Pest Control

It’s in 2020. Time to live in a pest-free home. Pests are a problem, and not just because they are annoying. You don’t want pests in your Waldorf, MD home. They can spread disease and cause other health concerns. The negatives don’t even take the financial damage they can cause into consideration. In fact, having a pest-free home is one of the best things you can do for your health and your pocketbook.

If you are struggling with pests in Waldorf, MD or the surrounding areas, let Barefoot Pest Control help you. We are the top pest control experts in the area. There are a few other things you can do to keep your home pest-free in 2020. Read on to find our top five tips.

5 tips for keeping 2020 pest-free

Want a pest-free home in 2020? If the answer is yes—and it should be—then follow these five tips.

1. Remove access to food.

All living things need food, and pests are no different. As you know from reading some of our other blog posts, most pests are not picky eaters. They will eat anything and everything they can find.

The best way to keep pests out of your home is to remove access to food. You can do this in a number of ways. First, make sure your kitchen remains clean. This means cleaning up dirty dishes and wiping down the counters every day. Second, keep your food in sealable, sturdy containers. Mice and other rodents should not be able to chew their way in. Finally, purchase a lockable trash can or at least one with a secure lid.

2. Remove access to water.

As with food, all pests need water. Many, including cockroaches, mice, and even centipedes, will be attracted to homes with leaky pipes. If your basement has pools of water, or under your sinks is damp, you can expect to find pests there. Keeping up with water maintenance is a great way to keep the pests out in 2020.

3. Seal everything.

You don’t want to just keep your food in sealed containers. Your doors and windows should be sealed as well. Most pests are quite small. They can fit into cracks beneath doors, in the foundation, or through windows very easily. Keeping everything sealed up tight will keep those pesky pests out—and it just might lower your heating and cooling bills as well.

4. Check for pests every season.

In the D.C. area, different pests are common in each of the four-season. For example, ants and stinging insects like wasps come out in the summer. Rodents are more likely to invade your home in the fall. By checking for signs of pests every season, you make sure none slip under your radar.

At Barefoot Pest Control we offer the Home Protection Plan. Our technicians will come to your home in the spring, summer, autumn, and winter. They will carefully inspect for, treat, and defend against the common pests for that season. This is the best way to ensure your home stays free year-round.

5. Contact Barefoot Pest Control.

People in the Waldorf, MD area should contact Barefoot Pest Control if you want your home to remain pest-free in 2020. We offer more than just the Home Protection Plan. Our technicians are experts in exterminating any pest you can think of. Plus, we offer free inspections and estimates. You have nothing to lose. Give Barefoot Pest Control a call today.

No one wants a cockroach in their home. That’s a given. Cockroaches can spread disease, contaminate food, and even damage your home’s structure. It seems like it is impossible to kill cockroaches. But, don’t worry. If you find a cockroach in your Waldorf, MD home, you still have a lot of options.

This article lays out how to spot cockroaches in your home, and what to do if you see their signs. And, remember, you can always contact Barefoot Pest Control with questions or to receive a free inspection and quote.

Signs of cockroaches

Before you learn how to deal with finding a cockroach in your Waldorf home, you need to know what signs this annoying pest leaves behind.

• Seeing a cockroach: Actually seeing a cockroach is rare. But, if you do, then you know that you have a serious cockroach problem. Cockroaches can be found in dark, damp locations like under the sink or in dark cabinets.
• You may not see a cockroach in their likely hangouts, but you may definitely see their droppings or skins. Cockroach droppings are small, dark, and circular. Look for piles of droppings or shed skins in corners, basements, or your kitchen cabinets.
• If you have a lot of cockroaches in your home, it will likely have a strong, musty odor. Yes, a musty odor can be caused by things other than cockroaches. However, if your house has an unexplained smell, you may want to call in cockroach extermination professionals.
• Finally, a gross sign. Cockroaches leave grease marks on walls as they rub against them. So, if you think you might have a cockroach problem, check the bottom of your walls and baseboards for long, greasy streaks.

What to do if you find a cockroach

Okay, now that you know you have a cockroach problem, you don’t have to panic. Cockroaches may be hard to kill, but with the right strategy, you can accomplish that feat. Follow these tips to make cockroaches get out and stay out of your Waldorf home.

1. Consider purchasing cockroach traps or poison. Many brands now offer products where the cockroaches take the poison back to their nest, so no spraying is required. These over-the-counter products will not be as effective as a professional pest control company, but they are a good first step.
2. Make sure your kitchen and all areas of your home are clean and free of food and grease.
3. Fix any leaky pipes and other water sources in your home. Cockroaches need water to live just like humans.
4. Contact Barefoot Pest Control. We are your Waldorf, MD area cockroach extermination experts. Plus, if you call before 2 p.m., we will be at your home within four hours. Our technicians are highly trained and vetted, and they are up-to-date on the most recent cockroach extermination techniques.

So, if you have a cockroach problem, don’t delay. Contact Barefoot Pest Control today, and you will never have to deal with finding a cockroach in your home again.

With bed bugs making a comeback in the Waldorf, MD area, it is not that unusual to find one in your home. Bed bugs can hitch a ride into your house in many different ways. But, if you see bed bugs, you shouldn’t panic. Your biggest concern should be removing them from your Waldorf home.

That is what this article aims to help you with. In it, we will tell you what to do if you find a bed bug in your home. And, if you still have any questions after reading this article, make sure to call Barefoot Pest Control. We are your Waldorf, MD area source for the best bed bug extermination.

How to tell if you have bed bugs

First of all, you need to know how to spot bed bugs. Although seeing an actual bed bug is fairly rare, there are other signs that let you know of their presence in your home. When looking for bed bugs, you will want to concentrate your search in your bedrooms, as this is a bed bug’s favorite place to hang out.

Signs that you have bed bugs in your Waldorf home include the following.

1. You see small, brown spots moving around your bed. Bed bugs are small, but they can be seen in pillowcases, under mattresses, and in the corners of headboards.
2. If you don’t actually see a bed bug in the places listed above, you may still be able to see their skins. Thin, crackly, small skins are shed often by bed bugs. So, any shed skin in or around your bed is a telltale sign that you have a bed bug problem.
3. Probably the largest sign that you have bed bugs is if you wake up with small, red, itchy bumps on your skin. These will be uncomfortable and can be found on any parts of your body that was exposed during the night.

If you want to learn more about other signs of bed bugs in your Waldorf home, go to this site.

What to do if you have bed bugs

If you’ve discovered any—or all—of the signs listed above, you likely have bed bugs in your home. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, finding bed bugs does not have to be a cause for alarm. They are a hard insect to completely remove. But, if you follow the steps below, you will be living bed bug-free in no time.

1. Make sure to wash any clothes, linens, drapes, or any other cloth item found in your bedroom. You will also want to dry these items on the highest dryer setting to ensure that all bed bugs and their eggs are killed.
2. Vacuum everywhere that your vacuum can reach. This process should involve using all of the attachments in every crevice and corner you can find.
3. Contact Barefoot Pest Control. Nothing beats the efficiency of a professional pest control company. We provide free inspections and estimates, service within four hours, and free night and weekend appointments. All of our products for bed bugs are safe for bedrooms and your family. So, you don’t have any reason not to call Barefoot Pest Control today if you find a bed bug in your Waldorf, MD house.

No one likes having to deal with pests in their homes. Depending on the pest, there can be health concerns and damage to the structure of your house. That is why you need to call in the professionals. People in the Maryland and Northern Virginia area should seriously consider Barefoot Pest Control.

There are a lot of reasons to choose Barefoot Pest Control to solve your next pest problem. In this article, we will list the top five. So, keep reading to find out how Barefoot Pest Control can help you solve all of your pest problems.

Five reasons to use Barefoot Pest Control

1. Free inspections and estimates.

Most importantly, Barefoot Pest Control offers free inspections and estimates. That means that we will come to your home and assess your pest situation and provide our recommended course of action all without any cost. There is no obligation for you either. So, you have nothing to lose when you call Barefoot Pest Control.

2. Evening and weekend appointments at no extra charge.

Another big plus when using Barefoot Pest Control is that we offer night and weekend appointments at no extra charge. We realize that everyone is busy. Therefore, we will never penalize you for needing an off-hours pest control visit. As an added bonus, Barefoot Pest Control also provides emergency service during our off hours.

3. Trained and licensed staff.

When you use Barefoot Pest Control, you know that you are bringing in a highly qualified professional into your home. All of the technicians at Barefoot Pest Control are trained in the latest pest control techniques. They will also have all of the required licenses.

Our hiring process is extensive and includes drug screening and background checks. We will never allow someone to come to your home that we wouldn’t allow in our own.

4. Guaranteed results.

All of Barefoot Pest Control’s services are 100% guaranteed. We promise to get the job done right the first time. This is why we are so stringent on the qualifications of our employees. We require only the best and can promise to do the most efficient job possible.

At Barefoot Pest Control, we provide extermination services for a number of pests. These include common home invaders and wildlife. Additionally, you can choose to purchase our Home Protection Plan. In this program, a technician comes to your home once per season to preemptively protect against seasonal pests. Although all of our services are guaranteed, if you want to ensure that your home or business stays pest-free, you will want to try the Home Protection Plan.

5. Local, family-run company.

A final reason to choose Barefoot Pest Control is that we are a local, family-run company. Your call will always be answered by a local operator. There’s no outsourcing of calls for Barefoot Pest Control. When you use us, you are giving back to a local, community business. It doesn’t get better than that.

Contact Barefoot Pest Control today and let us take care of your pest problem and increase your peace of mind.

Termites are a major problem everywhere in the United States. If you have wood anywhere around you, then you should worry about getting a termite infestation. This, of course, applies to Waldorf, MD homes. There is plenty of wood in the DC area and our climate is just right for termites.

Termites can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your Waldorf home. Plus, they can weaken support beams and other crucial elements of your buildings, which creates a very unsafe situation. In order to stop a termite problem before it begins, you need to know the signs that you have a termite problem. Read on to find out more.

How to spot termites

There are some very specific signs that you have a termite problem in your Waldorf, MD home. There are actually hundreds of different types of termite species. But, most species create similar signs of infestation. The following are the most common signs for almost all types of termites.

1. You see mud tunnels.

Mud tunnels are made by subterranean termites, the most common to infest Maryland homes. Mud tunnels are long, thin tunnels made out of mud. The termites use them to move from feeding site to feeding site along your walls. Often you will find these tunnels at the foundation of your home or along baseboards.

2. You see termites or their wings

Seeing a termite is a great sign that you have a termite problem. Termites are fairly hard to spot, except when they are swarming. Therefore, if you see a termite at all, you know that there are likely others in your Waldorf home.

Also, termites swarm when they are looking for a new nesting site. To do this they have wings that they then discard. So, if you see a lot of wings near your home’s entrance ways—they look like fish scales—you can be pretty sure that termites have decided to set up shop in your house.

3. You see termite pellets

Termites pellets—or poop—look like small piles of wood shavings. This makes sense, of course, because termites eat wood. They push the pellets out of their mud tunnels. So, if you see a lot of small piles of wood shavings around mud tunnels or along the base of walls, then you can be pretty sure you have an active termite colony.

How to get rid of termites

Okay, so you’ve discovered signs of termites in your home. Now what? The important thing is to not panic. Your best course of action is to call in professional termite exterminators. For people in the DC area, especially Waldorf, MD, your best bet is to call Barefoot Pest Control. We have decades of experience getting rid of termites.

Barefoot Pest Control is a locally owned and operated pest control company. We specialize in termite extraction and prevention. You can learn more about our termite control options here. Plus, we offer free inspections, estimates, and service within four hours. If you suspect a termite problem, contact Barefoot Pest Control today.

No one wants bed bugs in their home. These annoying pests invade your bedroom most often because that is where their food—you—spend a lot of time. Bed bugs are parasites that feed on human blood. They have recently been making a comeback in the Eastern U.S. coast. So, people in Waldorf, MD should be on the lookout for bed bugs in their home.

Throughout the rest of this article we will tell you exactly what bed bugs are doing in your home and how to keep them out. And, remember, your best bet in bed bug prevention is to call Barefoot Pest Control. We are bed bug extermination experts who can ensure that your Waldorf home is bed bug-free all year.

What do bed bugs want?

Like most animals, including pests, bed bugs want food, water, and shelter. Yet, unlike us, bed bugs’ food is warm blood. During the night they will attach themselves to your body and suck your blood. To do this they are drawn by your body heat and your carbon dioxide exhales.

Bed bugs are most likely to begin invading your Waldorf home in the fall. Although they will be attracted to their food source at all times, in the fall the DC area begins cooling off. While that is great news for us, bed bugs don’t like it. They will begin trying to find ways into your home to keep warm and fed.

How to keep bed bugs out?

And, that brings us to the main topic of this article: how to keep bed bugs out of your home. There are a few strategies that you can employ to keep those pesky bed bugs out. Here are our top recommendations.

1. Bed bugs often make it into our home by hitching a ride on our belongings. If you’ve recently been traveling, make sure to take precautions. This means checking hotel rooms for bed bugs before you unpack. And, when you return home, make sure to spray your luggage down and wash all clothing or bedding you took.
2. Just as you would look for fleas and ticks, make sure to check your outdoor pets for bed bugs. These pests prefer humans, but they will hitch a ride inside on your dogs or cats. You can check their skin for the same small, red bites that you would find on your own skin. You should also keep their bedding and toys well cleaned.
3. Keeping your home well cleaned and free of clutter will also go a long way towards preventing bed bugs.
4. Call in the professionals. If you are still worried about bed bugs and you live in the Waldorf, MD area, contact Barefoot Pest Control today. We have the years of experience necessary to completely prevent and treat bed bugs in your home. If you want to learn more about our bed bug specific treatment options, go here. Plus, we offer free inspections and quotes, so you will be well-equipped with all the information you need before deciding on your course of action. If you want your Waldorf home to remain free of bed bugs this fall, call Barefoot Pest Control today.

If you live in Waldorf, MD, you are familiar with experiences four seasons. Often, people look forward to the cooler weather after the sweltering of a Waldorf summer. However, rodents and bugs do not like the cold as much as humans. So, when the weather turns colder in the Waldorf, MD area, rodents and bugs try to find their way into our homes.

You don’t want the problems the rodents and bugs can cause to your home and health. Therefore, it is essential that you take steps to keep rodents and bugs out of your Waldorf home this winter. Read through this article to find all of the tips and tricks you need. If you still have questions after you are done reading, contact Barefoot Pest Control. We’re happy to answer any pest prevention question.

How to keep rodents out in winter

It is essential to keep rodents (think mice, rats, squirrels, and chipmunks) out of your home at all times. These pests can ruin food, chew on wiring, and spread disease. And, when the weather in Waldorf turns colder, rodents tend to look to our homes for warmth.

If you want to keep rodents out of your home this winter, take the following precautions.

1. Seal off entrances to your home. This will mean cleaning all leaves out of your gutters. You should also seal any cracks in your foundation, windows, or doors. If you have gaps in your roof, those should also be sealed. You may also consider adding a brush strip to the bottom of your exterior doors, which keeps rodents from wiggling their way into your home.
2. Keep clutter picked up on the outside and inside of your home. Rodents prefer to hide. So, if you remove prime hiding locations like piles of leaves, debris, or newspapers, then they will not think that your home looks that appealing.
3. Contact Barefoot Pest Control. We have a number of rodent control options that will help you keep these annoying and destructive pests out of your home this winter.

How to keep bugs out in winter

Bugs comprise a large category of pests. Termites, earwigs, mosquitoes, etc., these are all unwanted bugs in your home. Like rodents, bugs can contaminate food, spread disease, and cause damage to your home’s structure and wiring. You definitely do not want these annoying pests to find their way in during the colder weather.

Bugs are even harder to keep out than rodents, but if you follow these steps, you will well on your way to making sure your Waldorf home is bug-free this winter.

1. Keep an eye out for signs of bug pests. Make sure to regularly check your attic, basement, cupboards, under sink areas, and other attractive bug locations for signs of the pests. Signs could include wings, dead bugs, or droppings.
2. Stop any leaks and store food correctly. Bugs need food and water just like humans. So, by fixing any leaky pipes and storing your food in sealed containers, you are ensuring that bugs cannot survive long in your home.
3. Contact Barefoot Pest Control. Like rodent prevention, Barefoot Pest Control provides the best in bug extermination in the Waldorf, MD area. Contact us today to receive a service call within four hours and free inspection and estimate. Let us help you keep rodents and bugs out of your Waldorf home this winter.

Worried about termites? In Waldorf, MD you should be worried. Termites love our temperate climate here on the east coast. Plus, if they get into your home, they can cause an enormous amount of damage. You really don’t want termites in your Waldorf home.

Even though you know that termites are a nuisance, you may be wondering how to prevent them from invading. All of the secrets you are looking for are in this article. In it, we will tell you the top tips for preventing termites in the DC area.

However, if you still get termites no matter your precautions, you need to call termite extermination professionals like Barefoot Pest Control. We are a locally owned and operated pest control company in Waldorf, MD. Let us take care of your termite problem because it costs you thousands of dollars in damages.

Termite Prevention Tips

Below we’ve listed the top five termite prevention tips.

1. Reduce the moisture and standing water.

Termites, like all living things, need water to survive. They love drippy faucets, pipes, and even window AC units. So, by cutting off their water source, you will encourage them to pass your home by. And, ironically, this step should also cut down on other pests like roaches that are also attracted to extra water in your home.

2. Seal off the entrances to your home.

Yes, you want to make sure that your windows and doors seal tightly, but those aren’t the only entrances we’re talking about. Termites do not need a very large opening to enter your home. So, by making sure that all loose floorboards, mortar, foundations, and siding are on your home correctly, you will also be preventing termites from entering.

3. Spray.

There are a number of over the counter pest and termite sprays that you can use to try and create a barrier for the pests. Most pest and termite sprays are easy to use. You just spray them around the outside of your home, or in certain locations like your basement. Just keep in mind that the sprays you can get at home improvement stores will not be as strong as those used by pest control professionals.

4. Keep wood—especially rotting wood—away from your house.

Termites feed on wood. That fact is common knowledge. Termites also feed on a lot of other home materials, like drywall. But, it’s wood that they really like. So, if you store firewood or rotting wood up against your home, you may as well roll out a welcome mat for termites. Always keep wood at least twenty feet away from your house or any other structures where you don’t want termites.

5. Schedule regular termite control services.

All of the above tips for termite prevention are great places to start. But, the only way that you can be 100% sure that you will not get termites is to schedule regular termite extermination services.

In Waldorf, MD, this means calling Barefoot Pest Control. We have decades of experience and provide a free inspection and zero-obligation estimates. For the DC area, let Barefoot Pest Control be your termite prevention option.

Animals live all around us in the DC area. Most people don’t mind this fact, except when an animal makes its way into their home. And, by animals, we don’t mean insects. Those are bad enough. But, Waldorf, MD has a variety of squirrels, chipmunks, mice, raccoons, and other wildlife. Depending on where you live, you may have to deal with one of these larger and more dangerous animals in your home.

So, what do you do if you find an animal in your Waldorf, MD home? Read on to find out.

Animals in your home

Animals enter our home for the same reasons no matter the species. They are looking for shelter, food, and water. These are probably similar reasons why you enjoy your Waldorf home. But, most people do not like wild animals making their way into their homes. So, below we’ve offered a few tips for what to do if you find an animal in your home.

1. Don’t panic.

Yes, you may have not expected to find that raccoon in your cupboards. But, panicking about your discovery does not help anything. Plus, often the animal you find is much more frightened of you than you are of it. We promise that’s true. Therefore, screaming, hitting at it, or running may only agitate the animal further and could cause it to hide further in your home or become violent.

2. Stay away from it.

And, that brings us to our next tip: stay away from the animal. Many larger animals like those in the rodent family carry diseases. Plus, if they are very large like raccoons, they likely have claws and teeth that they can use to hurt you. No matter how cute the animal is, resist the urge to pet or hold it and stay away.

3. Try to lure it outside.

Animals that have gotten inside your Waldorf home likely want to leave very badly. The best thing you can do when you find an animal is to try and lure it outside. Remember not to pick the animal up or touch it. But, if you open your windows and doors and use food to get their attention, you should be able to get the intruder to leave.

4. Call professional pest removal services.

Depending on the animal that has gotten in your home, it may just be safer to call pest control professionals. In Waldorf, MD that means contacting Barefoot Pest Control. We offer humane animal removal services. No matter the animal, we can help you remove it from your home.

Plus, Barefoot Pest Control offers free, zero-obligation inspections and estimates. We also know that animals don’t follow a normal workday schedule, so we offer weekend and night appointments at no extra charge. And, if you call us before 2 p.m., we will be at your home within four hours.

Conclusion

If you find any animal in your Waldorf, MD home, don’t panic. Stay away from the animal and try to lure it outside. And, while you are doing those steps, make sure to call Barefoot Pest Control. We will remove your unwanted visitor and ensure that they never come back in your home again.

Looking for one of the best pest control companies near you? If so, then all you need to do is follow the steps below. No matter where you are, these tips and tricks will help you locate the best pest control company around.

What to look for in a pest control company near you

The first step in finding the best pest control company near you is to search out your options. Try to find a few companies to choose from. Once you have a list of three to five options, you can narrow down your choices.

The following factors will help you pick out your top few pest control company choices. They will also aid you in choosing the overall winner.

1. The relative proximity of the company to your location.
2. Whether the company services residential, commercial, or both types of locations.
3. The types of plans available to you.
4. If the company exterminates your specific types of pests.
5. The general rating of the company on review sites. As you continue to narrow down your options, read more of the reviews. You want to have a good view of all of the pest control company’s business practices and history.
6. Finally, of course, visit the websites of the companies themselves to see what they are all about.

How to search for a pest control company

In today’s day and age, there is one place where you can go to learn just about anything: Google. The Google search engine and maps tool is a great place to start your pest control provider search. Google’s search engine will help you locate the most popular pest control companies in your area. The top options in the search results will be the most searched for.

Additionally, Google maps will help you locate the pest control company on a map. You will also see their Google star rating, website, general information and hours, and a few reviews. The short snippet of each pest control company provided by Google maps is extremely helpful in your finding a great pest control company near you.

You may also choose to use review companies whose job it is to recommend businesses in each category. The best known of these companies is the Better Business Bureau. The Better Business Bureau has been around for more than one hundred years and is the gold standard in company recommendations. However, you have to pay for a subscription to the BBB. Angie’s List is another great review company, and its reviews are free.

Conclusion

Although it may seem overwhelming, don’t worry about finding one of the best pest control companies near you. By following the guidelines above, you will be able to uncover a great company relatively easily.

And, if you live in the Waldorf, MD area, you don’t have to worry at all. Just contact Barefoot Pest Control. We have decades of combined pest control experience, which means we will have no issues exterminating any pest bothering you. Our inspections and quotes are free, so you have nothing to lose. Call us today to learn more about what Barefoot Pest Control can do for you.