Any homeowner knows how terrible it is to have pests. Pests can destroy food, spread diseases and cause general chaos. Use these tips to rid your home of pests.

Use a spray specially designed for the perimeter of your home. In addition to the foundation, you should spray porches, patios, steps and around windows and doors. Always look for cracks around the perimeter of the house. Use a caulk or sealer to plug these small areas off.

Bedbugs are a pain to rid your home of, as they are proficient at hiding. Seal off any holes in the bed frame and around the bed before you begin exterminating. This prevents pest from running out from them once the extermination is done.

Have an ant infestation? Sugar and borax can be mixed together to rid you of them. They will come for the sugar and get killed by the borax. To make the mix, use a cup of each ingredient in a quart jar. Put holes in your lid, and then sprinkle it along your home’s foundation.

Place brushes a foot or more away from the home to keep pests from invading. Insects that nest in wild brush will enter your home if they are close enough. By placing the brush within close proximity of the home, you run the risk of these insects invading through windows or doors.

If you have rats and mice and wish to plant new trees, don’t plant them very close to the building. Rodents then climb your trees and enter your home through the attic or roof. Be sure your fruit trees are about 15 feet from the house.

When battling mice near your home, try mint. Plant some mint around your home. This will cause mice to move elsewhere. If mice are already in your home, place mint leaves around areas they are found in. This usually repels mice, but you must always use fresh mint leaves.

Outdoor lighting can attract pests, so try to keep this to a minimum. If you do prefer to have outdoor lighting running all night, pick colors that attract fewer insects, like orange, pink or yellow.

Hairspray can kill insects that you see flying around the house. Hairspray is inherently safe for you, your family and your precious pets, but it works wonders on insects. The pests will become sticky with the hairspray and won’t be able to get to water or food. Bees can be dealt with in this fashion without the risk of getting stung.

If you see mice holes in the floor or walls, cut steel wool to size and insert into the holes. Rodents will attempt to eat it, and will subsequently die. To take care of the problem in the long term, fill the hole with builder’s putty and mix in some steel wool. It has the same effect as a steel wool ball.

Now that you’re aware of ways to rid yourself of pests, be sure you’re using them. Do not let insects or rodents ruin your life when you could eliminate them so easily. Use the above tips to quickly eliminate them.