How to let the sun shine in and keep the pests out

It's time to throw open the doors and raise the windows to allow the warm sweet allure of Spring's soft breezes to float into your home.  

But how do you let the sun shine in while keeping the creepy crawly and flying pests out?  Nothing will ruin a warm Spring nap on your favorite window seat quicker than a fly buzzing pass your ear or an ant crawling up your arm. 

No worries though there are many quick remedies that you can use to keep these pesky pests at bay.  Here are a couple all natural non-toxic pest control remedies I personally use.  One remedy we used in Texas was putting a penny in a clear plastic bag filled with water and hanging them around the perimeter of the house.  You'll see this trick used by restaurants with patio seating, mostly in the South/Southwest.  You can read more about the Ol' Penny in a bag to keep flies away tick.

I also have found that planting citronella plants around the house, particularly under window keeps mosquitoes away.   Plus, you get the added benefit of the citrus orange fragrance that wafts in on the breeze.  Check with your local garden supply store.

All natural non-toxic remedies work and do not destroy everything in their path and are safe to use around children and pets. 

Planet Natural has a great article on Home Remedies for Natural Pest Control.  Here are a few of their recommendations, but please be sure to visit their site for more details and other really great ideas. 

• A natural fly catcher related to wine is to put something sickly sweet like mango peels in the bottom of narrow-necked wine bottles. The flies can fly in, but can't fly out.

• Grind rosemary leaves into a fine dust and sprinkle it onto your pet or its bedding to ward off fleas.

•  Sprinkle instant grits on the fire ant hill. The workers will carry the grits to the queen for her royal meal. She'll eat the grits and when it rains, she'll drink. And that's what will kill her. The grits will expand in her stomach and she'll "bloat" to death.

Of course if all else fails call in the pros! 

I love these commercials.  They really capture the feeling most of us have towards insects.  They are so creepy!



Deborah

Old Dominion Concierge

"We Run Your Errands"

How To Prepare for a Severe Thunderstorm

 
In the NOVA area we had a major thunderstorm roll through with little to no warning.  This storm caused chaos at the local elementary schools as parents/guardians scrambled to get there walking students home safely and as dry as possible.  Fortunately, Old Dominion Concierge, LLC was able to help out by organizing rides and locating alternate drivers throughout the school year.

Are your kids prepared for the next thunderstorm?  Review theses tips below with your kids to ensure they are knowledgeable on what to do in the event they are stuck out doors or home alone. 

What to Tell Children

The sound of thunder can be especially frightening for young children. Take the "scariness" away by teaching them what to expect during a thunderstorm and how to be safe.

• If you see or hear a thunderstorm coming, go inside a sturdy building or car. Sturdy buildings are the safest place to be. If no building is nearby, a hard-top vehicle will offer some protection. Keep car windows closed and avoid convertibles. Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide no protection from lightning. However, the steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal. Although you may be injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside a vehicle than outside.

• If you can't get inside, or if you feel your hair stand on end, which means lightning is about to strike, hurry to a low, open space immediately. Crouch down on the balls of your feet, place your hands on your knees and lower your head. Make yourself the smallest target possible and minimize contact with the ground.

• Practice the "crouch down" position. Show children how to practice squatting low to the ground to be the smallest target possible for lightning in case they get caught outside in a thunderstorm. Show them how to place their hands on their knees and lower their head, crouching on the balls of their feet.

• Stay away from tall things like trees, towers, fences, telephone lines, or power lines. They attract lightning. Never stand underneath a single large tree out in the open, because lightning usually strikes the highest point in an area.

• Stay away from metal things that lightning may strike, such as umbrellas, baseball bats, fishing rods, camping equipment, and bicycles. Lightning is attracted to metal and poles or rods.

• If you are boating or swimming, get to land immediately. Stay away from rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water and get off the beach. The saturated sand conducts electricity very well. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. When lightning strikes nearby, the electrical charge can travel through the water. Each year people are killed by nearby lightning strikes while in or on the water or on the beach.

• Turn off the air conditioner and television, and stay off the phone until the storm is over. Lightning can cause electric appliances, including televisions and telephones, to become dangerous during a thunderstorm.

• Stay away from running water inside the house; avoid washing your hands or taking a bath or shower. Electricity from lightning has been known to come inside through plumbing.

• Battery powered lighting devises should be used so check your supply of batteries and light bulbs now, don't wait for the next storm.

• The use of candles should be kept to a minimum and only be lit in rooms that are occupied by an adult.  Do not light candles in bedrooms or in areas exposed to high traffic or left unattended. 

• Use your battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio for updates from local officials.

Are you prepared for the next storm?  We can help by reviewing your safety kits and assisting you in getting stocked up for the next storm.  Please don't hesitate to give us a call.


Deborah

Old Dominion Concierge

"We Run Your Errands"