Blog Archives | Topbest Pest Control Services

January 6, 2023January 6, 2023

7 Ways To Protect Your House From Mosquitoes

How can you protect your home from mosquitoes?

Keep your surroundings clean
Remove stagnant water
Install screens on your doors and windows
Use insect sprays or repellents
Maintain your hedges and lawns
Hire professional pest control services

Mosquitoes are known for their tendency to bite people and animals, suck blood, and carry diseases. Unfortunately, this combination of factors can sometimes have fatal consequences when the diseases they carry are deadly. Protecting ourselves from mosquitoes is a must, and it starts at home. In this article, we will discuss some ways to protect your house from mosquitoes.

Why Do We Need to Protect Ourselves from Mosquitoes?

There are over 3,000 species of mosquitoes in the world. Many of them can be found in tropical countries like the Philippines, where the weather and humidity are optimal for insect growth and proliferation.

Mosquitoes are flying insects that usually thrive on a diet of nectar, but during reproduction, female mosquitoes drink human and animal blood for protein to lay their eggs. Mosquitoes are also disease carriers, and when they bite people or animals, they transfer these diseases – some of which can be fatal – to the hosts. Among the worst diseases mosquitoes carry are dengue fever, malaria, West Nile fever, Zika virus, Yellow fever, and Chikungunya. You can read more about each of these diseases here.

Because these and other mosquito-carried illnesses can be irritating at best and deadly at worst, we have to protect ourselves from mosquitoes both within and outside of our homes. It’s important to avoid mosquito infestations. Read on to learn how.

Keep your surroundings clean

Mosquitoes commonly breed in moist, dirty, or unsanitized places. Because of this, you need to keep all areas of your home clean. Practice good hygiene, dust regularly, and mop up spills as soon as they collect.

Remove stagnant water

The best way to protect yourself from mosquitoes is by keeping them away in the first place. The first step to doing so is not giving them a place to breed or lay their eggs.

Mosquitoes breed in still water. From puddles to pools, mosquitoes can lay their eggs in just about any body of water as long as it is stagnant. So, make sure there are no open containers lying around and collecting liquids, especially dirty ones. Mop up all puddles, treat pools with chlorine or similar agents, and cover or dispose of vessels where water can collect.

Install screens on your doors and windows

Another way to stop the spread of mosquitoes is by preventing their entry into your house. While closing doors and windows will work, you still want ventilation and breezes to be able to enter your home.

Instead, opt for screens on your doors, windows, and other entryways. This way, mosquitoes will not be able to get in, but fresh air can still flow through your house.

Use insect sprays or repellents

There are pesticides that kill mosquitoes, but very often these are full of harmful chemicals that, when inhaled too often, can affect your lungs and body systems.

If you have an infestation in your home, these sprays might not be avoidable. But if you can use repellents instead, there is a wide range of repellents available in the market that are all-natural or otherwise safe for humans (and even pets) to inhale. Remember, though, those repellents will only make your home less attractive to mosquitoes, not remove them from your premises or eliminate them completely.

Maintain your hedges and lawns

Mosquitoes often rest in the shade of leaves and unkempt shrubbery, so make sure you trim and maintain your plants. Not only will it keep you safe, but it will also have the added bonus of improving the appearance of your home.

Hire professional pest control services

Finally, one of the most effective ways to protect your home from the threat of mosquitoes is to hire pest control services. Pest control experts know all about mosquitoes’ breeding, resting, and feeding patterns, so they know where and how to target populations to avoid or deter infestation.

If you’ve decided on this final step, make sure you choose the best pest control service in the business. Unprofessional or makeshift pest control services may cause more damage than benefit in the long run if their methods don’t work or if the pesticides they use turn out to be dangerous for your health.

Key Takeaway

In this article, we discussed a number of ways to protect your house from mosquitoes. We believe these are the basic steps toward preventing mosquito infestation and the risk of disease that comes with it, and they’re steps that can be easily applied in any home.

If you’re concerned about a mosquito infestation in your home or are at risk of any of the diseases they carry, you will benefit from pest control services in Manila from Topbest. Contact us today, or call (632) 8647-7777, (632) 8681-1921, (632) 8681-1593, or (632) 8681-1947 for a free inspection and consultation.

January 5, 2023January 5, 2023

Most Common Places To Find Rodents In Your Home

What are the common places to find rodents in your home?

Behind the kitchen cabinets
Inside the unused drawers
Inside the walls
Attics
Any secluded location

Have you been hearing scratching or scampering around your house? You may be dealing with a rodent infestation. Even though it can be challenging to tell whether you have rodents in your home, once you start noticing the damage and waste they leave behind, you’ll want them gone. If you suspect you are dealing with a rodent infestation, here are the five common places to find rodents in your home. Read on!

Rodents have a destructive habit of gnawing through wires, cords, food pantries, and even storage items. Droppings, a musty smell, and even greasy marks left behind on their usual routes are some more indicators. Rodents like to hang out in similar spaces, and it’s a good idea to check these areas frequently in your home to make sure that you can catch signs of rodent infestation before they cause costly damage.

Behind The Kitchen Cabinets

One of the favorite hiding places of rodents in a home is behind the kitchen cabinets. This is an ideal place for them to set up their own shelter since they have easy access to the drawers and cabinets that have food. Rodents can easily chew through bags and packaging to get the food inside.

Inside The Unused Drawers

If you have unused or infrequently used drawers in your kitchen or other areas around the home, that is likely where rodents are building their nests.

Inside The Walls

Have you ever experienced hearing scratches at night before you sleep? These noises can be caused by rodents climbing, digging, crawling, or chewing inside the walls of your bedroom. Since rodents are usually active at night, they make their nests inside the walls.

Attics

Another common place where you can find rodents in your home is the attic. It’s easy for small rats to find small cracks and squeeze their tiny bodies to take shelter in the attic.

Rodents also often make nests in attics for insulation. From there, they will make their way through other parts of your home where they can find food.

Any Secluded Location

Rodents love to stay or build nests in any secluded parts of your house such as rooms that are infrequently used. Their hiding spots or shelters commonly include the spot you check the least. Moreover, they are also likely to build their own homes inside old furniture or other objects they can intrude in.

Signs Of A Rodent Infestation

Rodents tend to stay or build nests in areas that are usually quiet, dark, and unused. To determine if your home is infested with rodents, check the following signs:

Tiny, dark droppings in the backs of your kitchen drawer and other common hiding places
Unexplained holes or bites in your clothing, fabric, etc.
Chewed holes in your kitchen cabinets, drawers, etc.
Unexplained holes in food packaging.
Tiny footprints in spilled powders such as flour and other material.
Gnawing, scampering, or scratching noises inside the wall voids.

How To Keep Rodents Away From Your Home

Nobody wants to suffer from a rodent infestation. They’re a threat to people’s health and they damage properties. Fortunately, we have some tips to help you figure out how to get rid of rodents in your home.

Inspect Your Home

Conduct a home inspection inside your house to find out where they’re coming from. Look at their potential access points such as drains, vents, and appliance lines. Once you know their access areas, you can seal the entry points and set traps.

Clean Up

After inspecting your home, clean up the places where these rodents usually hide and nest. It’s better to eliminate their hiding places than use poison to get rid of them. Try moving the objects away from the walls or cleaning up the clutter.

More so, keep all the food in closed storage, clean up any spills, and keep your pipes clean and dry.

Call A Professional Pest Management Company

If your house is infested with rodents and you think you need some help, don’t hesitate to contact a professional pest management company to help you eliminate them.

As the leading pest control management company in Manila, Topbest can help you identify the entry points for rodents, locate their nesting and food cache areas, and immediately get them out of your house by using safe chemicals to avoid damaging your home.

Key Takeaway

When it comes to the field of pest control and management, experts from Topbest are your best partner to clean up the most common places to find rodents in your home! We offer pest control services in Manila, Philippines with the right tools, knowledge, and professionals so that the rodents in your house would be aware of us and get out of sight fast!

If you’re having a headache getting rid of pests in your home, don’t hesitate to leave Topbest a message! You can simply consult with us by clicking here!

November 29, 2022

7 Facts About Dengue Every Parent Should Know

What are some facts about dengue?

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection common to tropical and subtropical countries worldwide.
The symptoms of dengue are wide-ranging and varied.
There is a specific breed of mosquito that carries the dengue virus.
Dengue cases rise in warmer months.
Dengue mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.
You can get the dengue virus up to 4 times in a lifetime.
There is no cure for dengue, but it can be prevented.

In the Philippines, the dengue virus is quite common. In fact, as of October 2022, there have been 173,233 cases and 528 deaths in the Philippines since the start of the year. Additionally, we regularly hear reports about dengue in the news and on social media.

Have you ever wondered why this is so? Why is dengue so common, and why is it so deadly? More importantly, what precautions can you take to avoid contracting dengue?

We’ve compiled this list of facts about the dengue virus to help answer your questions. Best of all, we’ll give you some quintessential tips to minimize the risk of contracting dengue in your home and public.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection common to tropical and subtropical countries worldwide

The Philippines is not the only nation prone to dengue mosquitoes and the virus they spread. Mosquitoes in general proliferate in areas that are warm yet humid, because of the availability of stagnant water (we’ll get to that more in a later section).

Thus, areas near the sea and the equator are usually well-populated by mosquitoes.

The symptoms of dengue are wide-ranging and varied

The illness caused by dengue is often called dengue fever, but actually, once you’ve contracted dengue, you could have any of a varied set of symptoms, or you could have no symptoms at all. If you’re not asymptomatic, some signs of dengue include sudden high fever, nausea, skin rashes, fatigue, vomiting, or body pain.

These symptoms are often mistaken for something else, but dengue should never be disregarded as an option because, at its worst, dengue can be fatal. If you experience these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.

There is a specific breed of mosquito that carries the dengue virus

It’s called the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is most active during the day. That doesn’t mean it can’t strike at night, though. In fact, several bites have been found to happen in the evenings.

Dengue cases rise in warmer months

This is because the Aedes aegypti mosquito is more active when it’s warm. That doesn’t mean you should be careless during the cold months—remember, we still live in a tropical climate—but rather, you should be more careful when it’s hot out.

Dengue mosquitoes breed in stagnant water

Like all others, the aegypti mosquito lays its eggs in stagnant water. It doesn’t take a lot of water; mosquito larvae can thrive in even a small puddle or a cup of clean water. This is why many of them flock to swampy areas, but also why they can thrive in urban areas, where people tend to store clean water for human use.

You can get the dengue virus up to 4 times in a lifetime

There are 4 dengue virus strains. Once you get infected with one strain, you develop immunity, but only to that specific strain. Therefore, it is possible to be infected up to 4 times, if you’re really unlucky.

There is no cure for dengue, but it can be prevented

Doctors and scientists have yet to discover a quick cure for dengue fever. If you contract the disease, they will likely give you medication and monitor your blood count.

The good news is, however, it can be quite easy to prevent contracting dengue in public spaces. Supermarkets always carry mosquito repellant, which is cheap to buy, and avoiding places where stagnant water can collect is a relatively painless activity.

You can also prevent dengue at home by doing the same things, plus investing in pest control services that target common household pests like cockroaches, ants, termites, and mosquitoes. This is recommended if you notice a large number of mosquitoes near your home in warmer months, or if you’ve dealt with an infestation before.

Key Takeaway

Now that you have some facts about dengue in your arsenal, you can be smarter about how you prevent infection and the spread of the disease. Because dengue can be an inconvenience at its best and a cause of death at its worst, it’s much better to be safe than sorry

Keep mosquitoes away from your home with Topbest, the leading pest control service in the Philippines. Our technicians and inspectors are fully-equipped and well-trained to spot areas of concern, and not only will they provide the best mosquito prevention control, but they’ll also even give you some more tips on how to prevent further or future infestation.

We look forward to hearing from you. Get a quote from us today!

November 28, 2022

10 Things Businesses Can Do Before and After Pest Control

What are things businesses can do before and after pest control?

Restrict pest access
Remove furniture
Clear out your kitchen and bathroom
Take away potential hiding places
Wait
Protect yourself
Discard any leftovers
Do not clean immediately
Get rid of pest food sources
Keep checking for stragglers

Pests can be a menace in your business. Not only are they unsightly — they also pose health problems. They carry disease, germs, and dirt into your establishment, which can end up affecting you, your employees, and your customers.

Hiring a pest control service is the quickest (and most effective) way to deal with this problem. However, there are some things you need to do to prepare for this service. To help you out, we’ve prepared a guide on things businesses can do before and after pest control.

Note that while the kind of pest you’re dealing with will dictate what pest control method is used, the following tips are useful in all cases.

What to do before pest control?

Here are the things your business can do to prepare for treatment, before your partnered pest control gets to your building:

Restrict pest access

You should try to restrict the access these pests have to your business as much as you can. Try repairing any cracks or holes in your walls and flooring. Sealing these up with caulk, cement, or any other sturdy material will prevent any more pests from entering. And, it will prevent the pests inside your building from escaping.

Remove furniture

We also recommend removing any furniture and appliances from your building before pest control comes in. This will not only make the area less cluttered with obstacles, it also ensures the treatment can be applied more effectively.

Doing this can also protect your things from being exposed to the pest control chemicals being used.

If you can’t remove some furniture or appliances, we recommend covering their surfaces with something disposable. A plastic sheet will do!

Clear out your kitchen and bathroom

If your business has a kitchen and bathroom, make sure to clear these spaces out. Empty your trash cans, clean out your counters, remove any food, and store all your utensils, cutlery, and dishes in another space.

Typically, your kitchen storage spaces — such as your cabinets — will be sprayed down or treated. This is because they are a prime spot for many pests, such as cockroaches.

Additionally, we recommend covering any outlets (especially those for water) with plastic. However, any sinks might also need to be sprayed or treated, so avoid covering these.

Take away potential hiding places

Smaller pieces around your business, such as plant pots, paintings, and even décor can be potential hiding places for pests. You should remove them before pest control arrives to prevent any insects or rodents from taking cover.

What to do after pest control?

Once pest control has arrived and applied their treatment to your business, there are a few things you should to do to get your business back into order:

Wait

If you had to vacate your building, wait for pest control to do their thing. Stay out of the premises for the recommended time, before heading back in.

Protect yourself

When entering your business again for the first time after treatment, we recommend protecting yourself. Wear pants and a long sleeve top to protect your skin. And, wear a pair of disposable gloves if you’re handling sprayed surfaces or objects for the first time.

Discard any leftovers

If you accidentally left any food in the building, we recommend throwing it out (unless they were in an unaffected and protected area, such as inside your fridge.

Even if pest control used organic chemicals in your building, you can’t be sure if the food is safe enough to eat.

Do not clean immediately

Though pest control professionals won’t leave behind a mess in your business, you still have to clean up the area afterwards. That said, you should wait before doing so. If you wipe down surfaces too soon, it can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.

Generally, it’s a good idea to wait at least a week before deep cleaning your business.

Get rid of pest food sources

Things like leaks and stray paper or cardboard (of any kind) should be removed as soon as possible. Paper and cardboard can provide a food source and nesting for pests. Leaks, on the other hand, can serve as an entry way for others.

Getting rid of these things can help prevent a re-infestation.

Keep checking for stragglers

For the days following pest control treatment, it’s likely that you’ll see dead pests around your building — this is normal as the treatment takes effect. This should also lessen as time passes.

Clean these up to make sure they don’t attract any other pests.

As the amount of dead pests lessens, you should still consistently check for any pests. Make sure to inspect problem areas regularly, and keep these spaces neat and clean.

Key Takeaway

Keep our guide on things businesses can do before and after pest control in mind while booking your appointment.

While this list is by no means exhaustive, they should help you increase the effectiveness of this service. Make sure to coordinate with your partnered pest control company to make sure that your pre- and post-treatment routine fits your needs best.

In search of the best pest control company in the Philippines? Message Topbest. We can help you make this process as easy as possible, and ensure that your pest infestation is dealt with immediately.

November 23, 2022

4 Industries Prone to Rodent Infestation

$4 Industries Prone to Rodent Infestation$

Which industries are prone to rodent infestation?

Wholesale food
Restaurant and cafe
Retail
Manufacturing

Here at Topbest, not only do we take pride in our pest control services, we also pride ourselves in knowing our industry well and educating others about how to prevent pests in their homes and businesses.

If you’re a business owner, the last thing you want is pests anywhere near your products, materials or equipment. Because of that, if your industry is prone to rodent infestation, you need to take extra care to prevent their entry and infestation.

If your enterprise belongs to any of the following industries, you might want to consider pest control measures against rats and mice. Here are 4 industries prone to rodent infestation:

Wholesale food

When you consider establishments that may be at risk of rodent infestation, you’ll probably think of places containing food, and lots of it. And you’re right, because wholesale food stores, such as groceries and food warehouses, are prime targets for rodents.

Rats and mice are hungry pests that know how to find food in even the most well-secured places. And, the moment they find a food source, they’re all set to start infesting your building. Thus, most places selling wholesale food like supermarkets and trading companies are susceptible.

Restaurants and cafes

Another player in the food industry are restaurants and cafes. For the same reason that wholesale food suppliers are prone to rodent infestation, restaurants and cafes are likely areas for rodents to fester in due to the food—either fresh or spoiled—in and nearby.

In fact, restaurants and cafes might be more likely to have an infestation if they are in the city. Rats are city dwellers because that’s where their food supply is, so establishments within or near the city are doubly at risk.

Retail

You might think rats only infest food industries, but in actuality, most rodents are very opportunistic. Additionally, because malls are so common, it’s possible for rats to eat somewhere and nest someplace else—for example, in a retail store. It’s additionally possible that shoppers and patrons who were allowed to bring food inside have left crumbs that rats and mice will gladly sniff out.

This is especially troubling for people who work in stores that sell products like fabric, because the slightest whiff of food on your products could mean rodents gnawing and tearing them.

Manufacturing

Due to their sheer size and closeness to rodent food sources, warehouses and factories could also be susceptible to the feisty little things. Buildings like these are often huge and hard to keep sanitized, since you’d have to keep cleaning them regularly. Unfortunately, a dirty area is very prone to all kinds of pests, rodents included.

Additionally, if your warehouse or factory is close to a food source like a farm, a bakery or a kitchen, you can expect a mouse or two to come running every so often. Your best bet is to keep the place as clean as you can and get pest control service every so often.

How to Prevent Rodent Infestation

If your business is at risk of a rodent infestation, prevention is always step one. To start with, you can avert a rodent infestation by keeping your work spaces, offices and factories clean.

The less food you have around your workplace, the better, so a good precaution is to have your employees or workers eat in places other than their workspace. This will minimize the risk of crumbs, spills or stains on important things like products, office equipment, appliances, materials and machinery.

Another way to avoid rodent infestation is to have your work space cleaned regularly. Hire an in-house cleaner, or if you can’t afford one, there are a number of cleaning services online that can do regular deep-cleaning sprees once a week or so.

Additionally, rodents can’t infest your workplace if they can’t get in. So pay attention to your place of business. Try to observe where rats or mice might be able to get in through, such as cracks in the walls, spaces in the roof, unlocked doors, chimneys or toilets. If you can, seal them up so they don’t let in pests. If you can’t, at least make sure there’s no food nearby to lead the pests to where you are.

Key Takeaway

Finally, should the worst outcome occur—in case your business has already been infested—there’s no need to panic. Simply call us, and we’ll take care of the problem for you.

At Topbest Philippines, we’re more than a pest control service. Among the usual pests in homes and business areas, we understand that rats and mice are particularly strong carriers of diseases, and we want to prevent illness in the Philippines as much as possible.

So we work to not only clear your homes and businesses from these pests, we also provide services to prevent it from happening again.

November 21, 2022

Are There Bed Bugs in My House? 7 Early Signs To Watch Out For

What are the signs that there are bed bugs in my house?

An unusual, musty odor
Small, red, itchy bites and bumps
Bloodstains on sheets or pillowcases
Dark or rusty spots on sheets or pillowcases
Eggs that are loosely stuck on various surfaces
Shell casings
Live bed bugs

If you’re here, then you’re probably wondering “are there bed bugs in my house?”

Bed bugs are a common household pest that has the habit of hiding in your bed, and feeding on your blood as you sleep. These pests often latch onto items and can end up wherever these items are taken — which is why it is so easy for them to spread and infest a new area.

Unfortunately, it is often hard to identify a bed bug problem, as some of their warning signs can easily be confused with signs of a different pest. As a result, most homeowners don’t even know they’re dealing with an infestation, allowing this pest to go unnoticed.

To help you identify whether or not you have a bed bug problem, keep reading. We cover what early signs to watch out for, and how to determine if they’re caused by bed bugs!

How do bed bugs get into my home?

Bed bugs are sort of like hitchhikers. They come from infested areas and latch onto things like your shoes, bags, clothes, and other items placed on soft or upholstered surfaces.

Once they latch on, they can easily travel, undetected, back into your home, where they will begin a new infestation. They can also easily travel between rooms in multi-unit buildings, such as apartments, hotels, and condominiums.

Signs of bed bugs

Here is how to identify whether there are bed bugs in your house — we ranked them in order of how much certainty these signs give when it comes to confirming this pest problem.

An unusual, musty odor

If you’re smelling an unusual odor that doesn’t come from an obvious source (such as dirty laundry), then you might be smelling bed bug pheromones. These smell sweet and musty. Most people compare it to the scent of old raspberries, coriander, cilantro, or almonds.

Small, red, itchy bites and bumps

If you’re experiencing small, red, and itchy bites and bumps around your arms, hands, and legs, then it might be caused by bed bugs.

One thing to check is if they seem to appear at night since bed bugs prefer to feed on blood when we are asleep. Another thing to check is if the bites are in clusters of 3 or 4 bites, which is another bed bug feeding habit.

However, bites alone might not be enough to conclude you have a bed bug problem. This is because people can react very differently to pest bites, so there’s no 100% sure way to distinguish them from one insect to another. Some people also don’t have any skin reactions to bed bug bites.

Bloodstains on sheets or pillowcases

Another thing to look out for is small blood stains or smears on your bedding.

We might not notice when bed bugs are biting us at night, but they don’t always get away with it unharmed. When they feed on blood, they become bloated. If you suddenly move or roll over while you sleep, you may crush or squeeze them.

This can cause some of the blood that they fed on to leak out — resulting in small bloodstains on your sheets.

That said, always check if you have any other wounds that might be the cause of the bloodstain. If there is no other explanation, then this might be a sign of a bed bug problem.

Dark or rusty spots on sheets or pillowcases

Seeing tiny dark or rusty spots on your sheets? These might be fecal spotting from bed bugs.

Compared to bloodstains, these are much smaller and darker. These marks can come from bed bug droppings and can be difficult to wash out. When washed, they leave dark smears.

Aside from your bed sheets, you might also find them on your pajamas, mattresses, headboards, and even on curtains and rugs.

Eggs that are loosely stuck on various surfaces

Bed bug eggs are pinhead-sized, white in color, and oval. They look a lot like small grains of rice.

If you see clusters of them stuck on a surface, then they might have come from a bed bug. You’ll often find them near what we call bed bug harborage areas, which are places where they can hide and breed without being detected. These are the gaps beneath your furniture, crevices between fabrics and wood surfaces, and any cracks or holes along your flooring and walls.

Shell casings

Bed bugs, like many other insects, have a molting cycle. They shed off yellowish-brown casings. If you find them near your bed or furniture, then this is a reliable early sign of a bed bug problem.

However, identifying whether the casings come from a bed bug or some other pest can be tricky, because it’s hard to differentiate the different sizes and shapes of bed bug stages from other pests.

That said, one way to rule out other pests is if you find these casings near common bed bug hiding places, on top of seeing other warning signs on this list.

Live bed bugs

And of course, the sure sign of a bed bug problem is if you see live ones around your home.

Here’s how to identify if the bug you found is a bed bug:

Adults are reddish-brown, while nymphs are pale.
They are small, about the size of flaxseeds.
They have a narrow head and thorax, with a flat and oval-shaped abdomen.
They have 6 legs and 2 antennae.
They have vestigial wings — meaning they can’t fly. If they fly, it’s not a bed bug.

Normally, these pests don’t like to go out in the open unless they’re feeding or laying eggs. They find a place to hide — and they stick to it. So if you find a live one in your home, chances are their population is growing, and you need to act fast.

How do I solve a bed bug problem in my home?

There are a few things you can do to control the situation, such as cleaning up the infested areas and their hiding places.

However, the best and most effective way of getting rid of a bed bug problem is by using pesticides, which should only be used by experts to ensure that the product is safely applied in your home.

That said, if you think you’re dealing with a bed bug infestation, contact an experienced pest control professional: Topbest. We are experts in bed bug control and prevention in the Philippines, and can help you quickly identify and select the best solution for extermination!

Key Takeaway

If you’re asking yourself “are there bed bugs in my house,” then consider the seven warning signs above. If you’re experiencing any combination of the above, and want to know if bed bugs have invaded your home, contact Topbest today. We offer free consultations!

October 20, 2022October 28, 2022

How to Get Rid of Subterranean Termites

How to get rid of subterranean termites:

Treat with chemicals
Using baits
Applying termiticides

Subterranean termites are destructive termite species that live for a long time, establish large colonies, and live underground. They prefer to live in spaces where they can access lots of wood, so it is common for these pests to infest the space under your home.

Here, they can weaken wood — and even metal supports — which, in extreme cases, could lead to the collapse of your home. This makes them one of the most destructive pests that you can deal with.

This means that the moment you notice you have an infestation, you have to act quickly. Here is how to get rid of subterranean termites:

Treat with chemicals

One of the quickest ways to tackle your subterranean termite problem is by using chemical treatments.

These can be used on the wood structures in your home, and work to deter termites. Some can strengthen your wood, making them hard to eat through. While this can save you some money, this does make the wood age over time — eventually making them softer and more vulnerable to termites in the future.

Other treatments repel subterranean termites from chewing through wood. Keep in mind that these spot treatments will only work against attacks in these areas. This isn’t and shouldn’t be considered a complete treatment.

Another option here is to create a chemical barrier in the soil around your property. By doing so, you can prevent subterranean termites from gaining access to your house. To create one, use liquid insecticide and spray the soil beneath your home’s foundation with it.

There are also non-repellent chemical treatments that you can use around your home. While these don’t prevent termite damage, these chemicals are lethal. Once the subterranean termites come into contact with them, they will quickly die — and they may inadvertently pass it onto their colony, too.

Using baits

Another way of getting rid of subterranean termites is by using traps or bait. This might be a good option if you’re experiencing an infestation, as chemical treatments only have a limited impact on termite colonies.

Baits use slow-acting insecticides, which are consumed by these pests and then brought back to their colony, where they spread out across the wider termite population. Some baits use a special treatment called Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs), which can help eradicate the entire colony over time. This is a viable option if you have pets and are concerned about exposure and toxicity.

Applying termiticides

While baits and traps can be effective, they are very time-consuming to apply and monitor.

If you require a fast-acting and effective way of killing off a subterranean colony, then you look into using termiticide.

Key Takeaway

If you find an active subterranean termite infestation in your home or property, then you need to act fast. Use our guide on how to get rid of subterranean termites — or work with Topbest — for a quick and effective solution.

Message us today to learn more about pest control services in the Philippines, and receive a free consultation!

October 19, 2022October 18, 2022

Dengue Prevention and Control: 7 Things Every Homeowner Should Do

What are things to do for dengue prevention and control at home?

Reduce possible habitats
Stay in screened areas
Use mosquito repellants
Keep your home airy and well-lit
Dry wet clothing and fabrics as soon as possible
Dispose of waste properly
Use pest control

Dengue fever is unfortunately very common in our tropical home — and the risk of catching it gets higher during and after the rainy season.

Dengue symptoms include high fever, nausea, vomiting, rashes, and various aches and pains. This sickness can be very difficult to deal with and recover from.

That said, there are many ways to reduce the risk of dengue, and possibly even avoid it entirely at home. It’s important to know what these are to help keep you and your family safe during this time of year! In this post, we’ve prepared seven dengue prevention and control tips for you to use at home:

Reduce possible habitats

Mosquitoes are known to like living near stagnant water because it provides the perfect environment for them to lay their larvae. When these hatches, the pupae can easily survive and grow since there is little to no water flow.

This is why it is important to look around your home for any possible habitats — i.e., pools of stagnant water. Whether they’re clean or dirty water, you should get rid of them. Take a look at objects such as tires, flower pots, pet water bowls, plastic containers, etc. around your home for any pools of water.

We also recommend checking your water systems (such as your septic tank and plumbing pipes) are free of any leaks. You can also drain and clean your roof gutters to avoid any build-up of water.

Reducing the habitat available for these mosquitoes by getting rid of these bodies of water can help prevent dengue at home.

Stay in screened areas

Adding screens to your windows and doors can prevent mosquitoes from entering your home. If you already have screens, make sure there are no holes or gaps. And, if there are any, have them replaced or repaired promptly.

Once you’ve checked your screened areas, make sure to keep them tightly shut once the sun sets, as this is the time of day when mosquitoes are most active. Keeping these areas closed off will also reduce the risk of them entering your home.

Use mosquito repellants

Using mosquito repellants, such as sprays, mosquito bands, anti-mosquito wipes, and even burning coils or incense around your home can drive these pests away. You must use these measures when you are outdoors, as you’re more exposed.

Indoors, you can use these repellants at night, when the mosquitoes are active.

Keep your home airy and well-lit

As we mentioned, mosquitoes like to frequent areas that are damp and have pools of water. But, they also like staying in places that are dark and cool.

To make them less likely to infest your home, you should try to keep your home airy and well-lit. This should help prevent your home from getting too humid, as well as dry up any damp or wet spots around the house.

Dry wet clothing and fabrics as soon as possible

Likewise, you should also avoid keeping any piles of wet clothing, towels, rugs, or other fabrics. This can attract mosquitoes, as they make the area cool and moist for them.

Keep any wet and soggy clothes or other items away from dry ones. Also, try to dry them as soon as possible, by either hanging them to dry under the sun or placing an electric fan nearby to air-dry them.

Dispose of waste properly

Aside from water, mosquitoes are also attracted to junk and dirt. Avoid leaving trash around your house. Likewise, avoid letting it pile up outside your house. Any pile of trash can end up housing these pests, and providing a nice habitat for them to lay their eggs. This is a big risk, as it could lead to an infestation — especially if your trash is wet or soggy.

We also suggest separating any liquids or wet garbage you want to throw away from the rest of your trash. Keep these in a closed and sealed bin until your trash is collected.

Use pest control

You can also periodically get your home inspected and treated for any mosquito problems you may have. Pest control partners, such as Topbest, are equipped with the materials, tools, and know-how you need to get rid of any pest problem you have — for good — and keep your home safe!

You never know when these mosquitoes will strike, or if any of the ones hanging around your home are carriers of a deadly disease. While these prevention methods above are a great way to control their numbers, it’s important to work with the professional team of Topbest. We will provide the right household pest control and preventative measures to prevent outbreaks within your home!

Key Takeaway

Dengue is one of the biggest threats that our home faces today. We never know where these pests are lurking, or when they might infect us — but thankfully, there are several dengue prevention and control measures that we can use at home to keep ourselves safe!

If you’re interested in working with us to clear out any pest problems you have, contact us here — we give free consultations!

October 18, 2022October 18, 2022

6 Reasons Why Schools in the Philippines Need Pest Control

What are the reasons why schools in the Philippines need pest control?

Schools must be a safe environment
Schools must be sanitary
Schools provide the ideal conditions for pests to thrive
Schools are empty several times a year
Children and infants are more susceptible to pest-related problems
Pests can cause damage to school property

Schools, much like other structures in the Philippines, are susceptible to pest infestations. These can provide an environment ideal for rodents, mosquitoes, and other insects to thrive in, which poses serious health risks for both students and staff.

This is why availing pest control services in the Philippines, and exerting regular prevention and control measures, are so important for schools. These are key to ensuring that school is not only a place where children can learn, but also feel safe and comfortable. Here are 6 reasons why schools in the Philippines need pest control.

Schools must be a safe environment

Schools are required, by law, to do their best to remove possible safety hazards from their buildings and campus. Though it isn’t a legal requirement for a school to have pest control contact, it does help get rid of the pests that are common in schools, such as flies, ants, cockroaches, rodents, spiders, and mosquitoes.

This is a sensitive matter for any school to manage as their own, as a pest problem can quickly get out of hand and cause health and safety risks to everyone in the building. A pest control company can effectively and quickly deal with infestation problems before it causes harm or damage to the school.

Schools provide the ideal conditions for pests to thrive

There are many areas in the school that are perfect for pests to hide, eat, and breed in. These include hard-to-reach places, such as roof spaces and corners. And, humid rooms or places with lots of food sources (like the school cafeteria, food stores, janitor’s closets, and the like) are also common hotspots for pests. They provide the ideal conditions for many of them, including cockroaches and rodents.

Pest control can help make sure these areas are inspected and treated regularly for effective prevention measures. Pest control teams can also help make sure these places are less than ideal for pests so that they’re discouraged from infesting the area. These two things are essential measures to reduce the risk of a pest problem.

Schools must be sanitary

Schools must be hygienic to keep everyone inside safe. This is especially true for schools that deal with younger children, who are often very messy. They drop food on the floor while eating, aren’t careful in restrooms, and leave other messes around — which end up inviting a variety of pests.

This makes sanitation a very big concern for schools. Luckily, pest control companies can help devise a custom strategy to not only protect children from the health issues linked to pest problems but also to keep them at bay.

Schools are empty several times a year

Did you know that pests prefer to never go near humans? As often as we might see them, they’d actually go out of their way to avoid human contact.

While this does keep them out of sight, it creates another problem for schools. Since these buildings aren’t active every day, there are many windows of time where pests get to roam around as they please, without fear of encountering a human. This is also the perfect time for them to multiply and create an infestation.

Pest control professionals often schedule school-wide inspections during the weekend or summer vacation for this very reason. By using their services, you can guarantee that your school opens its doors pest-free and with a robust pest control strategy in place.

Children and infants are more susceptible to pest-related problems

Children are still growing in many different aspects while they attend school. This also includes their immune systems. They’re much more immature and underdeveloped compared to adults, which means that they don’t have as strong protection as we do against the kinds of germs and bacteria that pests bring around.

Unfortunately, a school with a pest problem is putting its children at risk of sickness. This is because young children like to play on the floor, place objects and fingers into their mouths, and try to get into small and dark spaces as they explore.

This can expose them to different germs, pests, insects, or their eggs and larvae — which can cause serious illness. For other kids, insect infestations can trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks.

Proactive measures and an experienced pest control company are a must to prevent pests so that your students are safe.

Pests can cause damage to school property

Rodents, termites, and other pests can cause significant damage to things inside your school. Rats and mice can tear up papers and wires, while termites eat through wood and furniture.

Even a minor pest problem can cause damage to your school, especially since they can find their way across campus and can even access locked rooms.

Pest control is an effective way of keeping your pest problem under control and reducing the damage that can be caused by them.

Key Takeaway

As you can see there are many problems that pests can cause in a school in the Philippines, which is why schools need pest control services.

If you are looking for a professional who can offer your school the highest standard of service, a wide variety of pest control methods, and ongoing support, then contact Topbest! We provide the best pest control services in the Philippines, and have just the right solution to keep you pest-free!

October 12, 2022October 28, 2022

3 Reasons Why Rodents Keep Coming Back

What are the reasons why rodents keep coming back?

Rodents reproduce rapidly
Your property is providing their needs
Your current pest treatment is not addressing the root cause of the infestation

Rodents are a problem the moment they take up residence in your home. This is why rodent prevention and control in the Philippines is a must. Experiencing a recurring rodent infestation once can be frustrating — so a recurring one takes that stress and irritation to a new level. But why do these pests decide to infest your home, no matter what you do? Here are 3 reasons why rodents keep coming back. We also provide tips on how to get rid of a rodent infestation.

Rodents reproduce rapidly

A rodent infestation can be a persistent one because these types of pests reproduce rapidly.

A typical female rodent can give birth to up to 10 litters a year. Per litter of rodents, they produce an average of 8 pups. In addition, rodents reach sexual maturity in around 6 weeks. Therefore, every littler of rodents is ready to reproduce in less than 2 months.

You might have thought you’ve already gotten rid of plenty of them, but if you leave even just a pair of rodents in your home, then another infestation will crop up in time.

Your property is providing their needs

Another reason why your rodent problem seems to keep happening is that they consider your home to be the best area to provide their two most important needs: food and shelter.

Even if you keep a relatively clean household, you can still end up with a recurrent rodent problem if you miss a few key elements. Rodents can sniff out even the smallest unguarded food source, shelter, or entrance into your home, so you have to keep an eye out. Here are a few of the things that attract rodents back onto your property:

Keeping food out in the open — even pet food left unattended in food bowls or outdoor feeders can be very attractive to rodents.
Keeping food in containers that are not airtight. Rodents have an excellent sense of smell that can detect unprotected food, even when they’re in your pantry or cabinets.
Using outdoor feeders that are easy to access. Rodents can climb up just about any surface, so make sure that the feeder you’re using is pest-proof to prevent them from accessing this food source.
Unsealed holes or gaps on the outdoor perimeter of your home. If there are any small entrances on your home’s exterior, make sure they’re sealed to prevent them from entering your home.
Open windows or doors — rodents can also climb up to the second floor of your home and enter through any open windows or doors.

If you make your home inaccessible and remove possible food sources, then rodents will likely be less driven to live on your property.

Your current pest treatment is not addressing the root cause of the infestation

If you’re using store-bought pest treatments and DIY pest control techniques, then you might have been able to catch a few rodents, or even reduce their numbers with poison.

However, this is just a band-aid solution. It does not really solve the root cause of your rodent infestation, which are: what’s attracting them to your property; how they’re entering your home.

Also, as mentioned, rodents breed fast. If you can’t effectively control their numbers, this problem is going to get out of hand very quickly.

What you need is a method that provides two things: control and prevention. This is where an expert in household pest control, like Topbest, comes in. With our years of experience and well-trained pest professional team, we know the most effective methods for rodent prevention. We can correct your current pest infestation methods. Our team can also help you identify possible rodent entry points to prevent future infestations!

All in all, working with our team can save you time, money, and stress in the long run. We have several services and products for rodent prevention and control in the Philippines!

How can you tell if all the rodents are gone?

On your own, there are a few telltale signs of a rodent problem that you can keep an eye out for after you receive help from a pest control company like Topbest.

One of the most common signs is rodent droppings around food sources and in small and dark spaces (such as in cupboards and under your sink), nesting material (such as shredded paper or plant matter), and signs of chewing on walls and on food packaging.

However, a thorough home inspection — care of your pest control company — can not only determine what kind of rodent you’re dealing with, but also what’s attracting them to your home. An inspection will also reveal how effective their current pest control efforts are.

Key Takeaway

Knowing the reasons why rodents keep coming back is only one part of the solution. If you’re dealing with a rodent problem, then always work with an expert — Topbest can help you send those rodents scurrying for cover!

Using our combination of pest control and prevention techniques, our team can solve your pest woes by addressing the root of your problem. And, we even provide the means to prevent a future rodent infestation in your home! Contact us today to get started — we offer free consultation!