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How to Keep Wasps at Bay

With the arrival of summer comes the arrival of wasps, which can be a real annoyance when wanting to spend time outdoors. These insects offer a painful sting when attacked by one and can leave a painful swollen mark behind. Oftentimes people innocently walk into a nest and are stung multiple times, causing extreme pain and sometimes a visit to the local emergency room. Knowing how to keep wasps at bay can help eliminate this problem and keep family members safe from wasp stings. There are many wasp killer products to choose from, along with tricks that can often deter the wasps from coming in your vicinity.

Understanding the difference between wasps and bumble bees is important, as bumble bees are part of the important cycle of pollination and very rarely sting anyone. Wasps on the other hand do not provide this service to plants and are basically just an annoyance. When wasps are a problem, swarming around your outdoor area, more than likely there is a wasp nest close by. Locating the nest and destroying it usually offers relief from them, but doing this can dangerous and takes a brave person to attempt it. Using a wasp killer that destroys the nest along with the wasps, works well. Wearing pants and long sleeve shirts when using the wasp killer will help prevent stings, as wasps become very aggressive when they are disturbed. Spraying the nest during the nighttime hours can help ensure that the entire colony is in the nest and will be destroyed with a strong wasp killer.

Using the wasp killer in the proper manner will usually destroy most of the wasps and the nest if the entire nest gets soaked thoroughly. Most wasp killer products that destroy nests are made to spray from a safe enough distance to be able to spray the nest and get away from it fast enough to prevent getting stung from wasp that do get away. Spraying inside the nest will help to ensure that most wasps are killed. Many of the wasp killer products work as a freezing agent that freezes the wasps and nest. These types of products work well and are the best way to keep wasps at bay by destroying the nearby nests and the wasps that reside there.

If no wasp nests are located but wasps are an annoyance when outdoors, there are also wasp killer traps that can be set around to trap these pesky insects. They are inexpensive and somewhat effective in keeping them away from people. If wasps are a major problem in your yard or patio area, hiring a professional exterminator can help to put an end to this problem. Exterminators offer powerful extra strength wasp killer products and they know how to used them safely and effectively without getting stung.

Keep wasps away with our great wasp killer
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Tips to Keep Your Garage Pest-free

For many city dwellers particularly, a garage is a luxury. If you are in the suburbs, the garage can be a place to store little used or seasonal items. Sometimes the garage gets to stuffed with paraphernalia that there is no room to house the vehicles it is supposed to contain. If, however, your garage is an extension of your living space, it’s important that it be a place that’s pleasant to be in.

If you are considering the most efficient use for your garage, you will want to think about how to keep the space clean and pest free. Garages have some of the same problems as you will find in houses, but they also have some unique challenges in banning those pesky pests that are the bane of our existence.

Typical types of pests that might be found in your garage include insects, both crawling and flying types, and spiders. Common infestations include all types of spiders, of course. Some of these eight legged creatures can be dangerous, others are simply annoying. Pests that fly include the common housefly, as well as wasps, yellow jackets and bees. Related to flying insects are the jumping types, such as fleas. Night flying moths are particularly annoying when you are trying to entertain outdoors at dusk.

Finding a mouse nest in your garage is not a pleasant experience, both because of the smell and the disease factor. The smallest spaces can become a hiding place for a whole family of field mice. In more rural areas, you may find pack rats in a garage which is even less pleasant than the smaller variety of rodent.

Less commonly, you may find other pests in your garage, depending on your location. More exotic creatures that have taken up residence in your garage may require relocation by animal control experts. Some of the unusual creatures that have been found in garages include raccoons, foxes, snakes, alligators, and various other unpleasant visitors.

The type of pest control you will employ depends on your location and the type of use your garage has had and will have. Here are some general tips to clean up the garage area attached to or near your home.

Start with the outside of the structure. Make sure that no dirt or debris is piled against the foundations or the walls of the building. If there are branches or other foliage which rest against the walls or foundations, they can serve as a conduit to crawling insects. A termite colony in the walls of your garage can do major structural damage in a short period of time. Residue from wasp nests and even birds nests under the eaves of the garage can discolor the wood and cause structural damage. In addition, the bird droppings look unsightly.

Seal any openings that are unintentional. This can include spaces around windows and doors, broken panes, or openings under the eaves. If the space is to be used as living or entertaining space, you will need to seal not only to keep pests out, but to provide better weatherization. Use thresholds at the entry doors and weather stripping as needed around windows. If you have a garage door opener and want to leave the door open for entertaining or for ease of access, consider using a large screen in the opening. This will provide for light, while preventing much of the influx of flying insects.

Do not store opened food in the garage, even temporarily. It is surprising how fast a line of ants can find their way to food that is left out. Even dry staples in bags or boxes can come under attack by ants, mice, and weevils fairly quickly. Use food quality storage bins if you must keep food items there, and make sure they are tightly sealed after each use. Spills of food or drink from entertaining should be wiped up promptly to avoid attack by ants, mice, and roaches.

Dampness in the garage can invite a whole different army of pests. Appropriate sealants on walls and floor will help to prevent seeping or water leaks from serving as a home for insects. A doggy bed that is infested with fleas will soon share fleas elsewhere in your home. Treat your pet and their bedding for flea control for their protection and yours.

Overall, the importance of cleaning cannot be overestimated. If necessary to get a jump start on pest control, contact a local exterminator and follow good pest control techniques for maximum effectiveness.

About Author:
Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about large businesses for home owners such as Orkin and Terminix
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House Painting Safety Tips From Seasoned Painting Contractor

Your safety should always be put first. Never put your life second to your house painting project. Are you physically fit enough to undertake such a project? Are your ladders the right lengths to safely reach all areas of your house? Review the following tips.

1. Ladder levelers will increase safety. Over 70% of all ladder accidents are caused by make shift props for ladders. Levelers bolt onto the legs of your ladder providing a very secure fit. Most professional painting companies use them. You can greatly reduce your risk of injury by simply stabilizing your ladder through the use of ladder levelers. Once you have them installed they will last for a long time. They will provide safety for all your outdoor painting projects. They are well worth the money.

One more thing you will want to consider. Ladder levelers will save you a lot of time. You will not be constantly trying to fit something under the leg of the ladder. This alone is well worth the investment.

2. Having the proper range of ladders reduces risk. Professional painting contractors usually have the following size ladders as standard equipment. The size ladders needed for your home will depend of course on how tall your house is, but coming from a professional painting perspective, I recommend a 6 foot step ladder , a 20 ft extension, a 28 ft extension, and a 36 ft extension ladder if your house is needs a ladder this size. This rage will allow you to comfortably reach all areas of your house that are accessible with ladders.

Extended ladders do not reach the advertised length due to the 3 or 4 foot lap so plan accordingly. For instance, a 28 foot rated ladder will only extend about 24 or 25 feet. Another thing to consider is you are going to lose a couple more feet when you kick the base of the ladder out from the side of your house to allow for proper navigation. Realistically, a 28 foot ladder will only give you about 20 to 22 feet access.

3. Be sure and use the right drop cloths. The weight of canvas drop cloths will not damage most shrubs, bushes, or hard surface areas; however they can crush smaller plants and totally destroy flowers. The best thing to use on small plants or flowers is old bed sheets. They are light weight and will allow the plants to breath. I do not recommend using plastic over plants or shrubs. The plastic can permanently damage your shrubs or flowers. The plastic will not allow your plants to breath and the temperature can reach damaging levels. It only takes an hour or two to ruin them. Plastic can cause the tops of your plants and shrubs to die. Extension ladders placed on plastic drop cloths can be dangerous due to slippage.

4. Make sure you stay properly hydrated. Drink plenty of cold Gatorade. I can’t emphasize this enough. Painting outdoors in the sunlight will dehydrate you quickly, especially if you aren’t use to this type of work.

The onset of dehydration can catch you by surprise. You can suddenly become light headed and lose your balance and fall. Staying properly hydrated is very important for your health in another crucial way. Dehydration can cause a stroke. Always play it safe and use lots Gatorade.

5. Take periods of rest in the shade. Painting the exterior of your house is very time consuming and the tendency for most homeowners is to pack as much painting into one day as possible. This can be a huge mistake, especially if your body is not accustom to this kind of work. You can get yourself into trouble physically if you try and stretch your physical limitations on hot sunny days.

6. Do you have the physical endurance to handle a project this size? Climbing up and down a ladder all day can cause your legs to severely cramp if your muscles are not physically prepared for it. Your risk of falling from a ladder greatly increases if your legs become suddenly weak and shaky due to muscle fatigue.

It is important to evaluate your condition before putting yourself at risk. Play it smart and consult your doctor about any physical preconditions before attempting the exterior painting of your home. It’s important to remember that painters working with a professional painting company are used to their work. You may not be used to it and that can cause you problems.

7. Check for wasp nests before attempting to paint. If you are standing on the end of an extension ladder, you do not want to be fighting wasp. It is dangerous to be fighting wasp with your hands when your hands should be gripped to the ladder. You can easily be distracted to the point of losing your balance and falling. You should remove all wasp nests before attempting to paint.

8. Always use a roof ladder where soffit joins rooflines. If your home has areas that need to be painted above a roof line then rent a roof ladder for a day. Don’t take the chance of sliding of a roof and killing yourself. A roof ladder hooks over the peak of the roof and lays flat on the shingles allowing you to safely walk up the ladder to service the wall and soffit areas above the roof line. They are inexpensive to rent.

9. Never place your ladder on a slope that falls backwards and away from the house. It is extremely important to always notch the ground using a shovel and pick. Carve out a flat spot in the soil to give a level, firm footing for your ladder levelers. You have to lean your latter against the house, sloped enough to allow for you to properly navigate up. This slope combined with the land slopping backward and away from your ladder, can make an extremely dangerous situation. Notch the ground and reseed the area latter. It is always best to play it safe. This is a very important safety tip that professional painting companies teach their workers. Carefully planning your painting project can go a long way in preventing accidents.

Make sure you are properly equipped to maximize safety. Properly plan the time needed to paint your house and decide if you have enough time to safely complete the project. Don’t rush it. If you really find you don’t have the time or are physically unable to safely tackle the project, then hire a professional painting company. They can do the project in a fraction of the time it will take you.
Nicky Taylor
CEO of http://www.home-painting-services.com
More valuable painting tips at our site.
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Pest Control: What It Is and When To Use It

Pests are a big problem in both rural and urban areas. Pests can have businesses closed down for health and safety reasons, and they can drastically decrease peoples quality of life for those unlucky enough to live in residential areas with recurring pest problems.

There are many different kinds of pest, some which are harmful to humans and may spread disease, and some which are simply irritating or may cause damage to the food in your cupboards, to the very structure of your house. To list the reasons why each of the pests may appear in the first place would take quite some time, so for now we’ll focus on the types of pests which are likely to appear and how to get rid of them:

Ants: Ants form huge colonies indoors, outdoors and all over the place. Ants can be extremely difficult to get rid of once they take hold. Many poisons are available on the market to deal with ants and you do not need to call a pest control expert.
Cockroaches: Cockroaches are a major disease carrier. They tend to indulge themselves on anything from human food to biological waste. It is advised to call a pest control to deal with cockroaches.
Bed Bugs: Bed Bugs are a nasty little nocturnal creature which feed on the blood of people unlucky enough to be close enough to where they are hiding. Bed bugs need a pest control specialist to eradicate them.
Wasps: Wasps are not often thought of as pests, but people who have been unfortunate enough to have to spend long periods of time next to a fully operational wasps nest will tell you different. Wasps are unpredictable insects which can sting without provocation, and a nest housing hundreds or thousands of these insects is best gotten rid of rather than put up with. Wasps are easy to get rid of by using off the shelf poisons which is usually applied around the nest.
Mice / Rats: Vermin are disease carriers which feed on human food and may take residence within the home or outside of the home, particularly near dustbins or compost heaps and places which tend to have a ready supply of waste food bits lying around. It is therefore best to try and make sure dustbin bags aren’t left strewn around on the floor as vermin will have no problem in gnawing their way through the bag and returning regularly to eat. Various poisons are available to kill vermin infestations, or you can call an exterminator.

It is important that if you have a pet such as a cat or dog, to read the label of the various poisons/chemicals properly. Also be sure to inform the pest control people you have a pet and they can treat your infestations with a poison/chemical which will not harm your pets.

You are welcome to visit our website for more information on Pest Control.
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Unwanted House Guests

Around this time of year, when temperatures drop and there is a chill in the air, we typically spend more times indoors where it’s warm and cozy. Maybe our diet changes to more stews and soups – comfort food as some like to call it.

Well, the same thing happens in the animal kingdom. Rodents and insects start to scout out warmer places to live, possibly with easier food sources. Unfortunately, this often results in unwanted house guests like squirrels in the roof, mice scurrying between the walls, or wasps in the attic.

You’ve probably noticed some of the tell tale signs in the form of mouse or rat droppings in the back of a cupboard, scratching and squeaking noises behind closed drywall, chewed wires, or little piles of sawdust from visiting wasps or termites.

The old saying, “the best defense is a good offense”, could never be more accurate than when referring to these pesky critters. Waiting until you hear or see the signs often means you are dealing with a full on infestation. These pests need to be dealt with before they become a problem by making your home an unwelcome option.

Mice can squeeze into the smallest of places along the side of pipes, in walls or behind cupboards. If they see a potential opening, even if they can’t fit through it, they will gladly expand the area by chewing around it. Prevent this by sealing gaps under and around doors and pipes with weatherstripping, and wrap coarse steel wool around pipes.

Leaving out any kind of food or debris is like ringing the rodent dinner bell, and you can be sure, this is the quickest way to attract these pests. Even wood piles make attractive shelters and should be stacked at least two feet from the house.

Check your foundation for cracks or openings as well as the fascia boards and soffits. Tree limbs should be cut back to at least six feet from the house to prevent squirrels from climbing onto the roof and chewing through any exposed soft wood or crawling between flue pipes or chimney. They are among the worst culprits for gnawing through wires and can cause a serious amount of damage before you realize you have a problem.

You’ve probably spotted the gray wasp nests hanging from rafters and other sheltered areas. Often times, they’re hidden between aluminum siding, attics and roof areas via pipes, vents or windows. Wasps quietly hibernate over the winter, but come spring, they’re attracted to light and often end up inside the house. Make sure all your attic vents have screens covering them, and any areas where they typically enter can also be sprayed by professional exterminators to prevent them from making nests.

When it comes to spiders your vacuum is your best defense. Simply keep on top of them by sucking up their webs. Try putting chestnuts in corners and on windowsills – for some reason, spiders hate them.

Joshua Sloan is your experienced Realtor for San Diego California real estate. Visit his website at SanDiegoRealEstateBuzz.com to view the San Diego foreclosures listings.
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