During the pandemic, commercial disinfection services are a crucial measure for businesses to take to stay up and running. At Rentokil formerly Oliver Exterminating, we are committed to keeping our customers safe from the hidden dangers of COVID-19. Our commercial disinfection service can help. Whether you have a business that has recently had a confirmed case of coronavirus or need to safely re-open your building, our commercial disinfectant can ensure the safety of all involved. Our experts are here to answer many of the commonly asked questions about our commercial disinfection service in Puerto Rico.
1. What Disinfection Product is Used?
At Rentokil, we use an EPA-approved and registered disinfectant that is included on List N. The List N is a registry for products approved for use against the virus causing COVID-19. This unique product is highly effective and proven to kill not just disease-causing bacteria but also viruses and fungi. We will work with your facility and provide written documentation of the product used to disinfect your building.
2. Are Safety Measures Taken During the Disinfection Process?
Our technicians are trained and ready to uphold strict safety regulations and procedures during our commercial disinfection service. Some of the safety measures we take during the service include:
Our technicians will wear suitable PPE, including respirators, N95 masks, goggles, coveralls, rubber boots, and more.
Every technician is extensively trained in safety procedures to minimize risks in exposed environments.
At all stages of the disinfection service, a team member will ensure safety procedures are applied and comply with legislative requirements.
3. How Long Do Commercial Disinfection Services Take?
The time it takes for our disinfecting service depends on several factors, including the size of the building. Another important factor is the type of building, from schools to office buildings. No matter the time it takes to disinfect your property, the premises will be safe for use in about half an hour after the treatment. We also offer different levels of disinfection depending on the contamination, which can affect the time our services will take.
4. Do I Need More Than One Disinfection Service?
Some buildings may require more disinfection services than others. Any property that has a large number of people visiting on a daily basis will need more frequent treatments. Buildings that have multiple outbreaks of the coronavirus may also need to be re-treated. Rentokil will work with you to ensure your building is disinfected quickly whenever you may require it.
Benefits of Commercial Disinfection Service
The uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has many people feeling overwhelmed. At Rentokil, we are proud to do our part in defeating this virus by offering commercial disinfection services to properties throughout Puerto Rico. To learn more about how we can be of service to you during this time, reach out to our team of experts today.
There’s really nothing more frustrating than having a pest control issue but not knowing where the pests are coming into your home from. The truth is that pests need a few simple ingredients to thrive. Shelter, food, warmth, and water are right at the top of the list.
With pests being such a common problem in Puerto Rico, it’s crucial to learn how to prevent infestations. Learn how with tips from Rentokil formerly Oliver Exterminating!
Signs of Pest Problems
Unfortunately, many Puerto Rican households sometimes forget to drain their sinks or bathtubs after using them or leave food around for pests like mice, ants, and cockroaches to feast on. Decanting birdbaths or small kiddie pools to prevent mosquitoes is simple enough but too many homeowners wait until it’s too late. Signs that pests have already made it into your home include droppings, noises in the walls or along your floorboards, chewed wrappers or wiring, a musky smell in the basement, or damaged wood. Seeing any of these signs of pests warrants a call to your local exterminators.
Tips to Reduce Pests in Your Home
Fortunately, there are DIY stops that you can take to significantly reduce the chances that pests make inroads into your home or business.
1. Store Food Securely and Keep a Clean Home
The easiest step that you can take right now to prevent pests from making your home an oasis is making sure that all of your food is canned, zipped, protected by plastic containers, or unopened in a drawer.
Food or morsels of food on the floor or in the carpet can make it far too easy for mice and other pests to snatch up. If you’re unsure if your kitchen floor is totally free of food, then a quick sweep or vacuum should be enough.
Your garbage can also be a hotspot for animals who want nothing more than to chow down. Keep a tight lid on your trash to prevent that from happening.
2. Seal Holes and Crevices Around Your Home
Next, you’ll want to prevent pests such as snakes or spiders as well as small pests like mice and ants from getting the chance to enter your home in the first place. But how? Caulking your windows and doors is a great prevention method. As it turns out, weatherstripping and caulking are also wonderful ways to conserve your heating efforts and save on your energy expenses this winter season.
Small openings along your baseboards are also ways that critters make it into your home through walls or move from room to room. Plugging up any gaps that you find and perhaps adding screens to your windows and doors can be really beneficial.
3. Keep Your Home and Backyard Free of Clutter
Pests such as cockroaches and even termites like to hide in dark places. Out of sight is unfortunately out of mind for too many Puerto Rican homeowners.
One way to prevent pests from wreaking havoc on your home is to keep your home and backyard free of clutter. This means keeping trees trimmed and woodpiles away from the home.
Removing standing water is also a great way to prevent mosquitoes in your yard.
Keep Pests Out Of Your Home For Good
Unfortunately, Puerto Rico is a haven for pests. The only long-term way of ensuring a future free of pests is enlisting the help of professionals to monitor the situation and make pest control visits when necessary.
Rentokil formerly Oliver Exterminating has been trusted since 1956, giving personal and thorough pest control care for residents of Puerto Rico and surrounding areas. We make it our mission to provide the best pest management possible and help you to maintain a pest-free home or work environment. To learn more, contact our residential pest control experts today!
Entomologists from Rentokil Provide their Pest Predictions for 2021
READING, Penn. (Jan. 4, 2021) — As if 2020 didn’t present enough challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 could be a banner year for pests around the country.
To help residents prepare for 2021, entomologists from Rentokil used field knowledge and data to provide their predictions for pests in the upcoming year.
1. Rodents, Rodents Everywhere:
With shutdowns across the country, it’s no surprise that rodents are on the rise nationwide. Empty buildings, the scarcity of food and warmer winters have combined to create a rodent apocalypse.
“We’re seeing more rats in urban, suburban and rural settings because of the shutdowns,” said Marc Potzler, Board Certified Entomologist. “Food sources are cut off, and rats are having to travel to scavenge for food. We’ve seen rats out in public during the day, which is highly unusual.”
Warmer winters have also allowed for mice populations to boom in residential areas as it allows for a longer breeding season and there is a lower population loss due to hard freezes.
“Right now is the perfect time to rodent-proof your home,” said Potzler. “Make sure to repair any gaps on the exterior of your home, such as around garage doors, windows or pipes.”
2. Mosquitoes on the Move:
Mosquitoes populations have been increasing over the last few years. Aedes species, which are disease-carrying mosquitoes, are also moving to new areas. These mosquitoes can carry West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Zika virus, among other diseases.
“There is an increase of mosquitoes across the country, but notably on the West Coast, and they are adapting each year,” said Eric Sebring, Associate Certified Entomologist. “We have seen evidence of behavior adaptation, where mosquitoes lay their eggs strategically to hatch throughout the season.”
Protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes by removing any standing water on your property. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as one teaspoon of water. Also, wear EPA-approved insect repellent while spending time outside.
3. Bed Bugs:
The chatter about bed bugs was quiet in 2020, but that’s not because they have gone away.
“As people begin to travel again, we will start to hear about bed bug infestations,” said Sebring. “Bed bugs can be dormant for several months at a time, so they can emerge when a food source, humans, become available.”
Bed bugs are considered hitchhikers, traveling from place to place on people, luggage, clothing and other personal belongings. Homeowners and businesses such as hotels, colleges, hospitals, senior living facilities, retail stores, and libraries have experienced problems with bed bugs.
If traveling, inspect the bed by pulling back the sheets to examine the mattress. Check your luggage before packing and unpacking, and look for signs of living or dead bugs the size of an apple seed or black fecal smears.
4. More Time Outdoors = More Pests.
From hiking to gardening to dining al fresco, there is no doubt that the pandemic has forced people to spend more time outdoors.
In 2021, we will see the outdoor pest pressures continue:
Ticks: Ticks are responsible for transmitting several diseases, including Lyme disease, to humans and animals. These small insects are found in grassy areas and in the woods, so it is important to inspect yourself and your pets after spending time outdoors. Cover as much skin as possible while outdoors, wear long pants, long sleeves, closed-toed shoes, and tuck pant legs into socks. Light-colored clothing will also help any ticks you pick up stand out.
Ants: “As soon as the weather starts to warm up, we will see an increase in ant populations,” said Tom Dobrinska, Board Certified Entomologist. “Most of the ants we are dealing with are odorous house ants. When spending time outside, make sure to clean up any food, water or sugary substances and ensure that your home is free of any holes or cracks for them to enter.”
Stinging Insects: Stinging insects, such as wasps and yellow jackets, emerge at the first sign of warm weather, and as warm weather seasons are getting longer, stinging insects have more time to create issues. Make sure you check for nests early in the spring as they are smaller and get early nest treatment. Make sure to keep windows and doors shut, and secure outside bins so stinging insects are not attracted to the contents.
5. Termites Aren’t Going Anywhere
Termites are a pesky problem, and unfortunately, are not going anywhere. Termites can cause extensive damage to structures, especially homes. As people are moving out of cities during the pandemic to more suburban areas, education about termite protection is key.
“We received more calls for termites this past year than we have in many years,” said Potzler. “It’s important to raise awareness for homeowners now to have proactive protection to keep from costly repairs in the future.”
6. Pests in the News:
There are a few pests that will continue to steal the limelight in 2021.
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is an invasive pest that has been making its way across the country since it was first introduced from Asia in 2001. Besides its pungent odor, this stink bug has become a nuisance for homeowners as it gathers in large numbers on the sides of houses and buildings and enters through small cracks in the home. “The brown marmorated stink bug is here to stay,” said Dobrinska. “We will continue to see this species emerge in late spring in large numbers.”
The Spotted Lanternfly will continue to wreak havoc across the Northeast and beyond. The invasive pest, first found in Pennsylvania in 2014, is spreading across the Northeast, with New York reporting its first sighting this year. The pest can significantly damage trees and plants.
“The Spotted Lanternfly is becoming a big problem in the Northeast, and it will continue to spread,” said Potzler. “It can be devastating for agriculture and is a nuisance for homeowners.”
The egg masses look like a smear of mud on trees and outside of homes. It’s important to scrape the egg mass off, put it in a bag with rubbing alcohol and throw it away, and then call the state department of agriculture.
The infamous “Murder Hornet,” also known as the Asian giant hornet, grabbed many headlines, causing homeowners to panic trying to decipher the difference between stinging insects in their yards and this aggressive species. The Asian giant hornet is the largest hornet species in the world, growing up to 3 inches in length. Currently, the Asian giant hornet has only been found in the Pacific Northwest.
“We know that there was one colony found and eliminated in Washington State,” said Sebring. “Unfortunately, if there is one, there will be more.”
While your chances of being stung by an Asian giant hornet are fairly low, the sting can be dangerous as the venom volume is higher, causing more pain. The hives are primarily built underground or in hollows in trees. If you suspect it is an Asian giant hornet or any stinging pests, call your pest management provider to assess the situation as soon as you spot activity.
During the pandemic, commercial disinfection services are a crucial measure for businesses to take to stay up and running. At Rentokil formerly Oliver Exterminating, we are committed to keeping our customers safe from the hidden dangers of COVID-19. Our commercial disinfection service can help. Whether you have a business that has recently had a confirmed case of coronavirus or need to safely re-open your building, our commercial disinfectant can ensure the safety of all involved. Our experts are here to answer many of the commonly asked questions about our commercial disinfection service in Puerto Rico.
There’s really nothing more frustrating than having a pest control issue but not knowing where the pests are coming into your home from. The truth is that pests need a few simple ingredients to thrive. Shelter, food, warmth, and water are right at the top of the list.
Entomologists from Rentokil Provide their Pest Predictions for 2021