When it comes to terrifying insects, homeowners generally agree that termites rank near the top of the list. They may not have the irritating sting of mosquitoes, the painful bite of ants, or the ick factor of cockroaches, but termites do something that’s even more troubling: Termites can wreck untold damage on structures — structures that cost a pretty penny and are typically difficult to repair. According to the USDA, the desert subterranean termite “causes an estimated $1.5 billion in losses each year.” And that’s just one subspecies! Read More about Spotting Termites with the Human Eye: What to Look For »
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8 Reasons Why You Need a Monthly Pest Control Service
Pest control may not be the most glamorous industry in the world, but it’s one of the most essential — and one that leaves a substantial economic footprint. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global pest control market is worth roughly $20 billion, and it’s expected to grow at a brisk 6 percent clip year over year. And that growth doesn’t just owe to slick marketing. The National Pest Management Association offers some truly startling statistics, and the numbers help the industry’s aggressive expansion make much more sense. For instance, did you know that approximately one-fifth of all worldwide foods gets consumed or spoiled by rodents? What about the fact that “99.6% of pest professionals have treated for bed bugs in the past year”? Or what about how termites cause a whopping $5 billion in property damage each and every year? Read More about 8 Reasons Why You Need a Monthly Pest Control Service »
Best Way to Stop an Infestation of Cockroaches in my Kitchen
In his 1915 novella “The Metamorphosis,” Franz Kafka describes how the story’s protagonist Gregor Samsa faces ostracism and rejection from his parents, his sibling, and society at large. That’s not a strange theme in and of itself, but the way in which Kafka chose to embody it was. Just consider the novella’s inimitable first line: “One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.” And if you’re wondering just what kind of vermin Samsa found himself metamorphosed into, Kafka makes it clear that he’d become a cockroach. Read More about Best Way to Stop an Infestation of Cockroaches in my Kitchen »
What’s the Best Approach to Pest Control in Restaurants?
In 2007, the animation studio Pixar released its film Ratatouille, a kind-hearted comedic tale about imagination and French cooking. Much of the movie’s humor, though, owed to an odd fact about the character behind the title’s delectable cuisine: It was a rat. Having vermin who nosh on trash also cook gourmet grub proved delightfully horrible — at least in fiction. In real life, though, there’s nothing delectable about it, and pest control within restaurants is a big part of a restaurant’s operational responsibilities. Read More about What’s the Best Approach to Pest Control in Restaurants? »
Are Pest Control Services Safe for Pets?
In her short story “Mr. Gilfil’s Love Story,” nineteenth century novelist and poet George Eliot wrote, “Animals are such agreeable friends―they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.” Pet lovers the world over have testified to this truth. When chums and family fall short, a faithful dog or affectionate cat often stands in the gap. That mutual affection has also caused many owners to wonder if pest control services are safe for pets. Read More about Are Pest Control Services Safe for Pets? »
6 Reasons You Need a Pest Control Service
Whether dealing with a global pandemic (such as the one that’s occurring during the writing of this post) or simply the ordinary economic pressures that affect everyone, times are tight. None of us really feel as though we have all of the time or all of the money that we would like. So we start to trim expenses — and often one of the first ones to go is pest control service. Read More about 6 Reasons You Need a Pest Control Service »
Are Indoor Bug Sprays Toxic to Kids?
Bug sprays, weed killers, and basically any kind of eradicating chemical frighten people. Just consider the case of glyphosate, a 40-year-old weed killer that many consider extremely safe. In recent years, though, concern about its effects on people and the environment has grown, leading to legal cases and increased calls for its regulation.
When it comes to bug sprays, things can quickly become much more frightening, especially when there are children in the house. After all, anything designed to kill living creatures can’t be that good for humans, right? Well, things aren’t quite that simple, which is why we’ve put to together this short guide about indoor bug spray and child safety. Read More about Are Indoor Bug Sprays Toxic to Kids? »
What to Look for When Hiring an Insect Control Service?
Readers, allow us to share a true pest-control story in order to introduce the topic of what you should look for when hiring a pest-control management service. There was once a young couple who purchased a fixer-upper home they believed was pest free. Unfortunately, it was not, and they quickly discovered the fact when cockroaches started showing up around the property. In the kitchen. In the dining room. Even in the cupboards. Read More about What to Look for When Hiring an Insect Control Service? »
Bug Bomb: Everything You Need to Know [ULTIMATE GUIDE]
Do you have hard-to-kill pests that just keep coming back? Do creepy crawlies tend to crop up in every corner of a room? Do you want to treat several areas all at once? If so, you might have considered purchasing a bug bomb (which is also known as a home insect fogger). These consumer-grade pest-control products purport to eliminate a wide variety of pests within a broad area.
Do bug bombs really work, though? The evidence just might surprise you. Not only do bug bombs fail to adequately eliminate insects, they also can have significant downsides for humans. Read More about Bug Bomb: Everything You Need to Know [ULTIMATE GUIDE] »
Providing Assistance to Restaurant and Hospital Customers During Coronavirus Outbreak
Smithereen Pest Management Services is supporting hospital workers and local restaurants by delivering meals to frontline workers.
As part of Smithereen SELECT, a company-wide volunteer program that began in 2011, Smitheereen is partnering with local businesses McWethy’s Tavern in Romeoville and Bartolini’s Restaurant in Midlothian to deliver box meals to their hospital customers treating COVID-19 patients.
Hospitals included in the first phase were:
- Amita Health Adventist Medical Center Bolingbrook
- Amita Health Adventist Medical Center Hinsdale
- Amita Health St. Joseph Medical Center
- OSF Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park.
Smithereen donated over 100 meals in the first weeks of April 2020, and plans on a second stage of meal delivery. “The restaurant and healthcare industries are very important to our business and we are grateful to be able to support these two industries during a time of need,” explained Scott Seifert, Director of Sales and Marketing at Smithereen. “These warriors are dealing with unprecedented stressful times and we wanted to show a small token of our appreciation.
Smithereen is planning on expanding the meal program with other customers in Illinois, as well as in Kansas and Missouri. “We look forward to expanding the program and support until our restaurant and hospital clients can return to more normal operations,” said Seifert.
See our press release here: Smithereen Pest Management Provides Assistance to Restaurant and Hospital Customers During Coronavirus Outbreak