Mason’s own Solutions Plus Pest Control, co-owned by Jen and Mark Winter, grew from an unexpected bond between customer and service provider.
“Mark was in the pest control industry, working for a larger company in the area, and I was a customer service manager for a local hotel. That’s actually how we met,” co-founder Jen explains.
Self-proclaimed “bug nerds,” Mark and Jen bonded over their shared interest. Eventually a romance blossomed and the two married.
“A fun fact actually, is that instead of flowers on our wedding cake, we had bed bugs made of icing,” Jen describes.
The couple saw a need in the local area for pest control services. Having lived in Mason since 2001, they wanted to keep their new business close to home.
“Mason is also a great central location for our service area, which ranges from Northern Kentucky up to Dayton and even Columbus,” Jen explains.
They started Bed Bug Solutions in 2014. Although the original plan was to focus on bed bug extermination, they discovered that their bed bug customers also had several other general pest control issues. With this realization, they expanded their business to create the Solutions Plus Pest Control division.
Today, Solutions Plus offers general pest control, termite, rodent and bed bug treatments and even hoarding cleanouts (with or without bed bugs).
“In dealing with bed bugs, we found that some customers needed help with preparing their home for a treatment or they had too much clutter to treat it properly,” Jen tells us.
Solutions Plus is the only local company that offers services to help people with bed bug preparation, laundry services and hoarding cleanouts. Cleanouts include deep cleaning and reorganization of the home.
No matter what they are removing, Mark and Jen truly relish the work they do.
“We enjoy finding solutions and helping our customers sleep better, knowing that they no longer have to worry about pests inside their homes or businesses,” Jen tells us.
After a successful start in their Mason home base, Solutions Plus has since expanded into Northern Kentucky, Southeast Indiana and even as far as Montana.
Telltale Signs of Pests
Bed Bugs/Termites:
Common signs of bed bugs include unexplained bites and dark spotting or blood spots on bedding. Winged termites can be spotted swarming from March through May. They often leave discarded wings near window sills or door frames.
Mice or Rodents:
Keep an eye out for droppings, gnawed or frayed electrical cords and openings in food packaging.
Prevention Tips
To make your home less attractive for pests, Solutions Plus recommends keeping all food and drinks in sealed containers or in the refrigerator. Vacuuming and sweeping every few days, laundering bedding once every 7-10 days, and cleaning kitchen counters and appliances are also recommended. Staying on top of often neglected parts of your home like the basement and attic is important, as this is where many pests often gain entry.
To lessen the presence of outdoor pests, mowing and raking regularly will reduce space for pests to hide and make it easier to identify issues. Cleaning up brush and leaves from around your home is recommended because yard waste often provides ecosystems for pests to thrive. Keeping the waste close to your home offers the opportunity for these pest communities to move inside. Long tree branches are also known to be “highways'' for carpenter ants and other pests to travel to your home, so trimming bushes and trees at least 12 inches away is highly recommended. Similarly, keeping gutters clean and free of debris is necessary so as to not cultivate unwanted wildlife.
Common Local Household Pests:
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Bed Bugs
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Termites
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Roaches
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Ants
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Stink Bugs
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Mice
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Mosquitoes
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Fleas
Solutions Plus Pest Control | 312 W Main St, Mason
513.273.0346 | SolutionsPlusPestControl.com