Pests

Most household pest problems start with something the pest can eat, drink or hide in, so the lasting fix is rarely a spray alone. Fruit flies and fungus gnats breed in ripe produce, drain film and damp potting soil. Ants follow a scent trail to crumbs and sugar. Mice slip through gaps the width of a pencil and nest in wall cavities close to warmth.

Each pest calls for a different first move. A cider vinegar trap and a covered fruit bowl clear fruit flies within a week, while gnats fade once the soil dries out between waterings. Fleas live mostly in carpet and pet bedding, so vacuuming and hot washing do more than treating the animal by itself. Sealing entry points with steel wool and caulk stops mice from coming back after trapping.

Some infestations need a licensed exterminator. Termites, bed bugs and a large rodent nest usually hide where a homeowner cannot reach. For everything else, removing the source, blocking the way in and checking again after a few days solves most problems without harsh chemicals.