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Gear to keep on hand for pest control
The handbook's advice for most pests is the same: don't panic-spray. Close the gaps, fix the damp spot, bait or trap what is already in, and call a pro if it keeps coming back. These are the items for that.
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TERRO liquid ant baits
For ants on the counter, a bait like TERRO liquid ant baits works better than spray. For a few ants following a trail, the handbook says to bait, clean and seal the entry. Bait is carried back to the nest, which a spray doesn't reach.
What to look for: Put a station on the trail and leave it. More ants at the bait for a day or two means it is working. Don't spray near it.
Snap mouse traps
If you hear a mouse, set a few snap traps along the wall. For a single mouse, the handbook suggests snap traps and sealing the gaps. Traps tell you if you've got one, and how many.
What to look for: Set them along walls with the trigger toward the wall. Use a pea-sized amount of peanut butter. Check them every day.
Stuff-It copper mesh
To close the gap afterwards, pack it with Stuff-It copper mesh. Mice can get through a gap the size of a dime. Copper mesh packed into a hole around a pipe is something they can't chew through easily, and it doesn't rust.
What to look for: Pack it in tight, then cover it with caulk or foam so it stays put. For gaps over two inches, get a pro.
M-D aluminum door sweep, 36 inch
If you can see light under a door, an M-D aluminum door sweep closes it up. The handbook says to check the weatherstripping on doors. If you can see daylight under a door, bugs and mice can get in there.
What to look for: Measure your door width and cut the sweep to length with a hacksaw. Close the door at night with the lights off in the room and look for light at the bottom.
Still seeing them? Find a pest control company near you.
Gaps under the garage door are a common way in, see the garage door gear list for a replacement seal.
This list goes with The Pest Control Handbook, and you can get the free Pest Control Handbook on our pest control directory page. Items and availability change, so check the Amazon page before you buy. Affiliate disclosure.