The life and times of the Mosquito

With all the rain we’ve been having mozzies are loving the chance to have new places to hide and play in our homes and backyards. But it’s not all fun and games for the homeowner since these blood sucking nasties can carry disease, not to mention the itchy bites and annoying buzzing sounds they make as you try to sleep. Pest Control is the name of our game here at Elite Maintenance Service and unlike some other pests that we deal with; controlling mosquitoes around the home can easily be managed by homeowners with some tips that we’re happy to share in our latest blog.

A little bit about the mozzie

Like flies, mosquitoes almost completely transform in size and shape as they develop from egg to adult. Since mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle, excess water lying around encourages females to lay eggs in this water, from which the egg will typically hatch between 1-2 days. Once hatched, the life cycle of an adult female mosquito can live for several weeks, from which she’ll lay several eggs. The life is relatively short, but the breeding levels can be significant.

Diseases Caused by Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes can carry disease, and Queensland’s tropical climate leads to higher populations of mosquitoes than in southern states. Residents of northern Queensland are particularly prone to the diseases of Ross River Virus & Dengue Fever which can be transmitted by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes carrying these diseases are likely to breed in saltwater marshes, pools of water in abandoned tyres, and other containers where water has collected.

How you can control mosquito populations

Like many other populations of pests, the best method of control is to reduce the places where mosquitoes can breed. These places include:

• Old car panels, drums and tyres
• Discarded containers or anything where water can collect
• Pools of water under leaking taps
• Water and septic tanks that are not covered.

It is important to remember that if you need to have water outside that it is covered in some way to avoid providing a breeding place for mosquitoes. To avoid mosquitoes coming into your home fly screens should help, and for sound sleeping mosquito nets also offer fantastic protection. When outside, cover up and wear loose fitting clothing since mosquitoes can bite through tight fitted clothing – even jeans. A repellent can also be used on any exposed skin.

Most of the time mosquitoes don’t pose a significant risk other than just being unpleasant and annoying. Occasionally though, especially after rain and flooding, populations can explode. When this happens avoiding going outside in evening hours can help protect and also following some of the above-mentioned tips. For other pest control tips, please get in contact with the pest control professionals here at Elite Pest Control. We can provide effective, affordable and timely pest management solutions to your Tweed Heads home or business. No matter what kind of pest we’re up against we’ve got the know-how to get it under control.

Those who live in multi-storey apartment complexes might think they can breathe easy with the idea that they are out of reach from some of the most destructive pests. But apartment dwellers might want to hold off popping the champagne until they know exactly what they are up against.  Living in close quarters in multi apartment complexes presents unique challenges when it comes to pest management. Brought to you by the residential maintenance masters, Elite Maintenance Service share some strategies for controlling these unwelcome guests in your residential complex.

Don’t encourage them in the first place

While you can’t control how others in the apartment building live, keeping your living space clean will go a long way in preventing pests from settling in. Keep surfaces clean and dry and remember to keep your apartment free from piles of clutter, especially newspaper and cardboard since these materials attract cockroaches. Foods should also be securely stored and trash emptied frequently to discourage pest activity.

Close up any gaps, cracks and holes in outside walls

Give your apartment a close inspection by identifying any cracks, or gaps in walls and around windows. These can be sealed up with special types of putty, cement or wood to prevent a hiding place for rodents and cockroaches to live so they won’t be able to gain access to your home.

Routine Pest Control provided under body corporate by-laws.

If you’re apartment is like most and includes body corporate fees, most complexes should include regular pest control for common areas. This will be outlined in your residential by-laws. Since most apartment complexes include body corporate fees of some kind, making sure you are receiving the services that you are entitled is not only your right, it is also their obligation.

Your own pest control solution

Here at Elite Maintenance Service we have developed pest control solutions specifically for apartments since cockroaches are spiders are the major pests that we deal with in these dwellings. We’ll get right to the source and eradicate the infestation rather than just temporarily reduce populations like over-the counter products do.

Whether you live in Tweed Heads or on the Gold Coast, in an apartment or a free standing house, pests in the home are always unwelcome and should be treated early with the help of a professional pest control company before the problem continues to get out of hand. Call the elite pest specialists on 13 15 80 today at Elite Maintenance Service and get proactive about your pest problems.

Disgusting. Repulsive. Filthy. These are just a few adjectives that describe cockroaches in the minds of many. Unfortunately cockroaches don’t seem to feel the same way about us humans since they’re more than happy to share the home with us. Cockroaches aren’t too selective however when choosing a nesting site, since they always search for the same things: food, water and dark places to hide – all things that a household typically provides.

Here at Elite Maintenance Control, we have years of experience dealing with these wretched creatures and have developed effective pest control solutions for the Gold Coast and Tweed regions.  In today’s article we look at some techniques to deter cockroaches from setting up shop in your home. Like many things, taking early action is one of the best ways of avoiding a cockroach infestation which can quickly get out of hand.

Seal entry points and hiding places

Cockroaches typically enter the home through gaps under doors and through pipes, with most exploration at night since they are nocturnal creatures.  Sealing potential entry points and crevices where cockroaches can hide such as gaps in the wall, around skirting boards and under sinks and in cabinets can minimise hiding places for roaches.  Additionally removing piles of clutter in the home like cardboard storage boxes and stacks of newspapers also limits potential hiding and breeding areas for cockroaches, since they are commonly attracted to cardboard and other paper products.

Keep areas dry that are prone to becoming wet or damp

Behind or under major electrical appliances such as fridges and washing machines are common hiding places for cockroaches due to their warmth, darkness and dampness.. Since these are also rarely cleaned or see the light of day, keeping these areas dry regularly is essential to withdraw any water sources for cockroaches.  Keeping pet water bowls outside will also help to discourage roaches.  Fixing any plumbing leaks around sinks and toilets will also eliminate any potential water sources.

Remove food debris and other food sources

Denying roaches a food source is a way to ensure they are not attracted to home and move on in search of somewhere else where food is available. Storing food in sealed containers, cleaning used cutlery and dishes, and taking out trash regularly are all simple but effective methods in removing food sources for cockroaches. Food debris in pantries or under cooktops and fridges should also be removed and cleaned regularly.

Limiting places to hide, keeping damp areas dry and removing food sources are three main strategies to prevent cockroaches from choosing your home as an appealing place to nest. Despite this, cockroaches can be notoriously difficult pests to keep at bay and sometimes the best method is to tackle the problem with the help of a professional pest extermination team like Elite Maintenance Control. Our team is armed with the best equipment and treatments available to eliminate harmful and unwelcome pests in your home – cockroaches included. For more information call our friendly team today on 13 15 80.

We are multi-talented here at Elite Pest Control. Not only are we experts at keeping homes pest free and under control, we are also professional carpet cleaners. Gold Coast carpets are in good hands. With our 26 years of experience and superior dry cleaning method, we can revive your carpets to bring back their former glory and freshen up your home.

Why do we use a dry cleaning method rather than a traditional steam based method?

When you have cleaning carpets as long as we have, you learn to separate the best from the rest. We believe the dry cleaning system we use to be the absolute best. The system worked so well, we diversified into other areas.

What else do we use our dry cleaning method for?

We responded to customer demand and now we also offer cleaning services on tiles, upholstery, and leather lounges. Our clients needed it, so we provided the service for them. That means we can clean the interior of your car, your blinds and mattresses.

What are the benefits of our method for you?

Dry cleaning minimises the disruption to your home. It can be walked on again after about an hour. No need to wait overnight and endure that wet carpet smell.

The Elite Pest Company carpet quiz! True or false?

If we say we are going to arrive at a certain time, we will arrive at that time?

It’s true!

We were one of the first carpet cleaners on the Gold Coast to use the dry cleaning method?

It’s true!

Our cleaning system will restore the pile of your carpet to its former glory?

It’s true!

If you not happy with your carpet clean, we will come back and do it again for free?

It’s true!

We are professional carpet cleaners on the Gold Coast and we are proud of the excellent work we do. Our staff are all friendly and professional and we are always happy to answer any questions you may have about us. Give us a call, we love to chat!

Here at Elite Maintenance Control, our team takes pride in ensuring that your Tweed home is well and truly free of any unwanted pests and bugs. At this time of the year, pest inspections are quite popular as we have many people coming into our office asking about why they are seeing such large numbers of cockroaches in their homes or offices. The answer to this is actually quite simple – cockroaches, like many other animals, prefer to hide away in the cooler months and emerge in the warmer parts of the year. In today’s blog post, we will explain exactly how the cockroaches operate and give you a basic understanding of how we can use this information to effectively treat them.

Understanding the Cockroach

The reason that cockroaches have been around for millions of years is because their simple nature is actually quite effective when put into practice. As we mentioned earlier, the cockroach quite often hides away in winter, generally in the walls of your house or deep in your garden. When the weather heats up, the roaches emerge with only two things on their minds – to eat and to breed.

Extermination

By understanding that the roaches live both inside and outside the house, we are able to initiate a two-tier barrier against the disgusting creatures. Firstly, we want to prevent the roaches from even entering your home in the first place. This is achieved by installing external barriers, which disrupt the feeding and the breeding cycles to destroy any communities that have been built. If any roaches breach this barrier, we are also able to directly target them in the home with treatments that are safe yet effective.

In today’s blog post, we have outlined some of the ways that we use our deep understanding of pests in our favour to remove them from your property for good. If you are interested in some of the services that we offer here at Elite Maintenance Control, including pest inspections, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 13 15 80.

Here at Elite Maintenance Service, our team takes pride in our ability to provide a full service solution for removing unwanted pests from your home or property in Tweed, the Gold Coast and beyond. This full service means that not only are we able to identify the pests through a thorough pest inspection and systematically remove them, we are also able to implement preventative measures to ensure that the pests will not come back for round 2. In today’s blog posts, we will educate our readers on 5 of the best preventative measures that you can do at home to aid you in the upcoming ant season.

#1 Cleaning

One of the easiest and the most obvious ways that you can prevent ants crawling through your home is to ensure that you clean up any spills and crumbs immediately. Ants have the uncanny ability to detect food from quite a distance, and will be quick to strike if you aren’t proactive with your cleaning.

#2 Food Storage

Similar to the last tip, make sure that you always store your food in air-tight packaging. Ants will be able to squeeze into any area if they detect any traces of food.

#3 Feeding Pets

Sometimes people don’t really take the time to think about what is attracting ants into their homes. One story that we hear over and over again is that ants always seem to be drawn to their dog/cats food bowl. There’s really no solution to this, except to put the bowl outside and make sure it’s cleaned quite often.

#4 Tidy Yard

Ants are just like other animals in that they will thrive if there are plenty of places for them to hide and to nest. By removing piles of garden waste and generally keeping things tidy, you should be able to avoid making the perfect conditions for the ants.

#5 Observe

One of the final ways that you can prevent the spread of ants in your home is to constantly keep an eye out for any signs of them nesting. If you see mounds of dirt in your backyard for example, this is a sure sign that there has been ant activity.

In today’s blog post, we have outlined 5 different ways that you can avoid having ants overtake your home. If you suspect that you have a serious ant infestation in your Tweed or Gold Coast home, please feel free to contact our team at Elite Maintenance Service for a thorough pest inspection on 13 15 80.

Spring = Pest Season

Did you know that in South-East Queensland, many pests remain relatively dormant during the colder winter months? This inactive nature of pests often results in homeowners being lulled into a false sense of security during winter, only to be overwhelmed during Spring and Summer as the pests emerge to feed and to mate.

Where Termites Thrive

While ants, cockroaches and spiders are notorious for their spring activities, the termite is still able to remain somewhat undetected. They simply go about their business, flourishing in the warm and humid conditions that they love so much.

Detection & Prevention

In order to successfully stop termites from building momentum by breeding and multiplying, it is highly recommended that you contact a professional upon any indication of termite activity. Don’t be tempted to use an off the shelf solution, as these products can be very hit and miss. Your property is not something that you want to risk just to save a few bucks.

In today’s blog post, we have outlined some of the main reasons why it is so important to have a termite inspection performed on your home this spring. If you would like to find out more about anything we have mentioned today, or to perhaps arrange termite inspections for your home or office, please don’t hesitate to contact our team of pest control experts today on (07) 5576 373.

The first thing that we suggest that you do is to check for visible signs of damage in your home. By really getting up close to an internal or external wall, you should be able to scan the areas and pick up signs of anything that looks a little unusual or out of place. It’s best to get in a really inquisitive mind frame, and constantly ask yourself ‘Was this like this when the house was brand new’? Things to look out for are flakey pieces of wood, crumbling wood and areas where it looks like there has been a cosmetic fix. If you do see anything that even resembles any of these signs, please contact your local pest inspection team to come and immediately have a closer look.

You may also be able to take a quick look around the house to see if there has been any previous treatment for the termite damage. This is most easily seen by small drill holes evenly spaced on the tiles, concrete and beams, both internally and externally. These would have filled in after they were drilled, but initially they were created to fill an area with termite-killing chemicals.

The final tip we would like to give to our customers is to not be afraid to have an ask around your neighborhood. Quite often if your neighbors have struggled with termite infestations in the past, it is a good indication that they are able to thrive in your area and may have moved on into your home. If you would like to find out any more information about termites on the Gold Coast, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at Elite Maintenance Service today on 13 15 80.

Store your timber correctly!

One of the most important tips that we can give our readers is to ensure that you always store you timber in the correct manner! So many times we have seen people leave big piles of untreated timber in their backyards only to become surprised when they start to see termites in their home. What may be interesting to know is that this same principal also applies to storing wood under your home, despite being protected from the elements.

Keep your foundations dry!

One important tip for keeping termites out of your home is to ensure that the foundations of your house are always kept dry and free of any moisture. Termites thrive in moist conditions, and will flourish with plenty of moisture and plenty of food (your house!!!). One way to help to keep the moisture out is create good ventilation by ensuring that any ventilation gaps in your walls are not blocked by bushes etc

Always call the experts!

Our final piece of advice to you would be to always call the experts if you even have the slightest feeling that you may have termites. A simple pest inspection will let you know once and for all, and identify any potential areas which you may need to fix around your home. The simply inspection may also pick up termites in their early stages, before any major damage has been done.

In today’s blog post, we have outlined a few of the main methods in which you can use to prevent termites from turning your house into their next meal. If you would like to find out any more on the subject, or would like to arrange a pest inspection by our exception Tweed-based team, please don’t hesitate to give us a call today on 13 15 80.

The advantages of dry carpet cleaning is that there is a very minimal amount of water used in the cleaning process, this involves a very low moisture foam which is made from a cleaning solution is applied to your carpet with a rotating brush system, the foam is then extracted with a carpet cleaning vacuum that uses very minimal amounts of water and compared to steam cleaning, and therefore gives you very short drying times.

Steam cleaning uses a system of hot water extraction, it works deep into the carpet, the downside of this is that the carpet can become saturated and if there is not adequate extraction and ventilation it can damage the base of the carpet and underlay. It also takes significantly longer around 8 hours for your carpets to dry.

If you are at all unsure then speak to our team we are happy to discuss the options and offer you advice on which method would best suit your home.

At Elite maintenance our preferred method of carpet cleaning for our Gold Coast clients is dry carpet cleaning, due to the quicker drying times and which reduces disruption. We are an experienced company that works to the highest industry standards; our technicians will leave your carpets smelling fresh, feeling softer, remove residual stains and most importantly eliminate the unseen allergens, so you can be confident that the end result will be a healthier home for your family.