comes to fox proofing.

So, with that in mind, we are going to share some clever tricks that you can use for fox proofing your garden bins!

Put Weight On The Lid

Foxes are strong but they are still fairly small creatures. If you put a brick on the lid of your dustbin, they will struggle to open it. Either put the weight in the centre of the lid, or place one on either side of the lid.  A single weight on one side could be used by the fox to topple the container.

Don’t forget to ensure that the bin itself can handle the weight on top of the lid. Not all containers are strong enough for this.

Get A Tamperproof Bin

Another solution is to get bins that are specifically designed to keep animals out. While the quality of these bins varies, you can find good options to go with. For the most part, these containers offer lids that secure with clips or a screw-on effect, and are made so they are harder to topple. Fox proofing your garden bins has never been easier.

Hide The Smell

Foxes won’t be overly interested in your rubbish if they aren’t able to smell it easily. Using a deterrent method that prevents them from smelling the contents of your bin can work well. Certain essential oils are used by many people because they are effective against many types of animals. Others choose scented bin bags. Just try to mask the smell as much as possible. Even using multiple bin bags can help.

Use Motion Sensor Lights

Animals don’t like the idea of being seen whilst on the hunt or foraging, especially foxes – remember they pride themselves on being sly! If you put a motion sensor light where you

keep your bin, being in the spotlight really puts foxes off. Just make sure that nothing obstructs a fox-sized creature from setting off the sensor.

Animal Repellant

Many shops sell various types of animal repellants that you can place in or around your dustbin. Getting one that is designed to keep foxes away will work best. These repellants often come in the form of tablets or sprays. Sprays might have to be reapplied to your rubbish on a regular basis.

Use Ultrasonic Pest Deterrents

Most pests, including foxes, don’t like certain frequencies of sound. An ultrasonic device targeted toward preventing pests is reported to keep foxes away. It is important to make sure you get a well-reviewed device, as not all devices have the same quality level. And because you can’t hear the noise yourself, make sure that the device is on and the battery is maintained.

However, one important thing to note is that these devices can agitate your pets. Only use them if you do not have pets.

Foxes are like many other pests that want to get into your dustbin…they are persistent and resourceful. So these tips may or may not work for you. If you need professional help from a pest control company with an excellent track record, contact us here at Diamond. We are here to help!

If you think your business doesn’t need pest control, you are probably not fully aware of the implications. The fact is though, that pests can destroy almost any kind of business when they are determined to do so. In many businesses, pests can make the working space unsafe. in other industries, pests can damage precious equipment and stock. Business pest control is essential.

No matter what your business is, pest control is often necessary due to the following reasons:

1. It protects your assets

You do not want mice living in the walls of your office, spoiling food stocks and chewing through supplies and packaging. And you certainly do not need carpenter ants to undermine and potentially collapse the structure of your building. Pest control not only prevents these types of damage, but also protect your furniture from being ruined.

2. It prevents fire and flood risk

Have you ever thought about what will happen if rodents like mice, rats and squirrels started gnawing on the wires and pipes around your business? Well, the effects could be disastrous. At best, electrical and water supply malfunction is a risk. But fire and flood hazards can also be a very real consequence of having rodents on your business premises.

3. It keeps your employees and the public healthy

Rodents, flies and cockroaches are notorious when it comes to contaminating food. So, pest control can keep your employees safe and healthy by keeping staff food safe from infestations. If you own a food related business, this benefit of business pest control will extend to customers and the general public.

4. It keeps clients with your firm

Many clients would never say it to your face if they see a cockroach or a mouse scuttling around your office. But it turns them off and they do care. That means that if you want to keep your clients satisfied, you cannot afford to have pests around. The same goes for wasps and flies buzzing around a pub garden or restaurant. Customers will go elsewhere.

5. It gives everyone peace of mind

Have you ever experienced a mosquito or a fly or something similar bugging you while you try to work? It probably broke your concentration and made you angry or frustrated. The feeling is more common than you think. So if you worry about your own efficiency and the efficiency of your employees, business pest control can help productivity and workplace wellbeing.

6. It guards your reputation

Once a business loses its reputation, it is almost always ruined forever. And there are only a few things that can taint your reputation as badly as the presence of pests. Sometimes all it takes is one sighting, and  word spreads faster than the infestation. Why take the risk?

7. It increases your profit

Having pests in your business is a sure fire way of seeing profits plummet fast. But if your working equipment and furniture remain in good order, if your customers love you, and if your employees are content, your profits are sure to rise. That cannot happen if you allow pests to wreak havoc.

Pests may, on the surface, appear like small nuisances. But, if you take the time to think about it, they can do an insane amount of damage to your business. On many levels. And you know what they say – prevention is always better than cure!

While some people take amazing care of their gardens and are proactively thinking of pest problems, there are still plenty of people who aren’t. Your garden can be just as much of a hiding place for pests as your home can. Why is that? Why do garden rodents swarm to cluttered outdoor spaces?

The answer to that question is more complex than just one point. There are multiple reasons why you find pests in garden clutter and let’s take a look at why.

A Place To Call Home For UK Garden Rodents

A lot of clutter provides various pests with the perfect home. They have plenty of hiding places and all the protection they need. Whether it is from the climate, predators, or us as people. The more clutter that‘s present, the more likely that pests are going to gravitate to your garden.

Besides just being a place for shelter, many of the items UK garden rodents and foxes need to make a nest or den are present in a cluttered or unkempt garden. In fact, they will probably be able to make a better home in your garden than they will in nature if the resources are abundant.

Food Sources and Water Supply

Overgrown gardens attract smaller pests like rodents, which in turn are food for bigger pests. So by attracting the smaller pests you are also attracting larger ones. Furthermore, clutter in the form of leaves, debris, and rotting fruit are all good sources of food for pests of all sizes.

Water can also be found in cluttered gardens. All rodents need water to some degree. And it is much easier when there is clutter present. Excess outdoor objects like tarps covering grills, un-stored toys and miscellaneous bric-a-brac can catch and hold water for quite some time.

A Safe Place From Predators

Pests use cluttered gardens as a place to hide from those that might chase and eat them. Even if a pest doesn’t live in your cluttered garden, they will be frequent visitors if they feel that those that hunt them their hunters won’t be able to get to them or find them easily.

Much of the time, we won’t even notice UK garden rodents in a cluttered garden at first, because it is hard to see them. Your cluttered garden is also protecting them from you. And keeping you from awareness of the destruction they can cause!

Prevention is the Best Policy

Think about all of the points we have discussed. Many of these factors are the same reasons that a pest might seek out your home for a place to hide out. If you want to keep your garden free of pests you have to declutter it just like you would declutter your home to prevent pests indoors.

If you haven’t managed to do preventative measures in time, and are having a problem with garden pests, you might need to consult our experts here at Diamond Pest Control. Gardens are even harder to get pests out of because UK garden rodents have the freedom to roam and hide. Pest control experts have access to a wide variety of tools that allow them to better hunt these annoying (and often harmful) creatures.

Now you know why pests like your garden better when it is cluttered, you know that it is essential to maintain and keep it clean. Think about all of the things you likely have in your garden. How much of it do you actually need out there?

During the winter months, you are likely to spend a lot of time indoors because of the change in temperature. Guess what…pests are looking for the same escape. In order to keep any pests from making your home their winter hideout, it is important that you take steps towards creating a pest proof home this winter.

Here are some of the best pest proofing steps you can take!

Keep On Top Of Home Maintenance

The first line of defence for your home against pests should be to ensure that you make entry as difficult as possible. Seal up all potential entrances. Sounds easy right? But not as easy as many people think.

The logical areas to target are the doors and windows, and to apply sealant to them. However, there are a couple other areas to look at in addition to this:

• Holes In The Exterior Walls
• Outdoor Vents
• Chimneys
• The Roof And Loft

Remember that many creatures are very crafty, and can end up fitting into holes smaller than you would think possible. Mice are a good example of this. They are able to contort their bodies to fit into holes that are smaller than they are.

Fixing any leaky pipes and clogged drains will deter pests that like damp places. You should also avoid the build-up of stagnant outdoor water that might attract pests.

Store Your Food In Sealed Containers

Just the smell of food can be enough for a pest to make your home their chosen place to go instead of your neighbours. A crucial step to making a pest proof home is containing those smells. Wherever possible, your food should go in a sealed container such as a ZipLock bag or a Tupperware type box. This will go a long way to preventing pests from being attracted to your home.

This includes storing your leftovers, bread, and condiments in containers that won’t allow pests to smell them. And don’t forget to store your pet food in sealed containers too. And don’t leave pet food out at night.

Keep Everything As Clean As Possible

Cleaning is a very effective weapon for keeping pests at bay and ensuring a pest proof home. The more thoroughly you clean, the less there is to attract pests of any kind. Many of the small spills and crumbs we leave behind us when we eat or cook make the perfect meal for pests.

On top of hygiene, regular housework does something more to prevent pests. It helps ensure that pests have nowhere to hide in your home. Good pest proofing practice includes removing as much clutter as possible, even in storage areas.

Don’t Leave Food Rubbish In The House

Rubbish is a big draw fir pests of all kinds. Even during the winter, kitchen bins can attract pests into your home quicker than you think. Never leave bins in your home un-emptied for too long. And make sure the lids are a tight fit and close properly.

To further protect your rubbish, you can use scented bin bags or add a drop of peppermint essential oil. Strong scents prevent animals from being able to smell the contents of the bag as easily.

All of these tips are designed to work together. Doing just one will probably not result in a pest free home. The more of these tasks you do, and the more often you do them, the better you are pest proofing your home for the winter.