Woodlice and slugs?
Question:I am getting sick and tired of woodlice and sugs in my house. I have no idea how they're getting in, I've had the problem since I moved in but I've recently had brand new sealed windows and doors installed, so I thought that would solve the problem, but it's no better. I've looked around all the edges of the walls, there's no cracks they could be getting in through. I've bought electronic devices that are supposed to repel them, but they didn't work. I'm wary of putting down an insecticide because I don't know where they're getting in so I don't know where to put it plus I have a dog and I'm frightened of him eating the stuff. Is there a natural way to get rid of these pests?
Answers:
Slugs always leave a trail so follow it and it will give you a good indication of where they are getting in. They need the tiniest of spaces. I had an old victorian house and we had air vents low down and they got through there. In one place they came through the wall in the bathroom where the pipes were. They also come in under kitchen sinks- anywhere basically where you have water inlets so ensure that all pipes are sealed where they meet with outside walls. You don't say which rooms are particularly effected but its usually bathrooms, kitchens and external doorways.
Insect repellents- fly sprays will deter them for a time- there is one you can buy that foams up and you can put it in the holes/cracks. But once you have discovered the cracks you can fill them in. Woodlice would not bother me particularly but they thrive in damp conditions as do slugs so you need to find out where the damp is and deal with it. If you have pets or small children you cannot do this but i used to line the floor with slug pellets in my bathroom in order to stop them coming into the bathroom- i couldn't bear the thoughts of standing on one in the middle of the night. But try that anyway- follow your slug trail backwards!
Check your ceiling. There might be cracks there. There are special salts to put in your ceiling to get of the slugs. For the lice, unfortunately you will have to fumigate the house.
If you leave any dog food (wet or dry) out at night, this is what may be attracting the slugs. They can scent anything edible in my house from several gardens away, I think, and come bounding over the fences.
They come in through open windows at night.
I now have to clear away any remains of cat food to deter them and leave a trail of salt around the window ledges
Cant help you with the woodlice problem but slugs are my one phobia. Scatter normal table salt where you see the slug trails and you will find they soon disapear
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