10 best pest control companies in Clifton, New Jersey

Pests commonly found in Clifton are flies, mice and cockroaches. Taking preventative measures on your own can help you avoid pest problems, but calling a pest control company is best if you have an existing infestation. Experienced pest exterminators in Clifton know how to correctly identify pests, apply suitable treatments and resolve your pest problem.

Pests that infest your property put your home, family and pets at risk. Insects and small animals can contaminate your food, cause significant damage to your home’s structure and spread disease.

A professional pest control company can lower these risks. A pest professional will identify infestations and treat them with a range of methods, from sealing cracks and holes to using traps or chemicals. With the right solution in place, your pest problem can be solved for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Clifton

Look for pest control companies in Clifton with at least 3.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews and a good rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB). Use the filters below to help you find the right company for your needs.

What are common pests in Clifton?

While pests are everywhere, the hot spots for different species differ. Check for the following indications of common Clifton pests to determine whether you have an infestation:

• Mice: Mice that have gotten into your house might scurry by briefly or leave rice grain-sized droppings. Mice characteristically give off a noticeable musky smell and damage household items by gnawing through them. They build nests from found materials and shredded fiber. As mice prefer tight spaces, you may hear noises inside your walls or ceiling.
• Bees: If you see more bees than usual inside or around your home, have dark stains on your walls or hear buzzing inside the walls, you may have a bee infestation. You might also notice an unpleasant odor coming from your walls. This happens as bees die or honey seeps into the walls, causing the growth of mold and fungi. Bees can easily harm your family or your pets, as bee stings often cause allergic reactions.
• Moths: Common moths that infest homes include clothes moths and pantry moths. Clothes moths eat wool and cotton, leaving behind silky furrows, trenches, tunnels and small tubes, which are larvae casings. Pantry moths bore into plastic food bags and create a web-like residue in pantries. Ripe fruit, fermented sugars and light attract moths.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are flat, wingless, reddish-brown insects about the size of apple seeds. Found in apartment complexes and hotels, they can attach to belongings, such as purses, backpacks, clothing and secondhand furniture. They hide in your bed and in nooks and crannies during the day then come out at night. When you have an infestation, you may see the bugs themselves or find blood stains on your mattress or other furniture.
• Flies: It's normal to find the occasional fly buzzing around your home during the summer, but if you see a significant number, you could have an infestation. Flies leave waste that looks like clusters of black dots around trash, near sink drains and on high shelves. The presence of maggots, which are fly larvae, in trash or other food waste also suggests an infestation.
• Ticks: Ticks can easily enter homes by hitching a ride on clothing, pets or shoes, after they're picked up by you or your family while outdoors. Once inside, a female tick can lay her eggs in carpet fibers, on curtains or in upholstery. Other common nesting spots include in the lining or pockets of clothing, in corners and along baseboards.

How can you prevent pests in your Clifton home?

A full-blown infestation probably needs professional intervention. However, there are precautions you can take before pests become a problem to prevent them from getting a foothold in your home.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Left uncontrolled, pests can significantly impact your home and well-being. Discuss preventive options with a pest control company to stop infestations before they start. Experts may suggest that you set traps, seal access points or apply pesticides in specific areas.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Pests mainly seek food, so making food hard to reach will keep them on their way. Keep food a minimum of six inches off the floor and a bit away from the walls. Always ensure sinks, counters and food storage areas stay clean and sanitized between uses. Get rid of food scraps and other trash regularly, and keep your trash cans and dumpster areas neat.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Trash, tall grass, standing water and leaves give ample shelter to insects and small animals. Keeping your yard free of debris and well-maintained with mowed grass and trimmed foliage is one of the easiest ways to prevent an infestation. If you need professional lawn care, find out if national lawn care companies such as TruGreen service your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off access points into your home will help prevent insects and small animals from entering. Rats, for example, can wriggle into holes just a half-inch in diameter. Repair gaps in your roof or siding, and remember to seal broken window frames. Some pest control providers offer specialized pest prevention services to keep critters out.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

When selecting a pest control service, ask the following questions to verify they have the expertise to handle your unique situation.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of pest control chemicals under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Additionally, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to have certification following the agency and state, territorial and tribal laws.

New Jersy pest control professionals should be licensed through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Compliance & Enforcement, having completed 40 hours of training in order to earn a Commercial or Private Applicator License.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

The treatment plan a pest professional suggests will vary based on the specific treatment method, the location of the property, the particular pest type and the severity of the infestation. In most cases, pest control companies advise against relying on a one-time treatment to eliminate household pests, as there will likely be insects at different stages of their life cycles that may have laid eggs in hard-to-find spots.

Pest specialists often suggest recurring treatments, some of which may be only done in the warmer months, while others occur across all seasons. As a proactive measure, they might also recommend preventive treatments every two or three months to stop infestations from getting a foothold.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

The time needed to solve your pest issue will vary based on the type and extent of the infestation, along with the pest's life cycle. After the pest control specialist applies the initial treatment, you may see less pest activity. However, pests might reappear once they hatch, warranting additional treatments. Alternatively, you may notice more activity following the first treatment, as it can drive pests out of their hiding places. The good news is this should lessen within a few days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to stay in your home during certain portions of the pest control process, such as when holes and cracks are being sealed. However, if your service technician applies a pesticide, it might take several hours to dry, and you'll need to stay out of the house during this period.

Certain treatments can be especially time-consuming like termite fumigation. The pest control provider erects a tent around your home, which is left in place for three days to apply the pesticide. During this period, you'll need to stay in a hotel or other accommodations.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

An experienced pest control professional knows the right amount of a product to use, the time needed for it to dry and when children and pets can safely return to the treated location. Before beginning any treatment, your service provider should inform you about what should be removed from the area, including food, animals and plants.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Some pest specialists offer environmentally friendly methods for managing an infestation. This involves using methods that don't impact the environment as much as conventional chemical approaches. Examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing areas where pests might get in, using humane traps for rodents and using less harmful ingredients.

What do I do if pests come back?

Most pest control companies provide guarantees and warranties in the event that pests reappear before a specific date. To resolve a returning pest issue, specialists may offer a one-time treatment or continued treatments. Consult with your service provider to learn about the treatments they offer.

Our methodology for selecting pest control companies

The Homefront Local team employs a proprietary scoring algorithm that evaluates companies based on key factors you value, such as average customer review ratings and trustworthiness indicators. Our method for determining trust involves a comparative analysis of the number of reviews a company receives compared to its local competitors. This leads to companies that have earned more trust from your local community being awarded a higher score. We review national pest control companies against our full pest control methodology. We score pest control companies based on service options, safety and certifications, service guarantees and customer service.