Pests such as rodents and insects can spread illness-causing germs all around your home. Find out how to stop pests getting into your home and how Dettol can help you destroy the germs they spread.
What You Need to Know about Pests
As well as damaging your home, food and property, pests such as flies, cockroaches, rats and mice, can spread a variety of infections. Some pests, like mosquitoes and ticks, transmit germs by biting us. Others deposit germs from their bodies or body fluids, on the surfaces and equipment in our homes, on our skin, or in our food.
Pest Prevention
Pests are attracted to places where they can find food, warmth, places to breed or bedding materials. By denying them access to these things, you can reduce the risk of an infestation.
- Keep your home and its surroundings clean and free of debris. This will limit its attraction to pests who are looking for food and bedding materials.
- Remove any uncovered containers from around your home that could collect rainwater and act as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- Periodically inspect and clean drains.
- Store food in pest-proof containers and remove any food debris promptly.
- Put your waste (especially food waste) in a securely covered bin.
- Empty, clean and disinfect waste bins regularly.
- Block any potential entry points to your home and repair any structural damage promptly.
Likely entry points for rodents include uncovered drains, broken air-gratings, openings around pipes and ill-fitting doors. To stop rodents getting into your home, you need to block openings with strong materials such as concrete, sheet metal or mesh. Stop flies and insects getting into your home by covering windows and ventilators with fine gauze (fly screens). In countries where malaria and other infections carried by mosquitoes are a problem, insecticide-treated bed nets may also be necessary.
Dealing With Pests
If you notice a pest in your home or see other signs of an infestation, e.g. droppings, gnawed material, nests or rodent grease marks along walls, you should deal with the problem quickly to stop the pests multiplying and spreading germs. You can use a variety of pesticide products to control pests. These include aerosols, mats, coils and liquid electrical devices to kill or repel mosquitoes and flies. Various traps and baits are also available to control rodents and cockroaches. However, you must take care to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using these items to ensure safety and effectiveness.
- Always read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before using any pesticides, insect repellents or traps.
- Make sure that children and pets cannot reach any baits, poisons or traps.
- Discard any food touched by pests, baits or poisons.
- Clean and disinfect soiled surfaces, particularly food preparation surfaces, in an infested or treated area before use.
- Wash your hands thoroughly using an antimicrobial soap after dealing with pests or touching contaminated surfaces.