DIY Pest Control Methods
Do you have a pest problem? It doesn’t matter if you live in the country or a big city, there are plenty of bugs and critters that will try to invade your home. Some people call these pests “pests” for short and they can include ants, spiders, roaches, bedbugs, mice, rats and more. While it may be tempting to call an exterminator and get rid of the problem quickly (and expensively), DIY pest control methods can work just as well! In this article we’ll share some easy ways to keep pesky insects out of your house.
1. Make your own natural pesticide by mixing water, dish soap, and a few drops of peppermint oil
You can use this DIY natural pesticide on your plants to get rid of insects and weeds.
Mix water, dish soap, and a few drops of peppermint oil in the spray bottle. Spray this mixture onto your plants when you see an insect or weed problem
After you’ve done that, you need to wait for about 20 minutes to let the mixture work before you can rinse it off
This DIY natural pest control is an excellent way of getting rid of bugs and critters. This is because you’re making your own natural pesticide that is 100% safe.
2. Use a homemade trap to catch rodents – place peanut butter in the middle of two pieces of bread with the crusts cut off
You can also use this DIY trap to get rid of bugs that may be in your home. To do this, place the peanut butter on a piece of bread with the crusts cut off and put another piece of bread over it.
This DIY natural pest control is an excellent way – especially if you are dealing with insects or rodents!
The DIY natural pest control bug trap can also be used as an excellent way to monitor how many pests are living within your home, because you will know when they have been caught!
You may want to use more than one of these traps if there is lots of activity happening in your home.
3. Place cayenne pepper near areas where ants are coming in for an easy way to keep them away
You can use cayenne pepper to kill ants and keep them out of your home- all you have to do is sprinkle a little bit in the areas where they are coming into the house.
Cayenne will irritate their skin, so they’ll want to stay away!
This DIY natural pest control for ants can also be used as an excellent way to get rid of them for good if they are coming in from outside.
4. Put some cinnamon powder around your home’s foundation for mice prevention
Cinnamon powder works well as an alternative to mouse traps.
Place a little bit of cinnamon powder around the outside edges or areas where you suspect mice are coming in and out from, and they will keep away!
This natural pest control for mice is also great because it’s safe- doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals that could hurt your family members.
Just be careful to make sure the cinnamon doesn’t mix with something like pet food, or it could cause a fire.
5. Fill up any holes outside that might be attracting pests like mosquitoes or rats
A good way to prevent mosquitoes and other pests from coming into your home is to make sure all of the holes outside are filled up.
If you find a hole, fill it with dirt! You can even put some wire mesh around the edge so that rodents like rats don’t get in.
To make sure that all the holes are covered, you might need to move things around like your patio furniture, or even the barbecue grill.
Whatever it takes! Once you’ve filled up all of those holes outside, pests will be less likely to come in and ruin your day.
6. Clean out your gutters regularly so they don’t become clogged with leaves and other debris
You need to clean out your gutters regularly to make sure that they don’t become clogged with leaves and other debris. This will help prevent pests from coming inside of the home through this entrance.
Also, you need to trim back any overhanging branches near your roof so that water doesn’t puddle there and create a breeding ground for bugs!
Summary
As a homeowner, there is no shortage of things that you have to worry about. But one thing you can control easily is the pests in your house – and we’re not talking about those pesky ants or roaches!
There are so many DIY pest control methods out there for homeowners with busy schedules like yours who don’t want to make time to call an exterminator every few months. Here are some tips on how to get rid of bugs from your home naturally without using harsh chemicals or paying someone else do it for you. Now all you need is a little bit of patience
4 Pest Control Measures That Can Help Get Rid Of an Infestation
Do you have pests infesting your home? If so, it’s important to take action before the situation gets out of hand. Not only can pests cause damage in and of themselves, but they also carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Pests are a nuisance at best and a public health hazard at worst. In this blog post we will discuss 4 pest control measures that can help get rid of an infestation once and for all!
Identify the pest problem
First you need to determine what type of pest you’re dealing with and learn about their habits. This will help make your plan to eliminate the infestation more effective.
If it’s ants, then keep in mind that they are attracted to sweets so don’t leave any open sweet containers around if possible. If cockroaches are the problem, see how they get inside your home and seal any cracks or holes they can squeeze through.
If rodents are the issue, make sure to clean up pet food and water bowls at night so that it doesn’t attract rats and mice into your home.
In general, be mindful of how pests get inside your house! If you see them coming in from outside then you need to figure out how they’re getting in.
Eliminate food sources for pests – don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink or crumbs on the countertop
When it comes to pest infestation, you need to make sure there is no food for these pests. This means that you need to take care of dirty dishes in the sink and countertop crumbs as well.
Furthermore, you need to make sure that you store your food properly. This includes using airtight containers and storing them in the fridge or freezer.
While this is not enough, you need to clean and vacuum regularly too because pests will be coming from all sorts of places – even cracks on your floorboards!
Remember to sweep as well, since pest can hide behind furniture. This is also an excellent way to prevent them from coming back.
*Getting rid of food sources is one of the most important pest control measures you can take *DON’T leave dirty dishes in the sink or crumbs on countertops.
Seal off any cracks where pests can enter your home – make sure to seal up all gaps around pipes and electrical outlets
To make sure that pests don’t come into your home, you need to do is make sure that there are no cracks in which they can enter. Check for areas around pipes and electrical outlets. If any have been left unsealed then seal it up with caulk or putty as soon as possible.
Furthermore, you can also make sure that any vents in your home have screens around them. If you find an area that is unsealed, then seal it up with caulk or putty as soon as possible.
Seal off the cracks where pests can enter your home – make sure to seal up all gaps around pipes and electrical outlets
To prevent pest infestations from happening, make sure to seal up all gaps around pipes and electrical outlets. Check for any unsealed areas of your home as this is typically the place where pests enter through first.
Clean up after yourself – don’t leave dirty clothes lying around because they’ll attract bugs
You need to clean up after yourself. Don’t leave dirty clothes lying around because they’ll attract bugs, and don’t put food in the kitchen or living room where it can spoil and create a mess that isn’t pleasant to deal with later on.
It’s also important not to store unused items on shelves – such as baby toys, old shoes, or books. This is because it will attract bugs.
This is also why it’s important to organize your clothes and do the laundry more often – because an organized closet will be less likely to become infested with pests.
Clean up after yourself, store items on shelves in order of size so that you can find them easily when needed, and keep a clean home by doing laundry frequently.
6. Get rid of clutter so there’s less hiding places for insects and rodents
Now you need to get rid of the pests that you have. It’s important to remember, however, that this isn’t a job for amateurs – because it can be dangerous if done incorrectly!
Therefore, make sure to bring in professionals who are skilled at pest control measures so they can get rid of all these pesky creatures and keep your home safe and healthy again.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve gone over the top pest control measures, it’s time to put them into action. Keep in mind these tips and tricks so you can get rid of infestations for good. Did any of these ideas help inspire your next step? Let us know! We want to hear from you on how our article has helped make your home safer. You might be surprised at what a little bit of knowledge about pests can do for your well-being.
Signs That Your Roof Needs Replacement
The roof you have at home is one of the most important structures that contributes the protection of you, your loved ones, and your belongings. This is why it is important for you to keep your eyes on the roof at all times. While keeping your eyes on the roof, you should look for the signs, which indicate that your roof needs to be replaced.
Here’s a list of some of the most prominent signs that indicate the fact that you should go ahead with a roof replacement. If you can see one or more of these symptoms, you should go ahead with the decision without keeping any second thoughts in mind.
You can see leaks or damages on the roof
This is the most obvious sign on why you need to go ahead with roof replacement. If you can see a leak or a damage in the roof, you will need to address that immediately. Otherwise, things can worsen along with time and lead you to numerous problems.
On the other hand, you will need to understand that the leak or damage can get bigger along with time. This will lead you to more expenses with roof replacement. Hence, you should contact an expert in the very first moment where you spot the leak or the damage in your roof.
Your ceiling is sagging
Even if you can see that the ceiling is sagging, you should try your best to replace that. The reason for sagging you can see on your ceiling can be an issue with the roof. Therefore, you should try your best to get the roof repaired immediately. Excessive moisture that comes into your house from the roof is leading you to sagging.
Even if you can see dark stains on the wall, you need to understand that there’s a problem with moisture and you should try your best to fix that immediately. Then you will be able to keep the peace of mind in the long run.
Your roof is over 20 years old
If your roof is over 20 years old, you should not live with it any longer. You have got maximum benefits out of the roof and it is the high time to go for a roof replacement. That’s because your roof has ended its lifetime and it is no longer capable of delivering the protection and support you need as a homeowner.
Therefore, you should replace your roof and get a new roof. This will help you to refrain from encountering any surprising issues in the near future as well.
You can see decaying shingles
When you notice decaying shingles, you should figure out that there is a problem with the roof. Therefore, you should contact an expert and replace the roof. Decaying shingles can crack and lead you to problems from time to time. But if you can get the roof replaced, you don’t have to worry too much about such problems.
Hence, you will get all the support needed to keep the peace of mind. This is something that every homeowner should consider as of now.
You can see missing granules
Even if you can see missing granules on your roof, you should go for a roof placement. That’s because it indicates that rapid decay of your roof has started. By going for a roof replacement, you can refrain from the negative consequences that you will have to face in the future because of it.
Get the help of an expert roof replacement contractor and get the existing roof replaced.
How to Remove Paint from Windows
Are you looking for an effective method to remove paint from windows? Then you have few options available to consider as of now. We thought of sharing details with related to the best method, which you can follow to remove paint from your windows. Just follow this process and you will be able to end up with getting the job done at the end of the day.
Step 1 – The very first step is to get all the items that you need to proceed with removing paint from the windows. Things you need to proceed with paint removal include dish soap, white vinegar, elbow grease, rag and rubber gloves, a bucket of warm water, and a new razor blade.
Step 2 – Once you have all the supplies, you can measure 240ml of white vinegar and pour that into a cup made out of glass. Then you will be able to microwave the container for a period of around 60 seconds. This is where you will notice how vinegar is boiling.
Step 3 – Now you need to put on rubber gloves and then dip a rag to the container that has white vinegar. Then you will need to use the rag and proceed to scrub paint that you can see on the window. This method will not remove the paint. However, it would soften paint. Therefore, you will be able to make your life easy as you proceed with the next steps of getting paint removed.
Step 4 – As the next step, you should add around 15ml of dish soap to an empty bucket. Then you will need to pour a bucket that is filled with warm water on top of it. You will be adding warm water to it after soap. Therefore, you will be able to allow it to develop suds along with time.
Step 5 – You should put on the rubber gloves again. That’s because you should soak up a dry rag within a bucket. Make sure that you do this immediately after scraping the window with the help of white vinegar. Then you can allow the paint to dry effectively. Hence, you will be able to get all the support you need to get that saturated as well.
Step 6 – You can now use a razor blade and scrape the paint on your window. Make sure that you hold the razor blade at an angle of 45 degree. Then you will be able to improve the effectiveness of scraping. You can also make sure that you are not going to scratch the glass as you remove paint. If you noticed that paint is dry, you will need to remoisten it.
Step 7 – As the last step, you can think about spraying glass cleaner onto the window. Then you will need to use a dry microfiber cloth. Along with that, you should wipe down the paint effectively. You will need to do
this according to the previous steps. Then you will be able to effectively get rid of soap, vinegar, and paint flakes.
Final words
Now you have a clear understanding about a proven process that you can follow in order to remove paint from the windows. Make sure that you stick to this process and get the job done. Then you will be able to enhance the good looks of your windows again. After removing paint, you will also have the freedom to paint them in a completely different color and enhance the good looks that you can receive with it.
How to Plan Your Home Renovation
Renovating your plan is one of the biggest decisions that you can take with your investment. This is where you should have a clear understanding on how to plan your home renovation. Otherwise, you will end up with making expensive mistakes, which would make you regret in the future.
To make sure that you don’t end up with any such regrets, it is important to have a strong understanding on how to plan your home renovation project. Here are the useful tips that you can follow to proceed with planning the home renovation project, so that you can end up with receiving the best possible results out of it at the end of the day.
Have a Renovation Plan
Before you proceed with the home renovation project, you need to make sure that you are equipped with a proper plan. This is the very first step that all people who wish to proceed with a home renovation project should keep in mind When you have a proper plan in place, you can reduce your chances of getting distracted.
All you have to do is to follow your plan and end up with getting the results that you deserve to get. Hence, you can go through the process without having to worry about anything at all.
Define a Budget To Renovate Your House
You must also define a clear budget to proceed with the home renovation project. You will need to get the job done with what you can spend. This is why you should decide how much you are going to spend. Then you can finalize financing. You will need to allocate at least 10% to cover up the unexpected expenses.
Then you will need to proceed with requesting cost estimates from experts. You should also get a better understanding about the cost associated with different materials. This will eventually help you to end up with getting the best possible results at the end of the day.
Get in touch with expert house contractors
People renovating the house concept
You will need to handover the home renovation project to expert contractors. Only they will be able to deliver all the support and assistance that you need to get the job done. Therefore, you shouldn’t think twice before you handover the task to an expert team. You will need to take a look at their licensing and expertise before you handover the task. Then you will be able to end up with getting the desired results without encountering any challenges.
Have a timeline
You should communicate with the home renovation expert and have a timeline as well. Then you will be able to get a better understanding on how much time it would cost for you to proceed with getting the home renovation work done.
You will also be able to adhere to the timeline and plan other activities around that accordingly. However, you should make sure that the timeline you develop is something realistic.
Pack your belongings
Before the home renovation contractor comes to your place and start work, you will need to pack the items. This is something that you should do on your own, instead of giving to the home renovation
contractors. Then you can make sure that you don’t end up with damaging the expensive items that you have at home.
Keep these tips in your mind and proceed with the home renovation project. Since you prepare for the home renovation project, you can get the best possible results offered out of it.
Sustainable Home Decor Guide: Ethical and Eco-Friendly Design Tips
We are living in a world where we are heavily concerned about sustainability. You should focus on it when you go ahead with home décor as well.
Here are some of the best eco-friendly and sustainable home décor tips available for you to consider as of now. You can take a look at these options and get the maximum returns that come on your way.
Use eco-friendly building materials
There are numerous eco-friendly building materials available for you to use and proceed with construction. You should be using the best materials out of them. This is where you will need to pay special attention towards the windows and doors that you have at home.
We can see how people go ahead with constructing doors and windows made out of used aluminum and salvaged lumber. You may take a look at those eco-friendly options and go ahead with the best option that matches with your preferences.
Start using furniture made with reclaimed materials
At the time of purchasing furniture for the home, you should go ahead with ones that are made out of reclaimed materials. This will be the most eco-friendly option available for you to consider. Expert manufacturers know how to manufacture best quality furniture out of reclaimed materials.
You just need to think about getting your hands on them to end up with receiving the best results. Furniture you buy from reclaimed timber is unique looking, strong, and deliver a rustic vibe.
Go for eco-friendly flooring options
Numerous options are available to consider as you go ahead with flooring materials as well.
You will need to think about getting your hands on the most eco-friendly flooring options out of them. Glass tiles, linoleum, bamboo, cork, reclaimed hardwood, and wool carpet are some of the most eco-friendly options available for you to consider.
They are stylish and durable. On the other hand, you will be able to purchase these in many different textures and colors to match perfectly well with your taste.
Get nontoxic roofing materials
You must also think about purchasing non-toxic roofing materials for your home. There are numerous options available for you to consider while looking for nontoxic roofing materials. For example, you can take a look at shingles that are made out of rubber, wood, and plastic.
You will even be able to find roofing materials that are made out of post-consumer waste in the market. They are cost-effective and durable.
On the other hand, you will be able to use them effectively to minimize landfill waste. Hence, you can start using them without having to worry too much about the environmental impact that you create.
Green paints
There are numerous options to consider as you buy green paints as well. Eco-friendly paints are in a position to deliver a unique look and feel to your home as well. Traditional paints can come to you with heavy metals and toxic materials.
They are not healthy for you at all. This is why you should focus more on the purchase of green paints. Then you will be able to have a safe environment around you at home as well.
Now you know how to proceed with getting eco-friendly and ethical home décor to your home. You can take a look at these options and proceed with buying the best one out of them. Then you can experience numerous benefits that would come on your way in the long run.
Most Popular Architectural Home Styles & Exteriors
Home is the place you want to come back to after every exciting journey. Unless you have such an abode to return to, there exists no sense of belonging, and every road would be a perpetuating misery. It is important to have places for yourself, and these houses should also be able to accommodate your family. As the population has increased significantly over the past two decades, the number of buildings rising from the unoccupied grounds has also increased.
Though the construction methods and architecture weren’t paid attention to in many structures in the past, these are the factors people take into consideration today. Various styles have been developed over the years to infuse a sense of novelty to the scenery. Architecture has evolved into an area with huge potential, and it has incorporated multiple ideas to accommodate the world in a variety of shapes. Let us look at some of the most popular architectural home styles and exteriors.
1. Art Deco
This is a style with various influences, including the 1930s Hollywood movies. Tropical pastels of Malaysia Beach have also become a part of the architecture used here. Art deco comes with the typical flat roof but smooth stucco walls and bold exteriors. Although this style is used for homes, it is mostly seen in commercial spaces.
2. Cape Cod House
Unlike many other forms, this has the potential to grab your attention with the sleek designs and elegance. The addition to that conventional style were the larger chimneys and steeper roofs. Another attractive feature of this style is the dormer windows. Housing development plans made use of this style to build homes after World War II.
3. Colonial Style House
Many variations had been developed in Colonial architecture since the 1600s, and this diversity has helped the American settlers choose a classy abode. The evenly spaced shuttered windows and proportionate dormers, chimneys, and columns contribute to the symmetric look of Colonial architecture.
4. Contemporary House Design
Modern architecture and contemporary are often confused for each other. Though they both aren’t essentially the same, the contemporary style has a few inspirations from today’s building styles. The similarities between the two are drawn to connect outdoors and indoors. Contemporary homes promote energy efficiency by using sustainable materials and letting in natural light to make use of all the resources available in abundance.