Household pests are annoying and can be hazardous to our health. Stay on top of the situation by taking preventive measures

Cockroaches, bedbugs and rodents, oh my! Household pests come in various shapes and sizes – and these creepy crawlies seem to love the UAE weather.

A common misconception is that pests can only be found in old buildings or areas with poor sanitation. The truth is that pests can be present in sanitary and unsanitary conditions due to their ability to move around or be transferred from one source to another.

Experts recommend a routine check from professional pest controllers every six months to effectively manage their numbers.

Sean Blaikie, operations manager for home maintenance company mplus+, says, “It’s important to identify why the pests are present and deal with the source first, then conduct a pest control to rid the premise of existing pests.”

Seal the deal

Rodents and roaches can enter even the tiniest opening. Sean advises we seal doors and doorways properly, paying particular attention to garage doors. You can purchase sealing material at hardware stores or call a home maintenance company to do the job.

Trash talk

The rubbish bin is an obvious breeding ground for pests.

Dinesh Ramachandran, technical manager for National Pest Control, says, “Pests are living things so they need food, water and shelter. If we deny these, most of the pest issues can be sorted. It’s best to follow good cleaning, housekeeping, storage and waste management practices.”

Sean adds, “Make sure the bins are kept in a secure, or secluded area. Ensure your bin is sealed properly, and empty out the trash regularly, especially if there happen to be bones, meat or any kind of edible content – this type of rubbish shouldn’t be left in a bin for more than 24 hours as it can lead to some serious infestation.”

Install screens

Install sufficient screens around the house, particularly on windows, to prevent flies, mosquitoes and bugs from entering the home.

“Once they get inside, it becomes very difficult get them out of the house,” says Sean.

This can also prevent homeowners from resorting to insect repellents, which can be hazardous to the health when inhaled.

Stale water

Stagnant water is a breeding ground for insects as it’s the ideal spot for them to lay eggs. Water sources include pot plants, buckets, bowls, puddles and containers.

Sean suggests draining standing water frequently to avoid infestation.

Who you gonna call?

Pests multiply rapidly leaving homeowners surprised and overwhelmed with the problem. And while there are pest control products – glue, sheets, traps and insect repellents – readily available, it is still best to contact the professionals.

The UAE government constantly warns residents against hiring unlicensed pest control services. There have been cases of deaths in the past due to the usage of industrial pesticides that weren’t fit for domestic purposes.

“Pest control is strictly not DIY,” says Dinesh. “When pests are found, it requires a licenced company to assess the infestation and offer a safe and effective solution.

“Most clients call us after they have pest issues. While we can offer solutions to any public health pest no matter how big the problem or how complex the solution, it’s always best to be proactive and acquire a yearly pest control contract so pest problems can be identified and treated proactively. This way you can have peace of mind.”

If you do decide to take measures at home, be cautious of cheap pest control imitation products. Sprays that are readily available in supermarkets are advisable as these are cleared for households, but be sure that it’s labelled for indoor use.

Dinesh offers his top tips on choosing a pest control company

• Contact the respective emirate’s municipalities and obtain a list of approved pest control companies.

• Take references from friends or other people.

• Do a background check and see how long the company has been in operation.

• Is it ISO certified and does it have adequate technical backup and a qualified entomologist (a scientist who studies insects)?

• Check if they use approved chemicals and ask for MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets).

Need to know:

• mplus+ 800 67587, www.mplus.ae

• National Pest Control, 04 324 2342, www.natpest.com