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Your car is like your second home – you eat in it when you’re in a rush, take a short nap when you need one, store some of the things you need, etc. Over time, this creates a conducive living environment for pests to hide and breed in your car.
Types of Pests Living in Your Car
While it may seem unlikely that a pest infestation can occur in your car, you’ll be surprised to know that it can happen. In fact, in sunny and humid Singapore, pests like ants, cockroaches, spiders, bed bugs, and carpet beetles can make their way into your car.
Ants
With more than 13,800 ant species known to humankind, each with different traits and characteristics, ants can detect food from several meters away and enter your car through small cracks or crevices to reach it.
The most vicious ones would be the tiny little ants that can bite your skin when they’re crawling on your body. If you regularly park your car near an ant colony, the ants will remember it and continue to infest your car until you clean up the sources.
Cockroaches
Like ants, a cockroach infestation can happen in your car when there are traces of food sources such as leftover crumbs or spills. Similarly, they can crawl in through tiny cracks and crevices of your car.
Known to carry bacteria and cause diseases like salmonella, cockroaches can survive off very little food, making them the most adaptable creatures on earth. On top of that, they move incredibly fast. Should one appear while you’re driving, you’ll likely freak out and lose focus, which can be dangerous when you’re on the road.
Spiders
Most spiders are harmless to people and they can be killed or removed if you ever discover one in your car. However, if you frequently notice more than one spider in your car, chances are that there are other bugs in your car that serve as their food source.
While spiders have poor vision, it doesn’t change the fact that they can produce silk to spin webs as well as construct egg sacs and line spider dwellings. If you don’t clean out the spider webs regularly, you’ll end up with a car that’s home to spiders.
Bed bugs
While bed bug infestation in the car is uncommon, they can get into your car if they get onto your clothes, furniture, bags, or other items that you bring into your car. It’s very unlikely that they’ll crawl far from a sleeping area by themselves.
However, once they’re in your car, they can stay in it for a long time. Typically feeding off of your blood, bed bugs don’t spread diseases but can cause itchy, red bites all over the body. On top of that, they can multiply quickly so early detection is crucial to prevent further infestation.
Carpet beetles
Beetles come in many shapes, sizes, and colours. Carpet beetles, meanwhile, are a unique invading bug. The larvae typically feed on natural fibres such as wool and leather that are commonly found in cars.
Not only that, but the larvae can also eat holes in seats and flooring, as well as irritate the skin. Adult carpet beetles typically feed on pollen instead of fibres, but their presence in your car can mean that the eggs or larvae are nearby.
Once there’s a pest infestation in your car, it can be challenging to get rid of them by yourself. Even if you clean your car regularly, you’ll need a deep cleaning session to remove any of the pest infestations completely.
Pest Control Tips to Prevent Pests from Living in Your Car
Pest infestation in your car can cause real inconvenience in many ways. Not only do they cause distress but they can also transmit numerous diseases, which is why you should keep these pesky insects out of your car. Here are some pest control tips to prevent pests from living in your car.
Avoid eating in your car
As much as you try to eat carefully in the car, food residues or crumbs are enough to attract pests to your car, regardless of how little the residues are. For many people, this rule may be hard to implement, especially if you have young children.
However, it’s a crucial step to preventing pests from seeking refuge in your car. If you can’t avoid eating in the car, make sure to clean up thoroughly afterwards. You can also make it a habit to take out your food trash every time you leave your car.
Clean your car regularly
Regular car cleaning is one of the most reliable ways that you can do to keep your car pest-free. Aside from washing the car’s exterior, giving the interior some deep cleaning will benefit you in the long run.
So, vacuum your car, especially the cracks and crevices as pests can use these passages to make their way into your car. Also, make sure to clean out the sides of your door as these areas are often neglected and can collect waste and food particles, which attract pests.
Close all the openings of your car
While the openings of your car serve to regulate the ventilation in your car, they can also serve as an invitation for pests to enter your vehicle. For pests like cockroaches, the air vents are one of their main entryways, so make sure you close all the openings properly.
Additionally, avoid parking in places where pests thrive such as drainage openings, sewage drains, and near garbage bins. That way, you can prevent these pests from living in your car.
Use insecticides when necessary
Insecticides can be a temporary and risky solution, but they’re also effective in getting rid of pests when necessary. But, this doesn’t resolve the root of the problem. One thing to keep in mind when using insecticides is not to stay in the car as the chemical can be flammable and toxic to humans.
Seek professional help
While these tips won’t guarantee that your car will be pest-free, they’ll minimise the risk of pest infestation in your car. If you think you have an infestation in your vehicle, make sure to seek professional help for immediate action and a fast solution like a car fumigation service.
If you don’t have the time to send your car for a pest fumigation service in Singapore, you can always get a car fumigation kit and clean out your car when you have the time.
Get your car professionally groomed at Lambency Detailing
Giving your car regular deep clean is your best bet at minimising the chances of a pest infestation.
Looking for professional car grooming in Singapore? Lambency Detailing is a one-stop automotive centre for all your car needs. We offer comprehensive car interior detailing that includes pest fumigation to exterminate pests that are causing considerable damage to you and your car.
Find out more about Lambency Detailing’s different products and services here. Book an appointment with us to get your car interior detailing now! WhatsApp: (65) 9658 5808 Email: lambency@quantum-globe.com
