Bed bugs, roaches, termites, ants, and spiders. Do you already feel the jitters reading the names of all these critters? Well, the rhyme may sound interesting, but living with these pests around us isn’t really a pleasant feeling for a majority of people out there. Not only are these creepy crawlies signs of a poorly-kept house but are also super spreaders of various diseases. So obviously, keeping these pests out of your house is the ideal choice for everyone.

Along with maintaining clean spaces, you can also opt for fumigation to clear these pests out. If you’ve been facing nightmares with these pests and are wondering what to do, let us help you prepare further. From the materials you need to the process you can follow, here’s a comprehensive explanation of how to fumigate and get rid of pests. Read along to also know about a few tips that can help you keep these critters as far away from your house as possible.

What Materials You Need To Fumigate Your House

Before you get to the fumigation process, you need to decide whether you wish to handle the process on your own or would prefer to get professional help. If you choose to go ahead on your own, you can start gathering the required materials based on whether you wish to use chemical or natural, organic fumigants. While organic fumigants can be prepared from a few items available in your house itself, you can reach out to your nearest pesticides shop to buy the chemical fumigants.

Do keep in mind that these chemical fumigants are effective in dealing with pests but can be hazardous to human health as well, at least to some extent. It is necessary to exercise extreme precaution during the entire fumigation process.

Here’s a list of a few materials that will need to be arranged for the fumigation process:

Storage Boxes

Try and arrange for a few empty boxes in which you can store certain appliances or items, especially if you’re running out of shelf or cupboard space. Ideally, keep all your items covered so they aren’t spoiled by the chemicals during the fumigation process.

Plastic Sheets

Along with boxes, arrange for a number of plastic sheets to keep all furniture pieces, clothing items, appliances, and all other belongings covered. Exposure to chemicals may damage many of your precious belongings.

Protective Gear

You’ve made arrangements for the house, but you too will need ample protective gears to stay safe from those toxic chemicals. Make sure to arrange for gloves, masks, and eye goggles before you begin the fumigation process.

Fumigants

Of course, without these you wouldn’t be able to go ahead with the process of fumigation. If you choose to go with organic fumigants, there are a number of items like vinegar, borax, citrus, cinnamon oil, and dish soap that you can easily find in your kitchen itself.

If you have a larger issue at hand and would need strong chemicals to get rid of pests, you can arrange for a chemical fumigant based on the method of fumigation you choose. Solid, liquid, and gas fumigation are the different options available for indoor fumigation. You can use aluminum phosphide and calcium cyanide for solid fumigation.

A few examples of liquid fumigants include carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, carbon disulfide, and ethyl acetate. For gas fumigation, you can make use of methyl bromide and sulfuryl fluoride. Though these chemicals are more commonly used to protect crops from infestation, they are also effective in getting rid of pests in indoor and outdoor spaces.

Fumigant Tools

While organic fumigants can just be placed in various spaces, for liquid and gas chemical fumigants, you will need to arrange for a sprayer or a spray bottle. You can also check out the different fogger bombs available at local home improvement stores.

Fumigating And Getting Rid Of Pests

Now that you’re all set with the equipment, here are the steps involved in the fumigation process and say goodbye to those pesky critters.

Step 1: Covering Your Belongings

If you’ve chosen to take the DIY approach to fumigate, your first step will be to decide and gather the products you’ll use and then thoroughly read up about the right way of handling them. Once you’ve got some knowledge of your fumigant, the next step would be to prepare the house or the infected area that needs to be tackled.
Firstly, try to keep a majority of your things covered, either place them inside cupboards or use proper plastic sheets to protect them.

Make sure to neatly cover all your appliances, clothes, furniture, and other belongings before you start with the fumigation process. Your kitchen will be one particular area that might require extra effort to prepare for the process.

For instance, you have to make sure that the sink as well as the dustbin are clear of any waste. Ensure that your countertops are clear and keep all your cutlery and appliances covered. No food item should be left uncovered during the process. You can store the perishables in the refrigerator and use tightly sealed containers to store the other items.

Step 2: Exposing The Pests’ Hidey-Holes

Your next step would be to clear the infected area of other objects and make all spaces easily accessible. Pests tend to hide in corners or small gaps that are difficult to access. Try changing the layout or remove unnecessary furniture so you can apply the fumigant in all those areas. If you have carpets or rugs on the floor, it is best to roll and keep them away from the chemical exposure of the fumigation.

Step 3: Fumigating Your House

After you’ve prepared all corners of your house, it’s time to start with the fumigation process. Depending on the kind of fumigant you’ve chosen, you’ll either have to spray them in the infected areas or strew them in measured quantities across all the infected areas. Try to ensure minimal exposure to the fumigants during as well as after the process. Once done with the process, make sure to immediately clean yourself up and change your clothes. Plan to leave your house empty after fumigation at least for a couple of hours.

Step 4: Cleaning Up

The last step of your fumigation process involves the things you need to take care of after the process is complete. When you return home after a couple of hours or so, make sure to open all doors and windows to allow air ventilation. If you forgot to cover any food items, whether packed or not, or any bathroom toiletries where the fumigants were released, you will have to discard all those items. This is especially important when you’re using chemical fumigants as their toxic nature makes them extremely dangerous for the human body in any form.

Along with being cautious, you also have to be patient before, during, and even after the entire fumigation process is over. If you have small kids or pets around and aren’t comfortable handling the chemicals on your own, it is best to leave the job to professionals.

Also Read: Looking For “Pest Control Near Me”?

Things To Keep In Mind When Fumigating Your House

  • Going the organic way is definitely a much safer option than using chemicals for the fumigation process. However, if the extent of the infection is widespread or there are multiple pests causing havoc, we do suggest reaching out to a professional pest control company that is experienced in handling those toxic chemical fumigants.
  • Make sure to keep all your belongings covered and keep the infected area accessible for easy fumigation. Try arranging for an alternate accommodation for a few days while the fumigation process is being carried out. Make sure to keep kids, seniors, and pets away from the house not just during the process but also for a while after, at least till the areas have been cleaned.
  • Whether you’re using organic fumigants or some strong chemicals, make sure to use the necessary protective gear like gloves and mask at all times. Do ample research and carefully read the instructions before attempting to use any chemicals on your own.
  • Though you will be taking all the necessary precautions, it is best to keep yourself a little prepared in case of unforeseen accidents. Make sure to keep soothing anti-allergy or rash creams, cotton, band-aids, and an antiseptic cream or lotion handy at all times.

Tips To Keep Pests Out Of Your House

By now you’ve already read about how you can get rid of pests from your house, but we also have a few tips that you could follow to ensure that these creepy crawlies do not find a way back to your house again.

  • Do you get irritated when you spot a fly hovering around your food dishes or trying to settle down on your kitchen items? Just place a pot of basil on the windowsills or the kitchen counter. Flies highly repel the smell of basil and chances are that they won’t come near those areas again.
  • Make use of lemon and citrus peels to keep spiders from crawling up your countertops or roaming around your kitchen garden. You can mix water and unsweetened lemon in a spray bottle and use it whenever you spot a spider around you.
  • Another interesting and easily available kitchen ingredient can be used to tackle ants that have taken over your countertops. Yes, it’s vinegar that we are talking about. You can use a 50-50 solution of water and vinegar and spray it over the areas where you’ve spotted ants. Do this multiple times in the same area to destroy the scent trails used by ants to navigate further.
  • Use a 50-50 mix of water and denatured alcohol and add a few drops of cinnamon bark oil to it to control dust mites. You can spray it over carpets, beddings, and all areas that easily accumulate dust.

Apart from these easy homemade remedies, few more things that you can take note of to keep pests as far away from your house as possible include, properly sealing all cracks and gaps that might be present in doors and windows or any missing roof shingles. Make sure to regularly clean drains and properly dispose of trash and litter. Be regular with your cleaning rounds to not give these pests any opportunities to creep in and settle in your house.

FAQs

What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of Pests?

The best way to get rid of pests is to keep your house and surroundings as clean as possible at all times. Make sure to dispose of garbage regularly and not clutter your house with unnecessary items you don’t need. You can use some of the materials that we’ve mentioned in our article for fumigating your house from time to time.
Alternatively, you can also avail of the services of a professional company for pest control services, if needed.

Does Fumigation Kill All Bugs?

Fumigation done using effective chemicals is said to kill bugs and a number of other pests as well. Although the fumigation technique is most often used to get rid of termites, different dosages of the chemical used can kill a number of other bugs and insects as well.

How Much Does It Cost To Fumigate Your House?

The total cost of fumigating your house would vary based on your house size and the kind of insect treatment you choose. As estimated by HomeAdvisor, the process of fumigation for termites and cockroaches usually costs between $1 to $3 per square foot. This means for a 1,000 square feet house, it could cost between $1,000 to $3,000 to fumigate the entire house. This cost could also differ based on the professional company you choose as well as the chemicals used for the process.

Can I fumigate my house myself?

It’s not easy trying to get rid of those pesky bugs that seem to love your house! You could call an expert, but if time is tight or you don’t want the expense, DIY fumigation might be for you.

Does fumigation get rid of cockroaches?

Cockroaches can survive high levels of radiation, but fumigation kills them quite easily. It’s a great way to kill lots and quickly!

Is vinegar good for pest control?

The best way to kill pesky pests is with vinegar. Not only does it make for an excellent cleaning agent, but the acetic acid in this liquid will also deter many types of bugs from coming near your home or property – ant lover, rejoice!

How do you prepare for fumigation?

To prepare for fumigation, remove all food from refrigerators and freezers, so they don’t spoil. Move linen off-site in case there are Chem-Safety concerns! Stay informed by contacting a reputable pest control company before moving forward with treatment plans that may be too stringent on your family’s well being

How long after fumigation is it safe?

After fumigation, you need to stay out of your home for about 24-72 hours.

How long does pesticide last in home?

Well, that depends. Pesticides can be broken down by type, and their half-lives will tell you how quickly it’s eliminated from your system–but there are some other factors at play too!

Conclusion

By keeping your surroundings clean, you can ensure the areas to be pest-free as well. Remember that filthy and contaminated spots are easy targets for pests to breed on. Along with maintaining your environment, you can also make use of a few tips and home remedies to fumigate and get rid of pests from your house. If you aren’t comfortable with the process on your own or if the extent of the issue is way beyond your control, do consider reaching out to professionals who can help you with all kinds of pest treatments.

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