Julien Moreau 17:54 pm, March 23, 2023

Rats, bed bugs, mosquitoes and cockroaches, pests have been proliferating in our homes for many years. The journalists of the magazine 60 million consumers devoted a special issue to this subject. Sophie Coisne, deputy editor-in-chief, reported to the microphone of Europe 1 the best ways to get rid of these pests.

Pests proliferate in our homes and we are increasingly having to deal with them in our daily lives. According to an Ipsos survey, over the past five years, 62% of French people, or 30.8 million people, have faced at least one infestation of "pests" at home. The number of people affected doubled between 2017 and 2021.

>> READ ALSO - Garbage collectors' strike: residents exasperated by the dirt of the Parisian streets

Focus on the effectiveness of gels

Sophie Cointe, deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine 60 million consumers dedicated to the pest, returns to this subject in the show Bienfait pour vous and reveals the best ways to get rid of it. "The rats loved the confinement and they love at the moment the strikes of the garbage collectors," reports Sophie Cointe at the microphone of Europe 1.

There are more and more rats in cellars and chicken coops. Rodents also have the annoying ability to climb walls and sneak into drains. To scare them away, there are certain techniques such as planting repellent plants such as mint, laurel and hyacinth to deter them. Regarding mosquitoes, there are many repellents that do not jeopardize our health, repellents that contain molecules less harmful than synthetic ones. Nevertheless, it is necessary to avoid, as much as possible, the use of insecticides and installing a mosquito net would also be effective, according to the journalist.

Against insects, it is better to use aerosols and sprays. "The ideal is to use sprays because we put less in the atmosphere. Generally speaking, the most effective would be to have a gel. So for mosquitoes, it is not appropriate, but a gel, a spray, it will always be less harmful to health than the aerosol, "reports Sophie Cointe at the microphone of Europe 1.

>> READ ALSO - No, you will not find insect "flour" on your plate without knowing it

"The vacuum cleaner is a very good friend"

There are also basic and natural products that should be in our cupboards such as diatomaceous earth which would be very effective against insects, especially against cockroaches. These are small particles of silica that act like razors in insects that breathe it. Some people are allergic to it, it is recommended to do a test before using it on a large scale.

The most effective against cockroaches remains the use of the vacuum cleaner. "In pest control, in general, the vacuum cleaner is a very good friend," says Sophie Cointe, deputy editor of 60 million consumers.

"Avoid insecticides in contact with food"

The latter recommends cleaning your home from top to bottom with vinegar and soapy substances. "Insecticides should also be avoided when in contact with food. Empty your cupboards, throw away all the packages that have been contaminated. Clean the entire cupboard where you put your rice and pasta with white vinegar. You can put peppercorns and a little garlic, garlic cloves, so as to have a smell that will be repellent to pests, "says Sophie Cointe.

To guard against bed bugs, there are a number of behaviors to adopt. It is recommended to vacuum the bedding, making sure not to forget every nook and cranny and clean your laundry and textile at 60 degrees.