Signs That You Have Pests In Your Home

You've found droppings around the house

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First and foremost, the most obvious sign of having a pest infestation around the home is finding droppings lying about. While it's not always easy to identify which pests the droppings belong to, at least it's the first step in acknowledging your home has a problem.

Dead bugs can be found along your windowsill

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If there are signs of dead bugs in the house, then the likelihood is that there's some live ones in there somewhere. Quite often, the dead bugs can be noticed lying on your windowsill, where they probably tried to get out and (not-so) sadly passed away.

There are little footprints guiding the way

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If your house is subject to a pest invasion then you might find the evidence in the form of little footprints. If this is the case and you want to find out where the little pests are heading to, lay out some sand or sawdust so you can definitely see what they're getting up to.

There's some damage to your skirting boards

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Have you ever watched Tom and Jerry? Mice (and rats) will just about gnaw through anything and that includes your precious skirting boards. Often, they will look for their home in the solace of your warm walls so inspect your skirting boards at every crevice.

You've got really old windows

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If you're windows are really old and don't close properly, or you know that there's a gap where a gap shouldn't be, then there's a high chance that bugs or rodents have managed to climb their way into your house for that little bit of warmth. Don't let them outstay their welcome.

There's evidence that a nest is nearby

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If there's a pest invasion, there's gotta be a home, right? For some pests, especially birds, you might find evidence of rubbish or sticks that the vermin have used to create their own little nest somewhere in the house. Follow the breadcrumbs and you just might figure it out!

You can hear scuttling in the walls

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Rats and mice will get just about anywhere in your home, but how do they travel about unseen? It's the walls. Sometimes, if you're quiet enough, you just might heard the sound of them scuttling about, right up your wall. They might even nip out and nibble on some of your cereal!

You know that your roof is damaged

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It can be easy for birds to make their way into your attic and usually they do this via your roof. If you know that your roof is in need of some TLC then it's probably attracted some unwanted pigeons who have taken it upon themselves to make your home theirs.

Your wood is starting to rot in parts of your home

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A symptom of termites or carpenter ants in your home is rotting wood. They favor the softer wood you'll find in damp places like basements and attics. Investigate any possible tunnels or other small openings. Decks, fence posts, and any other outdoor timber should also be inspected.

You can see holes in some of your furniture

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Not only will mice find their way into your skirting boards and walls, they might even crawl their way into your furniture too. This can be any kind of wooden unit, your sofas, your desk, sets of drawers, anything basically. Make sure to give all your furniture a proper inspection.

There's flapping noises coming from the attic

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If there's flapping noises coming from your attic or loft then something is definitely wrong. I'm pretty sure it's not meant to make that noise. The likelihood is that pigeons or another type of bird has manged to break its way in and nest there. Take a look to see what other evidence you can find.

There's evidence of wings found around the house

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Moulting is a common process among insects. The insect larvae undergoes sheds its skin several times. Sheds and egg cases from insects like cockroaches, bedbugs, and beetles may be strewn about your house in the event of a mass invasion. Don't just ignore the signs.

Your dog is obsessed with a crevice of your home

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Dogs obviously have a better sense of smell than us and in some cases might even spot your pest invasion before you do. If you've noticed that your dog has become particularly obsessed with a section of your house, then definitely give it a thorough inspection.

You can smell a strong scent of ammonia

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Each pest might have its distinct own odor and with rats and mice that odor is ammonia. If you don't know what ammonia smells like, it's been described as similar to the scent of urine or sweat. Finding that your garage or basement smells particularly bad might be an indication of a home invasion.

You're experiencing some plumbing problems

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Insects, flies, and rodents may be drawn to a home because of plumbing problems. Remember that rodents and insects are also thirsty for water. To avoid detection, they will look in inconspicuous places, such as behind walls. Humidity caused by plumbing leaks is a breeding ground for many pests.

You've noticed sawdust trails around your home

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Believe it or not, sawdust trails can be a big indication that your house and succumbed into an invasion of ants. Make sure that you haven't left any sweet and sticky substances behind that might be enticing the ants to come inside your home and settle there.

There's been a spike in the amount of flies in your home

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Flies can be a nuisance around the house, especially in summer time when the windows and doors are open. You might have noticed that your usual fly traps are attracting many more flies than usual and you shouldn't ignore the signs that they could be breeding in your home.

You've found a bag of moldy fruit in the back of the cupboard

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Fruit flies can be just as much a nuisance as normal house flies. They are usually found near old, sweet, mold is. If you've seen a spike of these around the house then it's probably time to root through your cupboards and get rid of those old fruit and vegetables.

You've seen snail trails across your furniture

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You might not have even considered the fact that snails and slugs can invade your home too, but they certainly can. One of the only telltale signs of these slimy critters leeching off your house is the slime trail they leave behind in their wake. Don't just dismiss it!

There's a pile of dirt or soil by your door

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Ants will usually love in some form of anthill, like this one. If you've got one of these strange looking lumps near one of your exterior doors then it might just be that they have started making their way inside your home. Well, they don't pay rent do they? Get rid of them!

Cockroach eggs have been left around your home

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Well, where do you think cockroaches come from? Unfortunately, there's no stalk in the sky that drops them off, they're hatched from eggs. If you don't know what these look like, they can be a red or brown color and are usually around 5-10mm in length.

Maggots have made an appearance in certain places

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Maggots are how flies are born. If you have any rotten food lying about that you should definitely have already gotten rid of, then get rid of it and fast. If you're noticing little maggots lying about, chances are there will be something rotten nearby.

There's a slight sound of rustling

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If you can hear a slight sound of rustling when you're trying to watch the TV then either you're going absolutely mad or there's an army of ants traipsing around your home. The sound can come from inside your walls or from spaces that are out of reach.

You don't know where all the dead flies are coming from

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Has there been a massive increase in the amount of dead flies appearing on your windowsill just lately? Well, consider the fact that there might be some kind of infestation happening and it doesn't always mean a fly problem - there could be a decaying rat body sat there somewhere too.

Little bird noises can be heard from within your house

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Fairly obviously, if there's little birds nesting in your home then they're bound to make some kind of noise aren't they. When you wake up, don't dismiss those little tweeting noises as though they are coming from outside of your window... they might just be inside!

Your wooden beams sound hollow

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If you knock on one of the beams in your house and it sounds hollow, chances are that some sort of infestation has occurred there. Hollow, wooden beams can be a big indication that ants have somehow managed to burrow themselves inside to make themselves at home.

There's damage to the boxes in your attic

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An attic is a great place for rats and mice to live as they are usually the most undisturbed places in the home. Signs of these vermin living rent-free in your loft might be that your box of Christmas decorations has been nibbled at, with a hole made to get inside.

There's a greasy smell to your house

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Cockroaches tend to give off a specific odor just like rats and mice do. If you've noticed that any of the rooms around your house have started to smell greasier over the past few weeks, then chances are cockroaches have made their way into the walls of your home.

Ants guide the way into your house

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Ants are insects that won't hide from humans, and are so obnoxious that they will just continue to go about their business while you stand there and watch. You might have noticed little trails of ants seeping in through your front or back door. Get rid of them!

You've found little cockroach body parts scattered

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Cockroaches are known to lose parts of their body as they work their way around your home. This might mean that you notice some little cockroach legs lying about while cleaning. Don't ignore the signs and get yourself an exterminator in to solve the problem.

Now you know you have a pest problem - here's how to deal with it! Seal any gaps you find

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It goes without saying that pests are going to sneak their way in any way they can, including gaps in your walls and floors you might not have even realized you have! Do a thorough check of any potential gap areas and then be sure to seal them all off as soon as you can.

You can use fresh herbs to deter them

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Fresh herbs are for more than just eating! This is a great one as a mosquito repellent. You can buy - or grow your own - fresh herbs, specifically rosemary and sage, to use while you're spending time in your garden. If you have an outside fire or a BBQ, you can put the herbs directly onto them.

Make sure to repair any torn screens or nets

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Inspect your screen doors, window screens and mosquito nets very carefully, as even the slightest tear could be enough of a gap to let a mosquito or other pest find its way through! And if you notice any tears, make sure to fix them as soon as possible before the pests get a look in!

Use food as an irresistible deterrent!

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This one is a handy tip for any garden pests you may have if you want to protect your plants, but it's also good for keeping pests at the other end of the garden instead of outside your door where they could venture in. If you set up food like a bird feeder with seeds right at the end of the garden, it's like a lot of animals - including pests - will be drawn to it.

White vinegar is your best friend

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We know white vinegar stinks, which is also why pests aren't going to like it either! But it's better to have your home smelling of vinegar for a bit instead of overrun by creepy crawlies. Ants in particular don't like white vinegar, so you can apply a solution to wherever you think they're wandering about - or even as a deterrent before they get in!

Onions can also work great against certain pests

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Onions also have a very strong whiff, so it's understandable why certain pests won't like these either. If you can deal with crying for a bit when you're chopping them up, it'll be worth it, because if you place the chopped pieces into a bowl of water, it's a good deterrent for spiders in particular. Pop the bowls in problem areas!

Copper mesh is ideal for filling holes

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If you took our advice from earlier and found some gaps and holes around your home, a good filler for them is actually copper mesh, especially for large holes that you might find between stonework on your property. You can use a screwdriver to push in the mesh into the gaps, and foam sealant to finish it all off!

Make a fly trap with apple cider vinegar

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Fruit flies are among the most annoying pests for your kitchen, so if you're having trouble with them, you can make an easy apple cider vinegar solution as a trap. Use a bowl or a jar to pour some apple cider vinegar into, and then cover the top with a plastic wrap. Push a couple of holes into the wrap, so that the flies can get through into the sweet smell of the vinegar - and won't be able to get out again!

Be vigilant about cobwebs

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Most of us are happy just to see cobwebs instead of actual spiders, but if there's a cobweb then - as we know - there has to be its creator! The best thing you can do is keep on top of cobweb build up, especially in cellars and attics, by using a broom to sweep them away.

Use a spray bottle to get rid of that ant trail

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Ants are very organized little critters, and they leave an ant trail so that other ants know where to follow. To get rid of the ants, you need to get rid of the trail, and one of the best ways to do that is to make a solution in a spray bottle of vinegar and water and spray it directly onto where you see the trail. But this one get rid of ants that have already got through, so you'll have to use ant bait separately on any established nesting.

Repurpose your coffee grounds

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It's a win win if you can control pests while also recycling some ingredients! If you have some leftover coffee grounds, you can actually use them to deter pests. Most pests won't like that strong smell of coffee, so you can place them at entrances like the doorstep outside your home.

Check any crawl spaces for nests

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If you have a larger property with a fair few crawl spaces, then you'll already know this is like a luxury retreat for pests. Make sure to regularly take time to gear yourself up to get right into the crawl space and check if it's all clear of nests. There might be obvious nests like piles of material for rodents, but you can also look for ants or cockroaches that might be lazing about.

Make sure your pet food is secured tight

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If you keep a good stock of pet food, this is also going to be a potential feast for pests like rodents. If you keep huge bags of dog food, or any kind of pet food, make sure to secure it in a sealed container with a tight lid, or you can go for a metal trashcan with a lid because pests won't be able to cling onto the sides of the metal to climb up.

Check your dryer vent

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Get into a good habit of inspecting your dryer vent, because if the damper is broken off or is stuck open a little bit, this can be a gateway for pests getting in. It's also possible that if the vent isn't sealed completely against the wall, the gap there, too, can be a way in for pests!

Make sure all bushes/trees are trimmed back from your outside wall

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If you have plants, trees or bushes which grow outside your home's doors or windows and their leaves or branches go up against the walls/windows of your property, this risks pests that are on the foliage wandering along and then onto the walls. Make sure to trim them back so that pests don't have that bridge across!

Place cornmeal down

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Did you know that cornmeal can also work on ants? So if you've spotted ants, you can also put down some cornmeal. The reason it works is that ants are attracted to cornmeal to eat, but they actually can't digest it properly. Because of this, it'll kill them - and the cornmeal will be a non-toxic solution to get rid of them.

Know the best times to check for bed bugs

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Because of the nature of bed bugs, you think they're only possible if you yourself have been sleeping in the bed and not keeping on top of cleaning, sheet changing or vacuuming. But actually, you should make sure to check for bed bugs after someone has stayed overnight at your home, or if you yourself have got back from visiting someone else's home as a guest. This is because bed bugs can also travel from place to place on clothing.

Make your own essential oil repellent spray

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It's always great when you can make your own solutions with essential oils and keep a bottle handy. You can make a great repellent spray for dust mites using essential oils: eucalyptus, clove, lavender or peppermint oil mixed with water in a spray bottle will do the trick!

Take care with your seasonal bedding or clothing

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We all have that storage of seasonal items that we only bring out at certain times of year, like a thicker duvet or our sweaters for winter. If you've had anything in storage for a while, though, make sure to wash them on a high temperature and dry before using to kill off any potential pest eggs that might be on them.

Get a cap for your chimney

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Chimneys are prime spots for pests like rodents or even birds to get into your home, or get stuck in the chimney - or, worse, make their own nest in there, that can cause a problem. To prevent this from happening, get a cap and screen for the top of your chimney to guard it from anything getting in.