Summer Pest Control

Summer Pest Control: Deep Cleaning for a Healthier, Pest-Free Home

At One Stop Cleaning Shop, we supply professional upholstery and carpet care chemicals and machines, dedicated to creating a clean, healthy, and pest-free environment for your home. This summer, we’re sharing valuable tips on deep cleaning your carpets, upholstery, and mattresses to minimize the risk of pest infestations and improve indoor air quality.

Summertime Problems: Increased Pest Activity

Summer brings sunshine, warm breezes, and more time outdoors. However, it also means a surge in pest activity. From flies and mosquitoes to ants, fleas, bed bugs, and moths, warm weather provides ideal conditions for these creatures to thrive and potentially invade your home.

Why Professional Cleaning Is Essential in Summer

Regular cleaning might not be enough to combat persistent pests. Here’s why summer is peak season for infestations and how professional deep cleaning can be your best defense:

We naturally keep our windows and doors open more often during the warmer months. Unfortunately, this invites pests like flies, mosquitoes, ants, cockroaches, and even rodents to enter your home. While keeping everything shut tight might seem extreme, there are ways to balance between fresh air and unwanted visitors.

– Install Fly Screens: These fine-mesh barriers allow air circulation while keeping out pesky insects.
– Seal Entry Points: Check around windows, doors, and pipes for cracks or gaps pests could use to enter. Seal up potential entry points with caulk or weather stripping.
– Consider Pet Screens: If you have furry friends, pet screens let in fresh air but prevent your pet from escaping. Treat the area with tick and flea repellents to keep pests at bay.

We Bring the Outdoors In (Along with Hitchhikers)

Summer activities like barbecues, picnics, and outdoor play can also unknowingly bring pests back into your home.

– Perform a Post-Outing Inspection: After spending time outdoors, especially in grassy or wooded areas, check yourself, your pets, and your belongings for hitchhiking insects or ticks.
– Brush Off Pets: Before letting your furry companions back inside, brush them outside to remove any potential hitchhikers.
– Clean Outdoor Gear: Brush off dirt, leaves, and debris from shoes, bags, and picnic blankets before storing them indoors.

Hidden Invaders: Where Pests Like to Lurk

Pests like moths, bed bugs, and fleas are particularly sneaky, hiding and breeding in carpets, upholstery, and mattresses. These soft furnishings provide the perfect breeding ground for pests, offering:

– Shelter: Carpets, upholstery, and mattresses offer a dark, protected environment for pests to hide and lay eggs.
– Food Source: Crumbs, shed skin, pet dander, and other organic debris attract pests and provide sustenance.
– Nesting Sites: The soft fibers of carpets and upholstery create ideal nesting spots for pests to build their homes.

Professional Upholstery and Carpet Cleaning for Summertime Peace of Mind

Regular deep cleaning of carpets, upholstery, and mattresses is crucial for keeping your home healthy, hygienic, and pest-free. Here’s why summer is the perfect time to schedule a professional deep clean:

– Faster Drying Times: The warmer summer weather translates to faster drying times for carpets and upholstery after cleaning.
– Reduced Risk of Mould Growth: Moisture left behind after cleaning can lead to mould growth. Summer’s warmth helps eliminate this risk.
– Improved Air Quality: Deep cleaning removes dust, allergens, and pests, leading to cleaner and healthier air for you and your family.

The Power of Hot Water Extraction: Your Pest Control Ally

At One Stop Cleaning Shop, we use the hot water extraction method (a.k.a. professional steam cleaning) to thoroughly clean carpets, upholstery, and mattresses. This method offers several advantages in the fight against pests:

– High Temperatures: The hot water used in extraction reaches temperatures around 50°C, loosening deeply settled dirt and creating a more hygienic environment that won’t attract pests.
– Deep Cleaning Power: The high-pressure steam penetrates deep into the fibers, reaching areas with trapped bacteria and allergens.
– Safe and Effective: Hot water extraction is a safe and eco-friendly method that uses minimal cleaning solutions for maximal cleaning results.

DIY Cleaning Tips for a Pest-Free Home

To minimize the risk of pest infestations this summer:

– Vacuum Regularly: Vacuum your carpets, upholstery, and mattresses at least twice a week, focusing on high-traffic areas, edges, and corners. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to trap dust mites, allergens, and small insects.
– Steam Clean: Steam cleaning removes dust mites, helps loosen deeply settled dust, and sanitizes surfaces and fabrics. Rent a steam cleaner or call a specialized upholstery and carpet cleaning service for a thorough job.
– Wash Bedding Regularly: Wash your sheets, pillowcases, and mattress covers in hot water (at least 55°C) every week, especially in summer. High-temperature washing kills pests and their eggs, preventing them from multiplying.
– Declutter and Minimize Storage Under Furniture: Pests thrive in cluttered environments. Declutter your home and minimize storage under furniture to make it harder for pests to hide.

Stay ahead of summer pests with these deep cleaning tips, and enjoy a healthier, pest-free home all season long.

If you need some help with which products to use in which areas, contact us and we’ll point you in the right direction…

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