Residential Services

Pest
Control

Home » Residential Services » Solutions

Solutions

The Solution to Your Pest Problems
Begins with Antimite

If you have a pest problem, you’re in good company. After all, there are more than 94,000 species of pests in the U.S. alone. You can maintain the cleanest, most clutter-free home in your neighborhood and still – pests will find their way in. That’s because your home is an ideal environment for pests with its food, water or moisture, warmth and lots of safe places to hide and breed undisturbed (known as “harborage”).

While the best way to solve any existing pest problem is a call to the dependable, experienced experts at Antimite, there are things you should know to prevent pests from moving in with you in the first place – and to keep them away in the future.

Keeping Pests Outside

The area outside your home is a pest’s natural environment, with many harborage areas including ground cover, trees, gardens and any many items people naturally keep in their yards. While it’s a natural thing to be surrounded by pests, the goal is to keep them outside of your home.

One of the easiest paths pests use to come inside is through small stress cracks in your walls, or improperly sealed doors and windows. They also crawl or fly right in through improperly sealed attics, crawl paces or even gaps around plumbing in your walls and floors. Sealing these openings, screening all vents, and even removing as much plant material and harborage (trash cans, storage containers, etc.) in close proximity to your home are all good places to begin pest-proofing your home.

Take a walk around the outside of your home looking for tree branches or heavy plant growth. Trim back anything touching your home – especially the roof to eliminate one of the most common ways pests find their way inside.

Inside Harborage

Once pests find a way into your home, they will naturally migrate towards common harborage areas to find the space they need to live and breed. Pests such as cockroaches and rodents live in dark, hollow spaces, as well as larger cracks and crevices where they won’t be disturbed. Other common harborage, or hiding places include:

Wall Voids
Gaps under sinks
Space behind kitchen and HVAC equipment
Spaces behind cabinets and shelving
Inside and under decaying organic matter or papers/cardboard products
Unsealed food goods
General clutter.

A job for experts

When blocking paths of entry into your house and treating harborage areas becomes necessary, it’s important that this process is done correctly. After all, many “common” pest control techniques do nothing more than compound the problem, by re-routing pest activity, for example. The application of pesticides in the wrong areas often cause the formation of new nests because the pest simply travel around the treated area until they find new harborage.

Also, misuse of insecticides and baits (a common problem especially with do-it-yourselfers) is potentially hazardous to any nearby children and pets.

It’s no wonder so many Southern California homeowners have relied on the Antimite experts to safely solve their pest problems since 1941.

Before fumigation of your home

Some important steps need to be taken before Antimite fumigates your home. Here’s what you will need to do:

First, remove all items from both lower and upper kitchen cupboards and drawers. This includes dishes, pots, pans, glassware, foodstuff, canned goods, etc. Place these things on a table covered with a sheet. Please clear all countertops of toasters, coffeemakers and other items.
NOTE: If your home is being treated only for ants, crickets, earwigs or roaches, only remove items from below countertops and follow the instructions below. If any item is left on the kitchen floor or nearby areas, these must be kept at least three (3) feet from any wall.
Empty out all medicine cabinets and cabinets under bathroom sinks, including any towels, toilet tissue, medicines, etc. If roaches are in the closets and dresser drawers, these should be emptied out as well.
All items should be removed from closet floors and shelves.
NOTE: Any scrubbing or cleaning of cupboards, walls or shelves should be done before fumigation occurs.
Remove all toys from any area where insecticide will be applied.
ALL PETS must be removed from the house – including any aquariums if possible. If a fish tank is too heavy to relocate, it is very important to ask your Antimite expert about the best way to protect any aquatic creatures inside.

If your home is being fumigated due to flea or tick infestation, pets should also be treated according to your veterinarian’s instructions. Antimite proudly offers our customers high quality Petcor products to protect your pets. Please ask your Antimite representative for more information.

IMPORTANT: During and after interior pest control treatment of your home, all persons must vacate the premises for two (2) hours or until the material has dried. Pregnant women or persons with health problems must vacate the premises for six (6) hours, or follow their doctor’s advice.

[return to top ↑]