Page 16 - Hawaii Renovation - Sep 26 2021

16 HAWAII RENOVATION SEPTEMBER 26 2021
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Hate bugs? You’re not alone. Nearly 7 in 10 Americans can’t
sleep if they know there’s an insect in the room, ac- cording to a recent survey conducted by OnePoll for Zevo. The same poll also found that two in three Americans would give up a month’s pay to not deal with bugs!
Science says your viscer- al reaction is actually quite rational. According to re- searchers at the University of California, Davis, those creepy-crawly feelings you may experience upon see- ing a bug is simply nature’s way of helping you avoid pathogens and parasites.
The good news? Insect experts say that there are steps you can take to pro- tect your home turf from disgusting bugs and other pests.
“While you should not lose your healthy distaste for bugs, you can take steps to keep them out of your home,” says Daniel Perry, entomologist at Procter & Gamble.
Here are a few ways to help keep America’s top three hated bugs: cock- roaches, spiders and ants, along with a host of other
common insects, out of your home.
GUARD DOORS AND WINDOWS
Keep doors and windows sealed when they’re not in use. If you love a fresh breeze, be sure that your screen doors and windows are in tip-top shape and contain no holes.
Don’t have a screen door? Consider quickly in- stalling a mesh door screen over your front door or pa- tio door that seals up the middle with a magnet. This is a good choice for rent- ers and others unable to make more intensive home updates.
SEAL HOLES
Use an afternoon to caulk small cracks in your home’s foundation and siding. This is a quick, easy and afford- able way to seal these com- mon entry points for bugs.
REMOVE THEIR FOOD SOURCE
Bugs need a food source to survive, so keep your home clean. In the kitchen, seal your trash bin and re- move its contents regularly, wipe down surfaces — espe- cially after spills, and sweep
up those crumbs. A cock- roach can survive months on a single crumb of food. Be sure to regularly vacuum furniture, rugs and carpets in any room where you eat.
Bugs will find their way
into your home no matter how hard you try to keep them out. Because a small bug problem can spread quickly, it’s important to be ready to meet them head- on.
If you’re tired of being grossed out in your own home, it’s time to take charge.
Not only can you help prevent insects from invad- ing your home, but you can
also swing into action at the first sign of bugs to make sure it doesn’t become a bigger problem.
This article is courtesy of StatePoint Media.
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