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It is getting colder outside and the mice want to come in your house for warmth. Here is How to Get Rid of Mice — And Keep Them Away for Good. Removal of Mice in Sacramento CA can be like a wild goose chase. The source of this article is located at: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a35872/how-to-get-rid-of-mice/
Fall and winter are prime time for rodents trying to make their way into warm, cozy homes. Luckily, it’s never too late to start mouse-proofing, according to Cindy Mannes, a spokesperson for the National Pest Management Association. Here’s what you need to know about those pesky little critters — and how you can get rid of ’em when you do spot one.
Sorry to break the news: If you see one mouse, you almost definitely have more than one. “They’re looking for the same things that humans are looking for in the winter — food, water and shelter,” says Mannes. “They’ve gotten so good at living with humans. When you get one, others will find their way in. Plus, they multiply very quickly.”
Trails of little poop pellets (which look like this) are certainly a major sign that you have mice, but the best evidence might not always be scattered along your countertops. Another tipoff could be boxes in your pantry have been chewed through. “You may see debris on your shelf or gnaw marks on boxes or bags of food,” says Mannes.
Not only can they chew through walls and boxes in your pantry, but mice can cause other extensive damage. Particularly, they can chew on wires, which can lead to house fires. “And they carry a slew of illnesses and bacteria,” Mannes warns. “A build up of their droppings can worsen allergy and asthma situations, too.”
We’ve seen all sorts of DIY repellent ideas (including peppermint sprays, dryer sheet stuffings and cotton balls soaked in oil and cayenne pepper), but you may want to skip them: “There’s no science or evidence behind any of these methods,” says Mannes. “And again, mice are so used to living with humans, that smells associated with us are not usually repellent to mice.”
“The tried-and-true mousetrap is still very effective,” says Mannes, who adds that a little dab of peanut butter on each spring-loaded trap is all you need. Want something a little, um, less out in the open? Try the d-Con Discreet No View, No Touch mousetrap, which conceals the little guy so you can just toss th
The first step to putting down traps: “Figure out where they’re coming from because putting traps randomly all over your basement floor isn’t going to do you any good,” Mannes says. Also, look to determine where they’re living and building nests. Once you’ve found those places, set your traps around those general areas. Of course, professional exterminators will be able to determine exactly where to put them and how many you’ll need.
Once you handle the infestation inside, you’ll want to make sure no additional mice can find their way in. Mice are able to fit through openings the size of a dime. And rats? Well, they can fit through something the size of a quarter — incredible! Even if a hole doesn’t start out that large, the rodents can gnaw their way to make the opening larger. The good news: “They can’t eat through caulk and steel wool,” says Mannes. “Pay really close attention to where pipes enter the house and along basement foundations. Be sure to replace weather stripping. And make sure you’ve screened the vents and the openings of your chimneys.”
“If they get into the garage, they might just decide to live under your car hood, where the engine is nice and warm,” warns Mannes. Once they’re under there, they can start eating wires and cause serious damage to your car.
Shrubbery and branches should be cut back, away from the house. “Otherwise, they’re like highways for mice and insects to get into your home,” Mannes says. Keep stacks of firewood at least 20 feet from the house, as mice like to nest in the piles.
Put cereal and other pantry items into airtight canisters and you’re less likely to attract mice, according to Mannes. “Another thing people don’t think about: pet food. If you leave it out in a dog bowl all day, that just gives rodents another source of food.”
The post How to Get Rid of Mice — And Keep Them Away for Good appeared first on Pest Control Pros.
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The worst case scenario is toxic mold exposure.
But can exposure to mold cause illness you may ask?
It sure does!
If you sense the slightest sign of a musty odor or see indications of surface discoloring, it could be a sign of an infestation. If you sense a musty smell, you might be exposed to toxic fungi, even if you can’t spot the signs of such growing!
“The term ‘mycotoxin’ is reserved for the toxic chemical products produced by fungi that colonize crops. One mold species may produce many different mycotoxins, and several species may produce the same mycotoxin.”
– Wikipedia
Short-term poisoning from fungi fumes causes adults, children, and pets to suffer from the symptoms of toxic mold exposure. Long-term leads to the development of the mold-linked syndrome. – MoldBlogger.com
If you recognize any of these signs,
you could be a victim of the damp building effect.
Look for the top signs of toxicity and mold illness such as shortage of breath, sinus infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, migraines, sore throat, depression, joint pain and inflammation, exhaustion and various digestive problems. Here is a list of the top symptoms associated with mold-associated illness:
* Do you have any other suggestions? Let us know in the comments!
If you are ill, you may not immediately consider the cause to be decreased fungitoxicity. Spores and mycotoxins pose health risks of mold illness in humans but that’s not always the case. A few extra comments on the side effects of toxic molds on humans:
* Do you have any other suggestions? Please let us know in the comments.
Important:
The symptoms of mold exposure are not distinctive and lack definitive indicators. Certainty requires professional inspection and such is recommended whenever in doubt. When sight and scent are insufficient, air and surface sampling are the one sure way to make sure if mold is the source of any symptom.
If you have one, several or all of the above-listed symptoms on a regular basis, it is highly advisable that you inspect your home for signs of a fungi infestation. You should track how and when your symptoms occur, worsen and disappear.
When leaving your abode in the morning, do you notice if you feel better during the day, being outside of your abode? This can be a clear indicator that something in your home is, in fact, causing your distress.
The same applies when you’re traveling or on a vacation. If you find yourself in better health then further inspection for the presence of toxic fungus in your property is a must. Your home shouldn’t make you sick and to locate, treat and remove the mold problem is the one and only solution.
* Do you have any other suggestions? Please let us know in the comments.
Important:If caught on time, you could treat the symptoms and prevent illness.
Build a “safe” room. Equip it with proper filtration to minimize the risks of the presence of toxic fumes, spores or mold-induced allergens.
Before we further elaborate on the negative effects of toxic molds on human health, let’s begin by mentioning a few positive impacts:
Besides looking unsightly, any type of mold can become a major inconvenience once it enters your household or office.
If the infested area is not sterilized in time, the fungi will release numerous spores into the air. Once inhaled by humans, spores can trigger an allergic reaction. The signs of mold toxicity will vary depending on your age, the level of exposure, and your health condition.
Toxic mold is a source for microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC). Most lack odor but some are quite fusty. In the indoor environment, human exposure to fungal MVOC’s has been pointed as the cause of headaches, nasal irritation, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. However, the evidence is insufficient, and other factors should also be taken into consideration.
Here is a chart to highlight the most common binders and sources associated with mycotoxins:
| Mycotoxin: | Associated Molds: | Examples Binders: | Potential Sources: |
| Aflatoxin | Aspergillus flavus; Aspergillus parasiticus; |
Clays (bentonite, montmorillonite) Charcoals; Zeolites; Glucomannan; Diatomaceous earth; | Milk, cheese, eggs, meat (contaminated feed), cereals, wheat, spices, tree nuts, peanuts, pistachios, Brazil nuts, chilies, oilseeds, corn, spices, black pepper, dried fruit, figs, dried coconut |
| Ochratoxin | Aspergillus albertensis; Aspergillus alliaceus; Aspergillus auficomus; Aspergillus carbonadus; Aspergillus niger; Aspergillus ochraceus; Aspergillus sderotiorum; Aspergillus sulphurous; Aspergillus wentii; Penicillium nordicum; Penicillium viridicatum; |
Cholestyramine; Zeolites; Glucomannan; Diatomaceous earth; |
Cereals, wheat, corn, oats, coffee, dried fruit, wine, beer, cocoa, nuts, beans, peas, bread, rice, cheese, meats (contaminated feed, especially pork and poultry), dried and smoked fish, soybeans, garbanzo beans |
| Trichothecene | Penicillium verrucosum; Cephalosporium; Fusarium; Myrothecium; Stachybotrys; Trichoderma; Tdchothecium; Verticimonosporium; | Clays (bentonite; montmorillonite); Charcoals; Zeolites; Glucomannan; Diatomaceous earth; |
Grains, cereals, wheat, barley, oats, corn, rye, durum, soybeans, potatoes, sunflower seeds, peanuts, bananas |
* This chart is a partial listing of fungi that may produce mycotoxins. Additional sources of mycotoxins or binders may not be present. Some of the binders listed are from veterinary literature. Mycotoxins are crucial for the manufacturing of animal products such as milk, eggs, and meat.
The signs of mycotoxin exposure are various and often neglected. Many fail to recognize the symptoms of exposure to mold in humans until sickness arises. Mycotoxins cause serious damage to both your health and that of your beloved ones. To be well-aware and detox is how you can prevent the consequences of poisoning and illness in the first place. In case you have suspicions but you can’t see the signs – you should always seek professional help.
If you have a mold issue on the walls of your home, it can be an unsightly view. The black and green spots don’t typically make for a beautiful home. Mold grows quickly so if your walls are wet, they may quickly become covered in it. Looking for a quick fix and wondering if you can paint over mold?
Painting over mold is one of the most common methods to hide mold. But that is the problem – you are only hiding the mold temporarily. Many people choose this solution because it is the quickest solution to hide the ugly signs of mold on their walls. Often, when people choose to paint over mold it is because of ignorance. They simply are not educated about the seriousness of mold in the home. However, it is all too common for landlords, propery managers and even some homeowners to paint over mold because it is the cheapest and fastest way to cover mold.
Painting over mold does not remediate the problem. The paint will not kill the mold, and it will only hide it for a short period of time.
If you’ve chosen to paint over mold or if you suspect that your walls potentially have mold under the paint, you will likely see visible signs in affected areas. The entire wall may or may not be affected, but even a small amount of mold can be a serious problem. Here is what you may see:
If you see signs of mold, you most likely have water damage on that wall that was not properly remediated in the past. If you suspect mold growth behind the paint in your home, you will need to determine the source of the leak and make plans to properly remediate it. Mold will not simply go away on its own, and it has a laundry list of serious health ailments that it can cause you and your family.
Paint over mold doesn’t permanently fix or hide the problem. If you suspect there is mold underneath your paint due to one of the signs mentioned above, do something about it now before the problem worsens.
You must properly get rid of mold before painting. There is no exception. Local hardware and paint stores sell mold killing or mold resistant paint. If you do your research, you will find that these claims oftentimes are not true. If you have mold on your walls, it must be properly removed prior to painting. Otherwise, the mold will keep growing and can actually eat through the paint. If the source of the water leak has not been determined, the mold problem can be exasperated. Surface mold is what you can visibly see, but most of the time, the problem is deeper into your walls.
If you suspect that there is mold growth underneath the paint on your walls or ceilings, you should hire a professional mold remediation company to start an official inspection. They will be able to do an assessment of your home and determine the extent of the mold damage as well as recommend repairs. Mold grows quickly (even under paint) so the extent of the remediation may be more than you think.
While there are sometimes that you can undertake mold remediation yourself, it is often best to hire a professional mold team simply because mold is sneaky and dangerous. If you aren’t properly trained, you could contaminate the rest of your home, make the problem worse or put you and your family at a serious health risk.
If you are renting property and suspect that your landlord or property manager has chosen to paint over mold rather than properly remediate it, you have the right to ask for proper repairs. Your health is at stake.
If you are a landlord or property manager, always address mold concerns properly by seeking professional remediation. While it may seem tempting to simply paint over mold, you may find yourself in an expensive lawsuit should your tenants become ill from mold exposure that you knowingly covered up. It isn’t worth the trouble!
Mold is unsightly, and remediation can be expensive and take up a lot of time. It is because of these reasons that a lot of homeowners and property managers choose to paint over mold. But painting over mold is a bad idea for many reasons. Paint does not kill mold, and it will not stop the source of the mold. Mold will continue to grow under the paint, and you will see visible signs of mold again. The surface mold that you see on your walls or ceilings is likely only a small portion of the mold problem. The mold may be deep into your walls. Your best bet is to at least perform a professional mold inspection to ensure the mold is identified and the source of the leak is discovered. Once you know the extent of the damage and the leak (or source of moisture) has been repaired, you can assess your options for proper mold remediation.
Mold is a silent killer. It can affect your health and cause permanent damage, including death. From itchy skin and headaches to serious respiratory and mental issues, mold can quickly take its toll on your body. The very young and very old are even more susceptible. You often don’t even know that your health is being affected until the damage has been done. When it comes to mold in your home or property, take the proper steps to get rid of it. Do not choose to paint over mold.
Have you ever chosen to paint over mold? Have you ever seen evidence of mold under paint? We’d love to hear. Leave a comment below!
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