5 Preparation Steps for Rodent Control Service

A mouse in Peekskill NY - Garrie Pest Control

All homeowners dread the moment that they see a mouse or a rat scurrying across the floor. Unfortunately, where there is one rodent, there is almost always a family of rodents. This means that when you find one, your best option to get rid of them quickly is to contact a local mouse or rat exterminator.

If you’re expecting a visit from an exterminator soon, you might be wondering how you can get your home ready for your appointment with the technician. We’ve laid out our 5 most important steps to prep your home for professional rodent control! Read on to learn from our experts at Garrie Pest Control. 

How to Prepare for Rodent Removal

Your rodent exterminator will be able to work most efficiently if you take a few steps to help them with their process. These 5 steps will let you and your technician find all of the rodents on your property quickly and easily:

  • Prep the kitchen: Rats and mice are always out for a meal, so preparing your kitchen is a crucial step. Make sure that all of your food is sealed and securely stowed away in your pantry or refrigerator. Throw out any damaged or rotten food items and clear out the spaces on top of and around your fridge, stove, and sink.
  • Clean up trash and boxes: Sweep, vacuum, and clean all around your house next. All of the trash should be taken out and you should place lids on your trash bins, both indoor and outdoor. Boxes, bugs, and other storage items should be folded or closed and stowed away to prevent any unnecessary hiding spots. This will give your exterminator the best opportunity to lay effective bait.
  • Seal visible cracks and holes: Walk around your home and inspect all of the walls and baseboards. Look for small holes, cracks, and spaces that do not seal correctly. Mice can fit through gaps as little as a quarter of an inch, and rats can fit through spaces measuring one-half of an inch, so fill and repair these cracks if you can, or report them to the landlord if you live in an apartment.
  • Take notes of rodent sightings: Write a list of all the places where you or anyone in your family has seen rodents or noticed signs of them. Let your technician know where the rodent sightings took place, along with the evidence of rodent activity in particular locations. The technician will then be able to target their search to the areas where the rodents are likely active.
  • Safety prep: If you find any rodent urine or feces around your house, depose of it quickly and carefully, being sure not to touch it with bare skin or prolong your exposure to it. Rodent waste can carry many diseases and should be dealt with delicately.

Ready for Rodent Control in Peekskill NY?

If you’ve seen or noticed signs of rodents around your property recently, it’s time to reach out to your local rodent control company. Given the many dangers and constant nuisance that rats and mice pose, it’s important to have any infestations dealt with swiftly and professionally. For a free quote, contact our rat and mice exterminators today!

Guide to Finding Bed Bugs in Hotels

A close up of a bed bug in Peekskill NY - Garrie Pest Control

A bed bug problem in their establishment is the last thing any hotel manager wants to hear about. If a hotel guest finds bed bugs before management can hire exterminators to get rid of them, they can expect to see an influx of bad reviews, lost service, and even the possibility of a closure. If you work in the hospitality industry and you’re looking to find the best way to make sure your building stays bed bug-free, keep reading. Here at Garrie Pest Control, we’re proud to employ the best bed bug removal team in Peekskill NY, and we have some advice from our team to yours about checking for bed bugs.

Why Do Bed Bugs Like Hotels?

There are a few reasons why hotels are the perfect places for bed bug populations to spread:

  • Hotels are quite busy. With people coming in and out all the time, bed bugs always have the chance of finding a new host to feed on.
  • People bring belongings in and out of hotels. When you store your luggage on the floor, bed bugs hiding in your hotel room have an easy opportunity to climb inside and travel to a new location.
  • There are tons of hiding places in hotels. Beyond your mattress, a hotel room is filled with possible hiding places for bed bugs everywhere you look.

5 Spots to Look for Bed Bugs in Hotels

It is crucial to be exhaustive in your bed bug inspections—these are tiny critters that are expert hiders. These are the 5 areas to look for bed bugs in your hotel:

  1. Mattress, box spring, and bed frame: Bed bugs have an easy time hiding in the zippers and seams of mattresses and mattress covers, as well as the joints and slats of bed frames.
  2. Furniture: Bed bugs prefer any kind of upholstered material with seams and joints to nestle into. Check your chairs, couches, ottomans, and similar furniture, being sure to lift up pillows and inspect any crevices.
  3. Wardrobes, dressers, and baseboards: The places where your dresser meets the wall might leave enough room for bed bugs to find a good hiding spot. Also, check within all drawers and cabinets.
  4. Nightstands and wall fixtures. Anything at all that touches the wall might create a good bed bug hiding spot. You should even check behind clocks and paintings that are hung on the wall.
  5. Closet items: Wherever guests store their luggage, there is the chance that you’ll find a bed bug infestation. Luggage stands and shelves might have picked up bed bugs from someone’s suitcase.

You can read our full guide to hotel bed bug inspections here >>

Professional Bed Bug Inspections in Peekskill NY

To be sure that you’re providing a bed bug-free environment for all of your guests, you should team up with your local pest control company. At Garrie Pest Control, we train our bed bug removal team in all kinds of extermination tactics, from targeted spot treatments to holistic heat treatments. We have the ability to collaborate with you to create a plan that will tackle any bed bug problem, no matter how big or small. For a free quote, get in touch today!