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“Oh, rats!” – Why are there more callouts for rats during lockdown?

Last week we were approached by ITV’s This Morning to talk about lockdown, rats and mice. This comes off the back of several newspaper articles about increases in rodent problems, which is something about…

Pest control and COVID-19 – a managing director’s story…

Our financial year ended on the 31 January 2020 with over 30% turnover growth over the previous year…profits had also grown accordingly…a company that we had bought in Bristol the previous year was ready to…

Being ready for the end of lockdown

On the 20th April 2020, the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) published the results of a survey which revealed a ‘surge’ in pest activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey revealed 51% of pest…

Pest controllers as beekeepers?

In many respects, the concept of beekeeping as a hobby might appear to conflict with the role of a pest controller. But this is not necessarily the case. Oddly, many people involved in pest control are…

Returning from holiday – dealing with COVID-19

It has been a difficult few weeks for everyone. Three weeks ago, I was on a holiday – beaches, sand, sun, the occasional beer, and plenty of relaxation. While I wasn’t hidden from the gathering storm, it did…

How winning local awards can help you online

I’ve written several times about the importance of business awards and why you should enter them. Something I haven’t really covered though, is how winning awards can help you online. Over the years we have…

2020 - The Year of the Rat

I always thought the greeting for Chinese New Year was “gong hei fat choy”; it turns out I’ve been wrong all this time. That greeting doesn’t mean “Happy New Year”, in fact it is commonly used throughout the…

Keeping mice out of your office

Christmas is coming and the goose… Well, we all know the rest of that song. As winter really comes upon us, though, this is also a time when mice are getting fat in our offices. Perhaps it’s time for a new…

The World Turns Black

Today is ‘Black Friday’ – a retailer’s dream. All across the country there are queues of eager shoppers looking to buy discounted televisions, computers, clothing, and other consumer products. While such as…

How to stop rodents entering your home

Last week I attended my first Business Showcase South West Expo at the Ashton Gate Stadium, home of Bristol City Football Club and the Bristol Bears Rugby Union Team. What an amazing venue! I like to think I…

Invasion of the Asian hornet

This month I’m thinking about hornets. To be more precise, Asian hornets. You may have seen several newspaper articles about Asian hornets in the last few days. That is because this week is the British…

Can you afford to not use a professional pest control company?

A few days ago we posted a news story about a Chinese takeaway in Cardiff that was described by the court as a Category 1 risk. The owner was fined £1,500, ordered to pay costs of £340, and had a victim…

Dealing with carpet beetles

Last week one of our technicians recorded some amazing footage of a carpet beetle larvae, often called a ‘Woolly Bear’. To see that footage, click here. In the UK, carpet beetles and clothes moths are the…

The Growing Rat Problem

It’s been reported this week that the Queen is horrified by the rat and mice problems in Buckingham Palace. Considering the size and function of the building it is not surprising to read that it has a problem…

Introducing the Cleankill Family

We had a problem. Over the years we have found our branding has stood us in good stead. I’ve heard comments like ‘clear’, ‘professional’ and ‘no nonsense’. People recognise our branding and, dare I say it,…

Dealing with Glis Glis?

Firstly, what is a Glis glis? It’s a good question. Until recently, I didn’t know much about this rodent, the largest species of dormouse. Many of you will probably know it by another name – the edible…

A game of two halves

They say an active mind makes a happy person and, after last week, I think I can concur. It was a week that certainly required a lot of focus because, in addition to running an expanding pest control company…

It’s great to see your staff being recognised at industry awards

This is one of those months when there is so much to write about that it is hard to know where to begin. Do I start with the fact that Cleankill has recently acquired three pest control companies in…

How to protect your property from birds

As we enter 2019 some things have changed – we are currently updating the website of Bristol-based Good Riddance Pest Control to make it part of the Cleankill family – and some things stay the same – the need…

Six top tips for keeping rats and mice out of your property

Have you heard an unexplained scrabbling in your loft, seen nibbled bits of packaging around the house, or found droppings in your larder? The long nights are upon us, Christmas is just around the corner, and…