Elmer Bensinger

Pest Control Specialist

Elmer Bensinger is a Pest Control Specialist with Eden Advanced Pest Technologies in Spokane, Washington. With over 20 years of experience, Elmer specializes in integrated pest management and products such as insecticides and rodenticides. He studied business at South Puget Sound Community College.

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Forum Comments (1)

Help! What's the best way to get rid of ants?

Sugar water won’t do anything to ants (besides make them happy). It’s the same with all of those “hacks.” Cinnamon is another popular one that I hear from time to time—that won’t do anything, either. With ants, there are sort of four levels of control, and if one level doesn’t work you escalate to the next level. Level one is exclusion—seal up any cracks or openings in your home. Level two is sanitation efforts; get rid of any food or water that the ants would be looking for. Just continue keeping your home clean. Then, level three is physical traps, glue traps, vacuuming, things like that. If that still isn’t getting the job done, level four is pesticide. That will end your ant woes if it gets that far.

Q&A Comments (36)

How can I prevent pests from coming inside of my home?

Keep vegetation at least a foot away from the house. Don't let it touch the house. That's a bridge for insects and rodents to get up into your house. Sanitation is another big thing. Keep your home and yard clutter-free. Strong sanitation efforts are always one of the best things that a homeowner can do to deter pests, rodents, and ants. Avoid leaving food out since that will also attract pests.

How can I get rid of maggots?

Call a pest control specialist. If you have maggots in your house, there's organic matter somewhere that's causing them to be there. You either have something dead somewhere in a wall, floor, or attic, or you’ve got fruit somewhere. A pest control specialist can help you identify the source and get rid of the maggots. In some cases, you can get rid of them without ever applying a pesticide.

How do I get rid of chipmunks in my house?

First you need to live trap the chipmunks and remove them from your house. Then, you can seal up the entry points so they don't come back. Make sure you catch all of the chipmunks and remove them first before sealing things up or the chipmunks will try everything possible to get back inside, especially if there are babies inside.

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Get Rid of Toads in Your Yard

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Kill Toads

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