Tiny red specks crawling across the windowsill, or itchy bites that started after birds nested in the roof? Our mite treatment deals with bird mites, clover mites and other household mites in homes and businesses across Bexley and South London. I’ll work out exactly which mite you have and where it’s coming from, because each one needs a different approach. Call me for a price over the phone.
Mites are tiny relatives of spiders, and several different types turn up in UK homes. Identifying the right one is the first step, as the cause and the treatment are completely different for each.
Bird mites are tiny, pale or greyish mites, turning darker red after feeding, that live in birds’ nests. They usually appear indoors in late spring and summer, after young birds have left a nest in the loft, eaves, gutters, chimney or air vents. With no birds to feed on, the mites go looking for a new host and find their way into bedrooms and living areas, where they can bite people.
Clover mites are very small, bright red mites that appear in large numbers on windowsills, walls and window frames, mostly in spring and early summer. They live on lawns and plants close to the house and wander in through gaps around windows. They don’t bite and are harmless, but they leave a red stain if they are squashed.
House dust mites are microscopic and live in every home, in mattresses, pillows, carpets and soft furnishings, feeding on shed skin. They don’t bite, but their droppings are a common trigger for allergies, asthma and eczema.
Very small pale mites in flour, cereal or dried food, or on damp surfaces, are usually flour mites or mould mites. Mites in food are covered by our stored product insect control service. Mould mites are a sign of damp and usually disappear once the moisture is dealt with.
Pigeons, starlings and sparrows often nest in lofts, under roof tiles and in gaps at the eaves, and every nest can carry a large population of mites. When the young birds leave, thousands of mites can move through gaps in the ceiling, around light fittings and loft hatches, or down chimney breasts and wall cavities.
Bird mites need birds to complete their life cycle, so they can’t set up a permanent infestation on people. However, they can survive for weeks in a house, and the bites can be very uncomfortable. Treating the rooms alone rarely works, because the nest keeps supplying new mites.
The source has to be dealt with, but wild birds and their active nests are protected by law. A nest can only be removed once it is no longer in use, which is why it’s important not to disturb it yourself. We find the nest, remove it when it is legal to do so, treat the nest area and the affected rooms, and advise on sealing the gaps birds are using so they can’t nest there again.
Clover mites are more of a nuisance than a problem, but they can appear in huge numbers on sunny, south-facing walls and windows. Avoid squashing them, and vacuum them up instead. Treatment focuses on the outside walls, window frames and the entry points they use, and keeping a strip of bare soil or gravel between the lawn or flower beds and the walls of the house helps stop them coming back.
It’s worth being honest: dust mites live in every home, and no treatment will get rid of them completely. What you can do is keep numbers down. Wash bedding weekly on a hot wash, use allergy-proof covers on mattresses and pillows, keep humidity down by ventilating bedrooms and drying clothes outside where possible, and vacuum regularly with a vacuum that has a good filter. If allergies or asthma are severe, speak to your GP. If you’re not sure whether you’re dealing with dust mites or something else, we can inspect the property and advise.
Every job starts with an inspection to confirm which mites you have and track down where they are coming from, whether that’s a bird’s nest in the loft, the garden next to the house or something else. I’ll explain what I find and what needs doing before we begin.
We then treat the source and the affected areas, such as the loft, nest site, bedrooms, window frames and outside walls, depending on the mite. Treatment is carried out over our three-visit programme, so we can check activity has stopped and deal with any mites that hatch after the first visit.
Many people who search for mites are dealing with itching or bites and can’t see what’s causing them. Bites in lines on the arms and shoulders overnight often point to bed bugs, and bites around the ankles are more typical of fleas. Scabies is caused by a mite that lives in human skin and is a medical condition, not a pest control problem, so if you think that’s the cause, speak to a pharmacist or your GP. Our insect control page covers all the insects we treat.
We treat mites across Bexley and South London, including homes and businesses in Lewisham, Merton and Dartford. For regular pest prevention in business premises, see our commercial pest control service.
It depends on the type of mite, the size of the property and whether a nest needs removing. Call us with a few details and we will give you an estimate over the phone.
No. Bird mites can bite people, but they can’t reproduce on human blood. Once the source is removed and the house is treated, they die off.
Not while it is in use. Wild birds, their eggs and active nests are protected by law. Once the birds have left, the nest still needs to be removed carefully, as disturbing it can release more mites into the house.
No. They don’t bite, spread disease or damage the house. The main problem is the number of them and the red marks they leave when squashed.
No one can. Dust mites are found in every home. Regular hot washing, allergy covers and good ventilation keep numbers low enough to reduce allergy symptoms.
Rentokil-trained and Level 2 certified, so you know you’re in safe hands.
We don’t just show up, treat, and leave. We walk you through exactly what we found, why it happened, and what we’re doing to fix it.
Pests don’t work 9 to 5, and neither do we. We’re available when you need us most.
We are Level 2 certified technicians, fully insured, and members of BPCA, BASIS Prompt and RSPH. You’re in safe, qualified hands.
Hundreds of satisfied clients across South London have trusted us to get the job done right, and we back every job with a satisfaction guarantee.
We’re not a faceless national company. We’re local, we care about our community, and we treat every property as if it were our own.
Call us or fill out the contact form. We’ll assess your situation and give you a straight, honest estimate over the phone.
Our technician visits your property, carries out a thorough on-site inspection, and begins treatment right away.
We carry out a 3-visit treatment programme to make sure the problem is fully resolved, not just temporarily patched.
Job done. Your property is protected, and you’ll know exactly what was done and why every step of the way.
Same-day response available
Out-of-hours and weekends
Rodent proofing specialists
