You may not realize it, but your home is teeming with critters. From dust mites to cockroaches to rodents, there are all sorts of creatures lurking in the nooks and crannies of your house. While some of these critters are harmless, others can pose a severe health risk to you and your family. Here are some of the most common animals that live inside homes – and how to get rid of them!
Dust Mites
One of the most common critters that live inside homes is dust mites. Dust mites are tiny creatures that live inside your bed! These creepy crawlies feed on dead skin cells, which is why they’re often found in mattresses, pillows, and blankets. While dust mites don’t carry diseases, they can trigger allergies and asthma attacks in sensitive people. If you’re allergic to dust mites, you may experience symptoms like sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, and difficulty breathing. If you think you may be allergic to dust mites, you must see an allergist for proper diagnosis and treatment.
The good news is that you can do a few things to eliminate dust mites in your home. One of the best things you can do is invest in a quality air purifier. Air purifiers remove allergens from the air, which can help reduce your symptoms. You should also wash your bedding in hot water (at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit) once a week to kill any dust mites lurking there.
Additionally, you can always restructure your home so that dust wouldn’t accumulate. Ask an interior designer to move around some furniture or maybe a contractor to repaint some rooms.
Finally, keep the humidity in your home below 50 percent; dust mites thrive in humid environments, so lowering the humidity level will make your home less inviting. You can do this by renovating your home to let more air inside. You can add more windows or even sliding doors for this.
Cockroaches
Another common critter that lives inside homes is the cockroach. Cockroaches are always on the hunt for food sources and moisture, which is why they’re often found in kitchens and bathrooms. These pests can spread disease-causing bacteria through their feces and saliva, leading to serious illness in humans – especially young children and older adults. Cockroaches can also be a source of allergies for some people. If you think you may have cockroaches in your home, it’s essential to contact a pest control professional for help getting rid of them.
You can do a few things to prevent cockroaches from taking up residence in your home in the first place. One of the best things you can do is keep your kitchen clean; wipe down counters after cooking, sweep floors regularly, and empty garbage cans frequently. In addition, you should seal any cracks or crevices around your home where cockroaches could enter; these pests are experts at squeezing into small spaces!
One way you can seal these cracks or services is by installing insulation them. Insulation materials such as fiberglass keep your home warm and block any potential entry points for cockroaches. Consider hiring your local insurance company to install some fiberglass in cracks inside your home. This will ensure that cockroaches living outdoors won’t enter your home.
Finally, ensure any food sources are well-sealed; cockroaches are attracted to food sources, so keeping them sealed up will make your home less appealing to these pests.
Rodents
Another type of critter that often takes up residence inside homes is the rodent. Rodents like mice and rats are attracted to food sources and warmth, so they often build nests inside attics or crawlspaces. These pests can carry disease-causing bacteria on their fur or in their urine/droppings, leading to serious illness if humans come into contact with it. Rodents can also be a source of allergies. If you think you may have rodents living inside your home, it’s essential to contact a pest control professional for help getting rid of them before they cause severe damage – or spread disease!
You can do a few things to prevent rodents from taking up residence in your home in the first place. The first step is to keep your home clean: It’s essential to keep a clean kitchen by wiping down the counters after cooking, sweeping floors regularly, and emptying garbage cans frequently. (rodents love garbage!). Next, seal any cracks and wall damages, and look for potential holes they can use to enter your home. Finally, ensure any food sources are well-sealed; rodents are attracted to food sources, so keeping them sealed up will make your home less appealing to these pests.
As you can see, all sorts of critters live inside homes – some harmless and some not so benign! Therefore, it’s essential to be aware of the different types of creatures that might take up residence inside your home so that you can take steps to prevent them from doing so – or get rid of them if they’ve already moved in!
