Worried your home has an issue with pests? In this blog, we’ll explore the common signs of a home having pests and what can be done about it. Let’s begin!
Droppings
To start with, droppings is a common sign of pests (e.g., rats). Of course, it may be easy to spot droppings, especially if they’ve become quite prevalent and give off a foul odor.
However, in some cases, droppings, depending on the type and how long they’ve been there, may resemble pieces of dirt.
Bad Smells
Whether or not you spot any droppings, bad smells can also signify that your home has pests. In general, though, experts will be needed to even tell if a given smell is that of pests.
However, in general, here are some of the smells you want to look out for:
- Mice – Musty smell
- Cockroaches – Oily odour
- Bed bugs – Musty or sweet smell
Strange Sounds
Of course, unusual sounds can also be evidence that your home has an issue with pests. But what noises should you listen out for?
The sort of sounds you may hear signifying pests are present can include:
- Scratching
- Gnawing
- Squeaking
- Pattering feet
- Scurrying
- Faint buzz or white noise (e.g., large bugs)
Tracks
You might also notice tracks that pests have left before. Tracks are more likely to appear in your carpeting or outdoor locations.
While not all tracks will be visible, some may be noticeable, such as in the form of grease marks, scratches, and tracks in soil.
Grease and Dirt
Beyond the points already raised, you’ll also want to look out for grease and dirt (e.g., dark grease marks left behind by rats on walls).
Also, as discussed, droppings can resemble pieces of dirt in some cases. Further, other forms of dirt, along with grease, can be left behind.
Various Forms of Damage
Next, there is the matter of damage that pests can cause. For starters, it’s possible that pests have damaged furniture and fabrics.
Small pests like carpet beetles, bed bugs, and wood-boring insects can be attracted to furniture and soft surfaces in general. Beyond that, you should watch out for wood damage in your floors or walls.
Other types of damage to look out for include paper and fabric damage (e.g., damaged books), structural damage in your loft space due to nesting, damaged crops/plants, and roof damage.
Other Signs
Some other signs you may have pests worth noting include:
- Nesting areas (e.g., inside of drawers and cabinets, in sheds, behind kitchen appliances, etc.).
- Smear marks such as on walls and skirting boards.
- Dark smudges on walls due to grease and oil.
- Finding actual pests, dead or alive.
- Grain products with molds, webbing tracks, and flour tracks
You’ll likely need to hire pest control if DIY approaches do not succeed or are not suited. Consult with a professional if you’re unsure as to what you can and can’t do DIY.
There are, of course, many types of pest control, including more humane options (e.g., repellents, humane traps, and exclusion).
Thankfully, it’s often possible nowadays to rid your home of pests without killing them, especially if we’re talking about animals like mice or rats.