• Use the right tools to keep pests at bay.ants & aphis image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com
  
  No matter where you live, chances are that household pests like bugs and mice will find their way in eventually. Insects, mice and other pests are good at finding sources of food and shelter, and they will do whatever they can to make your home their abode. Fortunately there are tools homeowners can use to deter those pests from coming in and eradicate them when they do arrive.
  
  

Ultrasonic Pest Repellents

• Ultrasonic pest repellents can be effective against mice and rats. These devices emit a high pitched sound that is not noticeable to humans or pets, but which is unpleasant for rats and mice. For maximum effectiveness, an ultrasonic device should be plugged into an electrical outlet in each room of the home. Large rooms might require two units. These devices should not be used in homes where hamsters and other small rodents are kept as pets, since the same waves that drive rats and mice away will annoy those pets.
  
  

Pesticides

• Pesticides can be used effectively to eradicate pests once they enter the home, and to lay down a barrier that deters them from entering in the first place. There are pesticides available for residential use, as well as available only to pest control professionals. No matter which type of pesticide you use, it is important to restrict its use to areas where children and pets do not have access.
  
  

Barrier Plants

• Planting a barrier of aromatic herbs like mint can help to deter common pests like ants from entering your home. A side benefit of this method is that it is all natural, requiring no pesticides that could be ingested by children or pets or absorbed by the groundwater. In addition, those aromatic herbs are great for cooking, providing another benefit beyond natural pest control. To be most effective, the barrier plants should be be placed along as much of the exterior walls as possible, but concentrating the plants in areas where pests tend to gain entry can be effective as well.