Q: While the preventative steps are similar for all types of pests, you will want to focus on removing certain types of food (i.e. ripe melon for fruit flies) or cleaning certain areas (vacuuming the carpet for fleas), depending on the pest. If you decide to use a pesticide, you will need to make sure it is suitable for the pest you are trying to kill. Insects and rodents need water to survive.  Keep your bathroom and kitchen areas as dry as possible. Fix leaking pipes. Don't let water collect in trays under plants. Don't leave your pet's water out overnight. Food attracts pests. Ripe fruit will draw fruit flies. Unsealed grains will attract mealy moths. Flies and cockroaches will eat any crumbs they can find. A clean kitchen is a key step in ridding your home of pest.  Wipe up any spills with soap and water. A paper towel or dish towel alone may not be enough. Regularly unplug your toaster and remove crumbs. Store your food in sealed glass or plastic containers. Lids that clamp shut work better than screw-on lids. Keep ripe fruit, as well as rice and other long-term storage items, in the refrigerator. Store pet food in a clean, sealed garbage can so that rodents cannot get to it. Wash dishes daily, or submerge them in soapy water until you can get to them. Take out the trash daily. Used sealed trash cans and be sure to keep them clean. This will remove hiding places for insects, as well as removing their eggs.  Vacuum regularly. In particular, vacuum the affected areas using a crevice tool. Dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed plastic bag, so no pests can escape. Comb and wash your pet frequently. If it has fleas, talk to your vet about flea medication.  Get rid of clutter where pests hide, such as stacks of newspaper, magazines, or  cardboard. Clean appliances by unplugging them and sweeping them out, vacuuming, then wiping down with a damp rag. Make sure to let the appliance dry completely before reconnecting the appliance to the power source. Store clothing and linens in sealed plastic boxes or bags to protect them from moths and to remove homes for mice and rats. Pests frequently enter through poorly sealed windows or doors, or through cracks in walls and floorboards. Removing points of entry is key if you wish to keep your home pest free.  Use silicone caulk to seal any cracks and crevices in baseboards, moldings, cupboards, pipes, ducts, sinks, toilets or electrical outlets.  Place screens in front of heating and cooling vents. Repair holes in existing screens. Install screens and weather-stripping on doors and windows. Keep vegetation, mulch, stacked firewood, and other debris at least 18 inches (45.7 cm) form your home. Ensure all cracks, crevices and gaps around pipes and other penetrations on the walls of your home are properly sealed. Less toxic pesticides are safer for both you and the environment.  Dust boric acid on cracks and crevices. It is poisonous to crawling insects like ants, lizards, cockroaches, and silverfish, but is far less toxic to humans.  Try tamper-resistant bait boxes, which are safer than sprays, powders or pellets, all of which spread pesticide residues. Bait boxes are particularly recommended in areas where food, plates, or cookery are stored. Look for bait boxes that use a nonvolatile chemical like boron, and be sure to keep them out of reach of children.  Try insecticidal or fatty-acid soaps. They kill soft-bodied insects like fleas and mites on contact, cut are practically harmless to humans and mammals, unless ingested. Avoid frequent application; use them only to target specific threats. Read the label to be sure you have the right pesticide and are using it correctly.  Pesticides labeled “broad spectrum” kill many pests, while those labeled “selective” work only against a few. Read the directions for use to be sure the pesticide will work for you.  Start with less toxic pesticides. Check the label for the “signal” word that indicates how dangerous the product is to humans. “Danger” means poisonous or corrosive. “Warning” means moderately hazardous. “Caution” means least hazardous.   Never use outdoor pesticides indoors. They last longer and are more volatile. Provide adequate ventilation. Open windows and run fans. If the pesticide requires an unventilated room, leave the house. Apply sprays to limited areas, such as cracks. Always remove pots, pans, dishes and food before spraying. Let the spray dry before replacing. Never dump leftover pesticides in the garbage or down the drain. Check with your public works department about how to dispose of them. If preventative measures and over-the-counter pesticides do not work, you may be better off paying for pest control services.
A: Identify the pest. Remove standing water. Keep your kitchen clean and all food in containers. Keep your house clean and clutter free. Deny access to your home. Try the less toxic pesticides first if other preventative measure fail. Use more volatile pesticides if necessary. Consider getting professional help.

Q: For a week, keep a log of how much coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate you consume each day. This will give you an idea of if your caffeine intake is at an unhealthy level.  400 milligrams (the amount in four cups of coffee) of caffeine per day is usually considered safe for most adults. However, some people are more sensitive to it and should not even consume this much. If you consume caffeine and you have insomnia, restlessness, anxiety problems, fast heartbeat, headaches, muscle tremors, or extreme fidgeting you may be extra sensitive to caffeine and should cut back to little or no caffeine at all. This will allow you to avoid withdrawals or headaches. Caffeine is a drug that creates adrenaline surges, which your body gets used to. It could take a month to wean yourself from caffeine. If you are consuming a very high amount of caffeine, cut back slowly. Quitting quickly will cause withdrawal symptoms, like headaches. Too much refined sugar and foods with added processed sugar (candies, pop, cakes and cookies, some cereals) creates energy bursts and troughs, leaving you craving more. During the brief energy bursts, you are likely to fidget. Keep a log in a notebook, similar to your caffeine recordings, of how much refined sugar (candy, pop, cookies, etc.) you consume in a week. Fruit has some natural sugar, and this will help to slowly lower your intake of refined or artificial sugar because if you eat plenty of fruit you will crave other sugars less. Fruit is part of a healthy diet, and you should try to consume 4 servings (a serving is one piece of raw fruit the size of a baseball, or one cup of smaller fruits or 100% fruit juice) of fruit per day. If you are lacking in energy and turning to caffeine or refined sugar snacks to give you a boost, it may be because your diet is generally unhealthy. Be sure that you are consuming the right amount of a variety of vegetables, fruits, grains, and lean proteins each day. You should try to eat 4 servings of vegetables (one cup of raw or cooked veggies or vegetable juice, or 2 cups of leafy greens is one serving), 4 servings of fruit, 6-8 servings of whole grains (depending on age, gender, and activity level), 2-6 servings of lean protein (depending on age, gender, and activity level), and 2-3 servings (one cup) of dairy or dairy equivalents daily.
A:
Consider how much caffeine you currently consume. Cut your cups of coffee in half, or cut 1 cup each week. Keep track of how much sugar you consume. Replace your sugary snacks with fruit. Give yourself healthy diet choices.