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BUGS & PEST CONTROL

Cedarcide blog post image, how to prevent tick bites: 3 easy steps

How to Prevent Tick Bites: 3 Easy Steps

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The ugly truth is that tick season is never over. 

In most regions, these scary pests can survive all winter long, even in freezing conditions.

Don’t worry, we have your back. Here are 3 tips to prevent potentially life-altering bites and keep ticks away from you and your pets through fall and winter.

 

Protect Yourself and Pets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvy-n0fSF14

Apply Cedarcide Original to you and your pets before walks, hikes, dog park visits, and other outdoor activities to prevent bites.

Need deep woods protection? Try Extra Strength Tickshield instead.

 

Get a Tick-Free Lawn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_opBGz6Xfo

Spray your entire yard, shrubbery, and bases of trees with PCO Choice monthly to kill and repel ticks. For larger tick populations, spray twice, two weeks apart, and then monthly after that.

Because PCO is both family and pet safe, you can start enjoying your yard immediately after application.

 

Check for Ticks 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ2dHpGFaD8

Ticks removed within 36 hours rarely cause disease or infection. After outdoor activities, get in the habit of checking yourself, children, and pets for ticks as soon as possible (ticks are about 2/3 of an inch, brown or red).

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page and let us know what you think!

 

Posted in BUGS & PEST CONTROL, CATS, DOGS, HIKING & OUTDOORS, LAWN & GARDEN, PETS and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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cedarcide blog post image, how to protect clothing from insect damage

How to Protect Clothing from Insect Damage

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Carpet Beetles

Emerging from eggs laid on clothing, furniture, and carpet, carpet beetle larvae can ruin a closetful of clothes in no time, especially natural items like wool, fur, mohair and more. 

What to look for: Small beetles for adults (most commonly black or brown, sometimes multicolored), and small caterpillar-like larvae (usually brownish red, covered in fine hairs).

Moths


Infamous for leaving holes in clothing, moth larvae feed on wool, flannel, fur, and almost any other textile that’s dirty or recently used (sweat, food, skin oils, etc are all appetizing to these destructive pests).

What to look for: Whitish worm-like larvae with a hard outer shell, and very small white or gold-colored moths for adults.

Silverfish and Firebrats

These close relatives are both expert clothing destroyers, preferring starched items, natural fibers like rayon, silk, and cotton, and those stained with sugary food and drink. 

What to look for: Silver wingless insects with carrot-shaped bodies about ¼ inch long.

Roaches


While they don’t usually eat clothing on purpose, roaches are attracted to the sweat, and food spills that end up on our clothing. When consuming these items, they often create holes and stain fabrics with excrement.


Crickets


Like roaches, crickets eat clothing stains not clothing itself. Small holes and tears, not to mention cricket poop, can easily lead to hundreds of dollars in damage in only a few weeks.

 

Store Items Correctly

That means freshly cleaned, starch-free, and in a cool, dry place in tightly sealed containers or nylon bags (leather and fur items require breathable bags, such as cotton).

Vacuum

Regularly cleaning and vacuuming rugs, carpets, draperies, baseboards, furniture, and storage closets substantially lowers your risk of clothes-eating pests by removing eggs, larvae, and the debris they need to survive. Dispose of the bag when finished.

Naturally Kill & Repel 

Hang freshly dried lavender or Cedar Granules inside of a stocking in your chosen storage area to protect against damaging bugs. A cedar-based spray like Cedarcide Original can also be used throughout the space to kill and repel.

For already infested items: try washing & drying them, freezing them for 48 hours, or treating them with a fabric-safe insecticide like Cedarcide Original.

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page and let us know what you think!


Posted in BUGS & PEST CONTROL, NATURAL LIFESTYLE and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Cedarcide blog post image, 5 natural ways to get rid of stink bugs

5 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Stink Bugs

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Stink bugs don’t bite or spread disease but they damage plants and are super annoying—plus, yeah, they stink, too. The next time you spot these intrusive pests, skip the toxic stuff and try these natural approaches instead.

Prep Your Yard

The following guidelines reduce outdoor (and therefore indoor) stink bug populations:

  • Limit potential hideouts by keeping grass and shrubbery trim, and promptly removing any overgrowth like weeds.
  • Create space between exterior walls and any small trees or bushes. Stink bugs use these as bridges to move indoors.
  • Healthier lawns are less prone to stink bug issues. Maintain a vibrant lawn by watering, fertilizing, and aerating as needed, and treating your lawn for pests monthly with PCO Choice.

 

Soap & Water

Simple and effective, a bucket filled with several cups of hot water and ¾ cup natural dish soap is excellent for disposing of stink bugs.

Place the bucket below individuals crawling on walls and other surfaces and knock them down inside using a garden tool

 

Reach for a Vacuum

Vacuums are one of the easiest options for removing stink bugs indoors.

To avoid a stinky mess, use a vacuum with a disposable bag or repurpose a used stocking to prevent bugs from entering the bag. Simply wrap the stocking around the vacuum tube, secure it with a rubber band, and push it down inside the tube. Then simply dispose of the stocking when you’re finished.

 

Flypaper

Stink bugs tend to accumulate all in the same areas, namely walls and entry points with access to warmth or sunlight.

A few strips of fly paper applied to these spaces can do wonders for reducing their numbers.

 

Diatomaceous Earth

Made from crushed algae fossils, diatomaceous earth is an awesome natural pesticide, killing any stink bugs that come into contact with it.

Spread the chalk-like powder along entry points like window sills and doorways, and wherever else you commonly spot stink bugs. Dusting them directly works, too!

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page to let us know what you think!

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Cedarcide blog post image, What is the Fall Crawl?

What is The Fall Crawl

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Overall bug populations might surge in the summer, but many pests peak in fall. As the weather cools, bugs like fleas, ticks, ants, stink bugs, and wasps move indoors. This is often called the Fall Crawl. Want to enjoy a bug-free holiday season? Below are 3 steps to get you ready.

 

What Bugs Peak in the Fall?

Fleas:

In most areas, fall is actually the worst time of year for fleas. As temperatures drop near 70°F and precipitation increases, flea populations explode.

Ticks:

Think ticks die in freezing temps? Think again. Not only can ticks survive the cold, some species, like blacklegged ticks and winter ticks, are most active in winter.

Ants:

Some types, like fire ants, become worse in fall. Others, which usually hibernate underground in winter, often sneak inside for food or shelter.

Stink Bugs:

Fall means stink bugs. These annoying and odorous pests move into homes throughout autumn, sometimes by the thousands.

 

How to Keep Bugs Outside: 3 Easy Steps


Spray doorways, windowsills, baseboards, fixtures, and other potential entry points with Cedarcide Original weekly. Seal any holes and cracks you find in the process.


Kill and repel bugs before they make it inside by applying PCO Choice to your lawn each month, including shrubbery. For larger pest problems, start with two applications, two weeks apart, then monthly after that.


Protect your family and pets from harmful tick & flea bites by applying pet-safe Cedarcide Original before outdoor activities. Need deep woods protection? Choose extra strength Tickshield (only for use on pets over 20 lbs.)

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page to let us know what you think!

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Cedarcide Blog Post Image, 6 Ways to Deter Flies without Harsh Chemicals

5 Ways to Deter Flies Without Harmful Chemicals

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Make Your Own Natural Fly Trap

A quick and easy fly trap can be made by adding a few drops of natural dish soap to a saucer filled with apple cider vinegar.

The vinegar attracts the flies, the soap makes it so they can’t escape after landing. Simply place the trap in fly trouble areas and leave overnight.

 

Seal Your Home

If you’re commonly spotting flies indoors, chances are they’re getting inside through something other than just your front and back doors. The usual culprits are gaps around doors and windows, faulty screens, poor weather stripping, old caulking, etc.

Finding these potential entry points and sealing them is often enough to substantially reduce a serious indoor fly problem.

 

Eliminate Fly Attractants

From dirty dishes and spills to unsealed trash cans and pet waste, our homes and yards are filled with items that attract flies. Being diligent about household cleanliness is arguably the most important factor when it comes to fly control. At the minimum, consider the following:

  • Never leave dirty dishes in the sink
  • Clean up food and drink spills immediately
  • Seal all food in tightly closed containers
  • Avoid leaving pet food out after feedings
  • Clean up pet waste as soon as possible
  • Cover and seal all trash cans, both inside and outside
  • Remove sources of standing water outside, such as leaky faucets, buckets, etc.

 

Use Fly-Deterrent Plants

Lavender, basil, lemongrass, mint, and rosemary are all said to repel flies.

Place these fragrant plants and herbs near windows, doorways, other fly hangouts, and where you and your family spend the most time outside.

 

Good Old-Fashioned Flypaper

It’s not elegant, it’s not pleasing to the eye, but it works.

It’s simple: Hang flypaper in the areas around your home with the most fly traffic. Replace as needed. This approach alone won’t solve a fly problem completely, but it will greatly reduce the number of flies you see indoors.

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page and let us know what you think!

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Cedarcide blog post image, Natural Ways to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard

6 Natural Ways to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard

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For the most part, snakes are beneficial allies in our lawns and gardens, helping keep destructive insect and rodent populations to a minimum.

However, if you’re concerned about the safety of your family and pets, or regularly spot venomous snakes near your home, it might be time to give them the boot. Here are 6 natural approaches for keeping snakes out of your lawn.

 

Remove Clutter

Because snakes are ambush predators, they require hiding spots to successfully hunt. By removing clutter like and unused equipment, you’ll remove these potential hideouts thereby limiting your lawn’s snake population.

 

Install a Perch Pole in Your Yard

Perch poles help attract birds like hawks and owls, which are natural predators of snakes. For best results, install the perch in an area that provides birds with the best, most wide open view of your lawn.

 

Remove Their Food Source

Snakes feed on everything from insects to rodents to small birds. It’s simple: If you remove these food sources, you’re not going to encounter many snakes in your yard.

Start with general pest control measures like limiting outdoor garbage and applying a non-toxic insecticide to your lawn each month. Bird feeders and pet food bowls can also attract rodents and bugs which in turn will attract snakes, so consider feeding your pets indoors and removing or moving bird feeders farther from your home.

 

Landscape with Snakes in Mind

Tall grass, mulch mounds, rock beds, and water gardens make for excellent snake habitats, providing them ample space to hunt, breed, and hide. Avoiding these lawn features and keeping your grass relatively short is essential to keeping snakes away from your yard.

 

Try Cinnamon and Clove Essential Oils

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services reports that cinnamon oil and clove oil are effective at deterring some types of snakes.

To apply: Mix a few drops of each essential oil per gallon of water, and spray potential entry points, known trouble areas, and throughout grass and shrubbery.

 

Reach for A Water Hose

The next time a snake wanders into your lawn or garden, avoid killing it and reach for a water hose instead. Typically a few quick sprays with a hose is all it takes to get a snake to leave your property. This non-lethal approach is not only more humane but also safer, as you can remove the snake without having to venture too close

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page to let us know what you think!

Posted in BUGS & PEST CONTROL, LAWN & GARDEN and tagged , , , , , , ,
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Cedarcide Blog Post Image, ast, Natural Rodent Control

Easy, Natural Rodent Control: 4 Steps

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Rats and mice spread disease, contaminate food, damage property, and can even cause fires by chewing electrical wiring.

Conventional traps are hazardous to children and pets, and rodenticides harm wildlife all the way up the food chain, not to mention leave dying rodents in your walls. So, the next time you suspect mice or rats are scurrying about your home, try this natural and effective 4-step approach instead.

Prevent Them

This is the single most important step to rodent control.

Using spackle or caulk, patch all holes larger than the size of a dime both inside and outside your home, paying special attention to foundations and walling. Ensure baseboards are secure as well. For best results, use weather stripping on all doors and windows, too.

Stop Feeding Them

If there’s nothing to eat, rodents will vacate your house.

Starve them by storing all food (including pet food) in airtight containers. Wash dishes, wipe counters, and sweep daily to avoid crumbs. Empty trash cans often, too.

Repel Them

Because peppermint irritates the nasal passages of rodents, it can help keep these pests away from your home.

Simply place a few drops of peppermint essential oil on several cotton balls and strategically place them around known entry points and trouble spots like garages, attics, and kitchen cabinets. Replace every 5-7 days.

You can also deter rodents by encouraging natural and domestic predators. Rescuing or fostering a cat or terrier is the cutest option. Building an owl birdhouse just outside your home also works.

Catch Them

A humane trap that captures a rodent for later release can be helpful when all else fails. These can be found at hardware stores and sometimes acquired from your local animal control dept.

 

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page to let us know what you think!

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5 Tips for Keeping Wasps Out of Your Yard

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Notorious predators of annoying insects like flies, wasps can be helpful allies around your lawn & garden. However, they can be a potentially dangerous hazard, too. In addition to the occasional painful sting, wasps can pose a health risk to our children and pets, especially for those knowingly or unknowingly allergic.

Struggling with wasps but don't want to use toxic chemicals around your lawn, home, or family? We got you covered. Here are 5 tips for keeping wasps out of your yard without harsh chemicals.

 

Remove Attractants

Prevention is the most effective form of wasp control. Removing or sealing items that attract wasps like pet food, bird feeders, and food scraps is essential.

Similarly, maintaining or repairing common wasp nest locations like broken siding, panels, rain gutters and window sills is crucial.

 

Remove Their Food (Other Bugs)

Wasps feed on smaller insects that commonly live in our lawns. By removing this food source you can substantially reduce the number of wasps near your yard and home.

Using a non-toxic, plant-safe pesticide like PCO Choice, treat your entire lawn, including shrubbery and bases of trees. Repeat monthly, or more often as needed.

 

Grow Wasp-Repelling Plants

Some fragrant plants like mint, citronella, thyme, eucalyptus and wormwood are known to naturally repel wasps. Install them throughout high traffic wasp areas and wherever you and your family spend the most time outside.

 

Essential Oil Spray

Research shows that essential oils like peppermint, lemongrass, clove, and geranium can do wonders for deterring wasps and their nests.

Start by adding a few drops of each essential oil to a spray bottle filled with water and a half teaspoon of natural dish soap. Thoroughly spray the areas outside your home that attract the most wasps to prevent nests from forming.

 

Hang False Nests

Wasps are territorial and so they tend to avoid areas where another colony has already built a nest. Which is why hanging a few false nests can deter wasps or get an active nest to relocate.

Make your own false nests at home by filling a brown paper lunch bag with crumpled newspapers. Tie off the top of the bags and hang them near known wasp trouble areas, such as patios, eaves, and doorways.

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page to let us know what you think!

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Cedarcide Blog Post Image, 6 Natural Bug Bite Remedies

6 Natural Bug Bite Remedies

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Cedarcide Blog Post Image, 6 Natural Bug Bite Remedies

Unfortunately, no matter how diligent you are with pest control and applying repellents, bug bites are still going to happen. That's just the world we live in. Thankfully, just as there are natural approaches for preventing bites, there are natural options for soothing them once they occur. The next time a bug leaves you with a red, itchy bump, try one of these 6 natural bug bite remedies.

 

Oatmeal

Not only is oatmeal moisturizing and soothing, but research shows it’s also an anti inflammatory capable of relieving skin irritation caused by bug bites.

To use: Make a paste by mixing equal parts oatmeal and water and apply it directly to the bite site. Allow the mixture to sit for 10-15 minutes, then simply wipe it off with a wet cloth.

 

Aloe vera

Bug bites and stings cause your immune system to release compounds called histamines, which typically leads to an itchy reaction. Aloe vera has antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, which can do wonders to relieve this irritation.

For this approach: Cut open an aloe vera leaf and apply the plant’s gel to the irritated skin. Reapply as needed.

 

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm, an herb in the mint family, has natural antihistamine properties, which makes it awesome for alleviating bug bites and stings.

To use: Finely crush fresh lemon balm leaves and spread liberally on affected areas.

 

Lavender Oil

It smells incredible, improves mood, and to top it off, it also helps soothe bug bites.

Take advantage of lavender oil’s anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities by diluting it with a carrier like coconut oil and spreading in on bug bites or stings.

 

Ice or Ice Packs

Ice works to calm the itching of bug bites in two ways. Firstly, the cold constricts blood vessels, decreasing inflammation and the body’s natural histamine response. Secondly, the ice will numb the site, reducing the urge to scratch.

Using a cloth or similar barrier, apply the ice or ice pack to the bite area. Remove after 5-10 minutes.

Chamomile 

When applied topically, Chamomile has restorative, anti-inflammatory effects. In fact, one study found that it both reduces pain and helps lesions heal more quickly.

To use: Steep a chamomile tea bag in a glass of water in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Squeeze out the water, and apply the tea bag directly to the affected area. Remove after 10 minutes.

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page to let us know what you think!

Posted in BUGS & PEST CONTROL, ESSENTIAL OILS, HIKING & OUTDOORS, NATURAL LIFESTYLE
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Cedarcide Blog Post Image, 5 Tips to Chigger-Proof Your Yard Without Harsh Chemicals

5 Tips to Chigger-Proof Your Yard Without Harsh Chemicals

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Cedarcide Blog Post Image, 5 Tips to Chigger-Proof Your Yard Without Harsh Chemicals

If you’ve ever encountered chiggers, chances are you’ll never forget the experience. Living in grassy areas during spring and summer, these relatives of ticks feed on the skin of their hosts, causing extreme, often painful skin irritation that can stay with you for months. Also known as red bugs, harvest mites, and berry bugs, chiggers can put a serious damper on summer activities. Here are 5 tips to get a chigger-free lawn this summer without harsh chemicals.

 

Deter Wild Animalscedarcide blog post image, 5 Tips to Chigger-Proof Your Yard Without Harsh Chemicals

Small animals like rodents, turtles, and birds often introduce and attract chiggers to our lawns. Reducing clutter, regularly trimming shrubbery, and sealing trash cans helps deter wild animals thereby limiting the chigger population in your yard. 

 

Protect You and Your Pets 

Chiggers sometimes enter our lawns by hitching a ride on our clothing and pets. To prevent this and avoid painful bites, spray yourself and your pup before exploring wooded areas and spaces with tall grass.


Maintain Your Yardcedarcide blog post image, 5 Tips to Chigger-Proof Your Yard Without Harsh Chemicals

Chiggers and the wildlife they feed on thrive in cluttered, unkempt spaces. Regularly mowing the yard, trimming bushes, and clearing brush like weeds and leaves helps deny chiggers the shelter and shade they need to survive.

 

Treat Your Yard

Treating your yard monthly with a non-toxic pesticide like PCO Choice is one of the most efficient approaches to killing and repelling chiggers. 

 

Remove Unnecessary Moisture

cedarcide blog post image, 5 Tips to Chigger-Proof Your Yard Without Harsh Chemicals

Without adequate moisture, chiggers simply cannot survive. Removing or repairing sources of unnecessary moisture like leaky hoses and avoiding overwatering can substantially limit the number of chiggers in your yard.

 

Thoughts, suggestions, have your own tips to add? Comment below or head over to our Facebook page to let us know what you think!

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