How to Prevent

Pests in Your Home

We all expect to find the odd insect in our home from time to time which, although unpleasant, can be dealt with quickly and easily. Unfortunately, there can be rare occasions when uninvited pests can appear more frequently, causing issues. It is important for tenants to take steps to avoid infestations occurring, and know the signs to look for so that any unwanted pests are stopped quickly.

Pests in Edinburgh

Pests are everywhere, however, the type of pests you are likely to encounter will vary depending upon where you live. Although not very common, Edinburgh tenants may encounter pests such as mice, moths, wasps and foxes. We have included steps below to minimise your chances of encountering issues with pests in your Edinburgh home.

Prevention

Following the below steps will, in most cases, prevent an infestation before it begins. We thoroughly check all of our properties before new tenants move in, however, changes may take place during your tenancy.

1. Store food in airtight containers. Avoid leaving food out on kitchen worktops.
2. Keep indoor bins covered and empty regularly.
3. Keep outdoor bins covered with lids secured.
4. Cover any cracks or holes in walls and around vents.
5. Keep shrubbery and bushes trimmed and branches away from the property.
6. Ensure the property is well ventilated. See here for tips on ventilation.
7. Keep clothes (and other textiles) in sealed bags or suitcases if you will not be using them for a long period of time.
8. Clean up any standing water. Contact us if you think you may have a leak.
9. Keep your home clutter-free.
10. Vacuum frequently and change vacuum bag regularly (if applicable). Move furniture when vacuuming.

What to look out for

Unfortunately, even when you follow all of the above steps, it is still possible to experience issues with pests in your home. In these cases, acting fast is essential to controlling and eradicating an infestation. Keep an eye out, and take the below steps, for any of the following:

Signs of mice

Finding mice in your property can be distressing and can lead to damage to your property in addition to being unsanitary. Common signs of mice include:

• Finding droppings is a sure sign of mice, the amount and frequency that you find them will indicate the extent of the issue.
• Check for gnaw marks on wood, carpets or furnishings.
• You may be able to hear mice moving within the walls of the building. Mice are nocturnal so listen out for them at night.
• Look out for nests. Mice typically use items such as paper or string to build nests indoors.

If you suspect that you have mice in your property, the best place to start is to purchase a mousetrap and place it in the area where you have noticed the above signs. Humane traps are readily available, which will contain the mouse allowing you to remove it from the property.

Signs of moths

Having clothes or carpet moths in your home can be both frustrating and destructive. Female moths can lay between 40 and 50 eggs, which hatch into larvae and feed on animal-based items such as; wool, cotton, silk, cashmere, feathers and leather. Signs that there are moths in your property include:

• Seeing adult moths – they tend to hide in dark corners, but you will likely be able to see them if you have an infestation.
• Holes/ damage to clothes, furniture and carpets.

If you see signs of moths it is important to thoroughly wash all fabrics – including soft furnishings, rugs, blankets, curtains and carpets – in the affected area. Also, wash down any furniture and drawers where moths may be living.  You can buy sprays, wardrobe hangers and other products specifically created to eradicate moths in your home.

Signs of wasps

It is common to have the odd wasp in your property during summer months, especially when windows are open regularly. However, issues can arise if you discover a wasp nest within your home or garden; they may attack in large numbers if the nest is disturbed. The most common sign of a wasp nest is large numbers of wasps swarming around a particular area, this can be either in your garden or inside your home.

Contact us if you find a wasp nest inside your Clan Gordon property.