If you have ever rented or owned a house, you are probably familiar with the nuisance of bug infestations. These little critters can get everywhere and into everything and can cause havoc to your property. You must try to handle the problem as soon as possible.
Here is our guide to getting rid of a bug or roach infestation in a mobile home.
Do you have a pest problem?
Cockroaches are one of the most prevalent culprits in home infestations. But they aren’t the only ones to be concerned about.
Other common household bugs are ants, crickets, and spiders.
With so many threats, it’s crucial to check for these signs of a bug or roach infestation in a mobile home:
- Droppings
- Unusual smells or odors
- Shed skins
- Cobwebs
- Tapping, scratching, or cricket noises
- Unexplained damage to walls, fabric, floors, ceilings, or furniture
- Dead bugs
Best ways to deal with a bug or roach infestation in mobile home:
Kill any bugs you see
Start by killing any bugs that you see. Try not to let any escape. In this type of challenge, every little bit that you do can help. And this can prevent a small problem from becoming a huge one.
Both mechanical and chemical solutions can work for this.
Use chemicals
Overall, it’s better if you can identify what type of critter you are facing. If you know this, you can target your strategies on this species.
There are a variety of chemical products that are easily accessible on the market. Most of the time, the manufacturers produce them for specific pests. Two of the common categories are aerosol sprays for crawling vs. flying bugs.
On the other hand, powdered repellents are very handy for controlling pests that live in colonies – such as ants.
Natural bug repellent
However, not everyone feels comfortable using chemical substances in their homes. In this case, you might want to investigate natural and DIY repellents.
Essential oils from herbs like sage, thyme, basil, rosemary, mint, rue, and lavender can repel a range of pests. To use them, fill a spray bottle with water and add a few drops of oil. Use as you would other aerosols.
Generally, solutions of one part dishwashing liquid and one part water are also useful.
But we all know how hardy some critters like roaches can be.
One way to get rid of them is to combine 2 cups borax, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup chopped onion, two tablespoons cornstarch, and two tablespoons water in a bowl. Roll it into small balls and place a few into a sandwich bag at the problem area.
Be careful. The balls are poisonous, so place them out of the reach of kids and pets.
Clean and declutter
Keeping the exterior and interior of your house clean is an integral part of dealing with any pest infestation. Doing this can get rid of food sources, nests, eggs, and colonies.
Therefore you should focus on:
- Trash cans
- Dark corners
- Sinks and drains
- Stacks of newspapers, magazines, or boxes
- Garden debris
- Compost heaps, firewood, storage sheds
- Kitchen floor and counters
- Cabinets, closets, drawers, and pantries
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Hire an expert
But what should you do if the situation is out of hand?
Luckily, there are professionals you can call to help you deal with the problem once and for all. They have resources that you won’t have access too, like stronger chemicals and fumigating equipment.
One situation where you might be better off calling a pro is if the pest is dangerous at all – for example, poisonous spiders. Secondly, this is one of the few surefire ways to get rid of extensive infestations, especially with bugs like termites.
Otherwise, first try a few of the DIY solutions. And if they don’t work, you know where to go.
Repair damage to your mobile home
Another critical step is getting rid of any hiding places. Gaps in the ceiling, floor, walls, trim, siding, cupboards, counters, and skirting are all potential spots for nests. These are all likely breeding grounds.
Therefore, if you see any signs in one of these locations, first use natural or chemical repellents to kill any living critters.
Afterward, vacuum it to remove any debris.
Finally, you should seal the gap to prevent problems from developing here again.
Get rid of damp
Bugs aren’t only looking for food and shelter. They are also looking for a source of water. Many of the common household pests prefer to live in damp spots. So you should clear up any unwanted moisture in your mobile home.
To do this, you should:
- Fix leaky pipes, faucets or drains.
- Run a dehumidifier in damp areas.
- Regularly clean and inspect appliances like washing machines.
Prevention
Once you have gotten rid of the pesky critters, your focus should be on prevention. In some cases, it can take months of effort to deal with the infestation and its aftermath. The project can also be quite expensive. No one wants to deal with it a second time.
Here are three steps you can take to help prevent future bug or roach infestations in a mobile home:
- Check new items thoroughly: Unfortunately, your fancy sofa might be hiding intruders. Inspect everything you bring home and deal with it appropriately.
- Keep the home clean and clutter-free.
- Create a barrier or perimeter.
Remember that these are also useful in getting rid of an existing problem or at least hampering its spread.
HOW TO GET RID OF RODENTS LIVING UNDER YOUR MOBILE HOME
While they may be cute in storybooks or TV cartoons, rodents are not good to have around under your mobile home. In the real world, over 35 different diseases can be spread by rats and mice. These diseases are spread through coming in contact with the rodents themselves, their feces, urine, saliva, or being bit by them. There are also indirect ways for their diseases to spread. After they feed on an infected rodent, ticks, mites, or fleas can be carriers of the rodent’s diseases.
On that note, it’s important for your family’s health and safety that you get rid of them from underneath your mobile home. A rodent infestation poses a threat to you, your kids, and your pets.
Whatever you do, don’t get into a panic. Chasing off the rodents that reside underneath your mobile home isn’t going to be too big of a challenge. But it is something to be taken seriously.
If you hear the sound of rat or mouse activity underneath the house, it can be pretty annoying. Poke around underneath the mobile home for droppings. Look for nests or evidence of gnawing. All this points to the evidence of rodents living underneath your mobile home.
Let’s look at a few different ways you can chase off and keep the mice away.
CHASE THEM AWAY WITH DIATOMACEOUS EARTH
Diatomaceous earth is a white powder, made from the skeletons of microscopic water-dwelling organisms. These organisms live in rivers, streams, lakes, and other bodies of water. They’re called diatoms.
Because of its high absorbency, combining diatomaceous earth with essential oils is a great way to repel rodents. These critters can’t stand the smell of peppermint or lemon citrus essential oils. Combined with diatomaceous earth, you’ve created a rodent repellent that’s natural and safe for humans.
Another winning point to this method of getting rid of rats is not having to deal with or come in contact with disease-carrying rodents.
RAT TRAPS
Here’s an affordable method of getting rid of rodents. If you have a rat or mouse problem, you can buy some traps at your local home improvement store. Many grocery stores carry these too in the pest control aisle.
Adding cheese or bits of bacon to the trap will lure them into the trap. A tiny lever will cause the trap to snap over the rodent, killing it.
This is not an ideal method for dealing with these pests, although it is popular for many homeowners. Unfortunately, you’ll have to grapple with disposing of the rodent’s body.
RAT POISON
Alternatively, you may find rat poison useful in eradicating these pests.
This method can be dangerous if pets or children crawl underneath your mobile home and come in contact with and eat the poison.
Additionally, the mice may die underneath your home and you may not notice until you smell a foul odor from the decomposing body. They may die elsewhere in your yard or around your home. You’ll have to sniff out the body and dispose of it safely.
Another concern would be your pet ingesting the poisoned rodent body.
LIVE TRAPS
Thankfully, there is a myriad of options online for live mouse traps. There are steel cages or plastic traps available. We suggest baiting the live trap to lure in the rodent deep enough into the trap to trigger the trap door’s closing.
With a live mouse trap, you can physically remove the rodent from your home. This could be a bit of a risk to the homeowner if he or she is not careful. One could get bit or fail in removing the rodent to the proper locations.
MOTH BALLS
Next up on our list of options to get rid of rodents is the use of mothballs. Mothballs are an easy method of mouse repellent. They’re cheap and you can easily scatter them around underneath your mobile home.
On the downside, mothballs are toxic and dangerous to pets and children who may decide to eat or chew on them. Outdoors, you’ll have to worry about rain or wind dissolving the mothballs.
PROFESSIONAL RODENT EXTERMINATORS
If you’re rather apprehensive about getting rid of rodents on your own, hiring professionals to deal with your rodent problems is recommended. They’ll know exactly how to safely and quickly remove the pests from underneath your mobile home.
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
As a final bit of advice, we suggest sealing the area underneath your mobile home. For areas where you need ventilation, mesh wire screening is an excellent option.
SAY GOODBYE TO RODENTS!
We hope these options are helpful in dealing with your rodent problem. The sooner you get rid of them, the better it is for you and your home.
Pests underneath your home can be annoying, but it’s not just the underside of your mobile home that may need some attention. We have some advice for dealing with the pests that reside in your attic, a possible haven for pests such as bats.
Your home is your sanctuary
A bug or roach infestation in a mobile home can make it much more challenging to feel comfortable. No one wants to feel that their space is being intruded on. If you want your house to remain your sanctuary, check out this fantastic cleaning routine and our guide to fixing holes in your walls.
