HOW TO CONTROL PESTS SAFELY - Welcome To NYC.gov

HOW TOCONTROL PESTS SAFELYGetting rid of roaches and mice

TABLE OF CONTENTSTake an Active Role Against Pests. 1How to Find Pests.2-3Clean Up. 4Starve Them and Parch Them. 6Seal Pests Out. 8When to Hire a Professional. 11Targeted Treatment. 12More Resources. 15

Take an Active Role Against PestsNew York City law requires property owners to keepapartments free of pests, such as cockroaches and mice.This includes safely fixing the problems that can causepests, such as water leaks, cracks and holes. Tenants alsohave a role to play in keeping homes pest-free.NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE WITH PESTSCockroaches and mice can contaminate food, damage homes,and make allergies and asthma worse. Pesticides, which arechemicals used to get rid of pests, also cause problems.Pesticides can cling to carpets, furniture and other surfaces,and many are dangerous to people and pets. The PoisonControl Center receives about 1,000 reports of accidentalpesticide poisonings or exposures every year – half of themto children under 5 years old.WHAT ARE PEOPLE DOING WRONG?Many tenants, owners and pest control professionals make thesame mistake: They turn to pesticides first. But pesticides killonly a small number of pests. Pests can become resistant, so thepoison no longer kills them and their offspring. Pesticides areoften unnecessary. When they are needed, only safer and moretargeted products should be used.WHY THIS GUIDE WORKSGood pest control gets to the root of the problem. To get ridof pests and keep them from coming back, you have to deprivethem of everything they need to survive: food, water, shelterand ways to get around.This guide explains how to clean up, seal off trouble spots andpest-proof your home in easy-to-understand steps. To get themost from this guide: D on't try to do everything at once. It can take a few weeks to getrid of pests and keep them out. Just take it one step at a timeand remember: This guide works. Most people who undertakethis project only need to do it once every few years. S how this guide to your neighbors and friends. Encouragethem to use it!HOW TO CONTROL PESTS SAFELY1

How to Find PestsYou probably already know if you have roaches, mice or rats. But it isimportant to know how big the problem is, where pests are enteringfrom, and where they are getting their food and water.To find out, go through every room in your home, focusing on thekitchen and bathroom, where problems are usually worst. You mayneed a flashlight for the dark areas.5CEREAL351543these are actual size@3/4” for rat, @1/4” for mouse251Start in Your KitchenLook for these problems:1 Waste and droppings: Cockroach droppings looklike dark smudges withdark dots. Their egg casesare yellowish and ribbed,about the size of a smallfingernail.2 M ouse droppingsare brown, thesize and shapeof rice grains.2 Chew marks in woodwork,walls, and food containers.3 Gaps, cracks and holes in walls,along baseboards and windows, andaround pipes, wires and drains. C ockroaches can squeeze throughcracks as small as 1/8 inch.4 Leaky faucets and pipes or leaksin ceilings and walls.5 Open food packages, sticky surfaces,pet food left out and garbage cansthat don't close tightly. M ice can get through holes as smallas 1/4 inch.HOW TO CONTROL PESTS SAFELY3

Clean UpMake it harder for roaches and mice to get in, move freely,and find food, water and shelter. Clean up.To get rid of pests and keep them from coming back, thesesteps are key.REDUCE CLUTTER R ecycle piles of newspapers, paper bags, cardboard andbottles, especially around stoves and refrigerators andunder sinks. Store clothing and linensyou don't use in sealedplastic boxes or bags.VACUUM THOROUGHLY U se a vacuum with a hose and crevice tool. Special filtervacuums, known as HEPA or allergen-reducing vacuums,work best. Vacuum behind and under refrigeratorsand stoves. Empty cabinets, throwing away oldfood and items with signs of pests. Vacuum inside gaps and holes inwalls, and in and behind cabinets.Start high and work down. When you're done, seal the vacuumbag in plastic and throw it out.4

WASH HARD SURFACES Wear household gloves. F ill two buckets with warm water: one with a mild soap ordetergent, and one with plain water for rinsing. Separate rinsewater will help you avoid spreading insect eggs, food andother wastes. Change the water often. U se a sponge and plastic scouring pad or scrub brush toscrub and rinse: Countertops, tables and surfaces wherefood is stored, prepared or eaten. Under the stovetop, inside burners,around and inside the exhaust hood,and under and behind the stove,refrigerator and dishwasher. Inside the rubber seal of therefrigerator door. Inside drawers, cabinets, andshelves in the kitchen and bathroom. Floors. For hard-to-remove stains and to disinfect, use a mild bleachsolution (1/2 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water) or a cleaningproduct with bleach. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products!WASH SMALL AREA RUGS AND CURTAINS This gets rid of egg cases and reduces allergens.CLEAN SMALL APPLIANCES ockroaches like warm, dark placesCsuch as toasters, countertop grills,microwave ovens and clocks. U nplug the appliances and vacuumthem out. F or serious infestations, after vacuuming,seal the appliance in a plastic bagand put it in the freezer overnight.HOW TO CONTROL PESTS SAFELY5

Starve Them and Parch ThemPrevent roaches and mice from getting the food and water theyneed to live.PEST-PROOF YOUR FOOD S tore all boxed or loose food incontainers that seal tight – plastic,glass or coffee cans with lids. Store as much food in your refrigeratoras you can, especially foods youkeep for a long time, such as flours,rice and nuts. To store large bags of pet food, usea metal garbage can with a lid.MANAGE YOUR GARBAGE U se garbage cans with tight-fitting lids(metal ones are best) for garbageand recycling. Clean them often, inside and out. Rinse recyclables before throwing outin designated bins. In apartment buildings, put tied upgarbage bags down the chute or bringthem to the building's trash bins every day. Bring garbage cans or bags to the curb as close to pickup aspossible. Leaving them out overnight invites rats.IN BUILDINGS WITH COMPACTORS B ag and securely tie garbage before sending it down the chute. Leave larger bags and items in designated storage areas. Do not overstuff chutes. Place recyclables in designated bins, not down the chute. Do not leave bagged garbage on the floor in compactor rooms. Do not throw liquids or sharp items down the chute.6

PUT FOOD AWAY AT NIGHT W ash and dry the dishes. Don't leave dirty dishes in thesink overnight. W ipe down the stovetop, counters and tables. S weep up or vacuum away food on the floor. Wipe up any spills. D on't leave pet food out.REMOVE WATER SOURCES F ix leaky faucets by replacing washers. H ave a plumber fix leaks as quicklyas possible. U se your bathroom window or fan tovent steam after showers and bathsto prevent mildew and mold. Reportor fix vents that aren't drawing out air. I f possible, close off drains in showers,bathtubs and sinks when not in use. Youcan use inexpensive rubber drain coversor metal drain screens.HOW TO CONTROL PESTS SAFELY7

Seal Pests OutCockroaches and mice can squeeze into your home throughvery small cracks and holes. To keep pests out for good, fillholes and seal cracks in walls, floors and woodwork, andaround the tub, shower, and sink.These repairs are easy to do. The materials are inexpensive andcan be found at most hardware stores. It’s important to weargloves and follow all package instructions. If you can't or don'twant to do the repairs yourself, ask the owner or superintendent.New York City law requires owners to keep tenants' homes freeof pests and mold.INEXPENSIVE MATERIALS FORFILLING HOLES AND SEALING CRACKS Rubber gloves 100% silicone caulkand caulking gun Stainless steel woolor copper mesh Weather strippingand door sweeps Spackle or joint compoundand one-inch spackling knife Duct tape House paintand brushes Escutcheon plates8

SEAL CRACKS AND SMALL HOLES S eal narrow gaps with 100% siliconecaulk. Caulk around bathtubs, showersand sinks, where walls meet the floor,inside cabinets, and where cabinetsmeet the wall. P aint over small cracks in the walls,floor or woodwork with a water-basedlatex paint.FILL LARGER HOLES AND GAPS(MORE THAN 1/2-INCH WIDE) S tuff stainless steel wool or copper mesh inside holes beforesealing. This keeps mice from chewing through. U se spackle or joint compound to fill gaps and holes that aretoo large to caulk. Do a little at a time, letting it dry betweenapplications. S eal gaps around plumbingand gas pipes that comethrough walls or floors.Install escutcheonplates around pipingafter sealing.HOW TO CONTROL PESTS SAFELY9

CLOSE GAPS UNDER DOORSAND AROUND WINDOWS A ttach door sweeps to the bottomof doors leading outside or to abuilding common space. M end holes in screens by weavingin small pieces of screen. You canalso use staples or duct tape tomend small cuts or tears.SCREEN BATHROOM ANDKITCHEN VENTS P ests can enter through vents. Blocktheir entry and keep air flowing throughvents by using mesh screens, cut tosize and placed under or over the ventcover. Secure the screen with caulk ora staple gun.10

When to Hire a ProfessionalI f you have rats in your home, or a severe mouse or cockroachproblem, then you need a pest control professional. Be sure theprofessional is certified by the New York State Department ofEnvironmental Conservation (NYS DEC). Ask to see a copyof the certification or check directly with NYS DEC by visitingdec.ny.gov. Search for NYSPAD and click through to the Bureauof Pesticides Management Information Portal to search forpermitted businesses, agencies, applicators and techniciansin your area.A good professional will identify the conditions that arecontributing to pests and will come up with a plan for gettingrid of them. Some pest problems require several visits. It maytake days or even weeks to get rid of a serious rodent problem.Tell the pest control professional to use the least hazardouspesticide that will be effective. Don't allow the use of insectbombs or foggers. If you have children or pets, make sure theprofessional knows.If you rent, the owner is required to keep your home pest-freeand must hire a professional if necessary. Tell the ownerimmediately if there are pests in your home.If the owner or manager does not correct the problem, call 311.The Integrated Pest ManagementToolkit for Building Owners, Managersand Staff is a great resource for pestmanagement professionals, owners,superintendents and managing agents.Go to nyc.gov/health and search forIPM, or call 311 and ask for HealthyHomes to get a free copy of the toolkit.Integrated PestManagementToolkitFOR BUILDING OWNERS, MANAGERS AND STAFFHOW TO CONTROL PESTS SAFELY11