Finding an insect, rodent or other pests in your home is an unwelcome surprise. In this situation, you might wonder if there are alternatives to monthly pest control bills to eliminate the problem.
In many cases, you can do your own pest control. If the pests aren’t threatening your health or safety, there are effective DIY techniques to eliminate them. In that same vein, pest prevention is a task you can do on your own.
Getting rid of pests can be difficult, but with some effort, you can learn to do it yourself. Read the rest of this post for my professional tips on doing your own pest control.
You might also want to read my article “Weed Prevention using Pre-Emergent Herbicides“
When To Do Your Own Pest Control
You can do your own pest control if you focus on prevention or eliminating a small infestation of non-wood boring insects. In situations beyond those two, you might be wise to call in professionals for help.
Pest prevention entails many tasks that you can take on yourself. The main goals in pest prevention are removing food and water sources and sealing entrances to your home.
On the other hand, controlling a small infestation of pests can be achieved with home remedies like bug traps or sprays. But, there is always a risk that your efforts could fail and the infestation worsens.
When To Hire Pest Control Professionals
When an infestation threatens your health or safety, you should get help from experts to stop it. In these situations, wasting time could be dangerous, and you must use proven methods from experienced technicians to eliminate the danger.
If You Need to Get Rid of Wood-Boring Pests
Insects that eat wood, like termites, are capable of doing significant damage to a structure in little time. This fact makes it critical to eliminate wood-boring pests as fast as you can.
Getting an expert’s help to get rid of wood-boring pests could save your home from needing costly repairs or even collapse. Once the pests are gone, you might try to prevent them from returning yourself.
If Pests Are Effecting Health
Many pests carry diseases or can compromise your food. If you are dealing with an infestation that could make you or your family sick, it’s best to hire experts to solve the problem fast.
Infestations could cause symptoms ranging from allergy-like to more serious. Having a pest control professional get to the bottom of the problem and eliminate the pests will make you feel better faster.
If Pest Control Feels Hazardous
Pests are often scary to deal with. The creatures could bite or sting, and the pesticides could poison you.
Pest control professionals have the equipment and training the deal with these problems safely and quickly. You don’t have to go through the turmoil of doing your own pest control.
How Much Does Do It Yourself Pest Control Cost?
To do your own pest control, all you need to buy are the supplies. What you need will depend on what type of pest you are dealing with and how large of a space you need to control.
The basic equipment you need to do your own pest control along with their costs are:
| Pest Control Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Pest control kits | $50–$200 |
| Insecticide | $11–$50 |
| Personal protective equipment | $10-$50 |
| Pest control foggers | $9–$30 |
| Mouse/rat traps | $2–$35 |
| Pesticide spray bottle | $15-$20 |
How Much Money Can I Save If I Do My Own Pest Control?
You can likely buy a year’s supply of everything you need for home pest control for under $100. Pest control companies usually charge a monthly fee that ranges from $30 to $75, or $360 to $900 per year.
Therefore, you might save $260 to $800 annually if you do your own pest control. You should also consider how much time you will spend on pest control and determine if it is worth it to spend the time or spend the money.
How Can I Do My Own Pest Control?
Actually that is the whole purpose of this website. Our goal is to teach you how to do as much of your own pest control as possible.
Figuring out how to do your own pest control starts with identifying the pest that is bothering you. Next, you must decide if your goal is prevention or the elimination of an established infestation.
Research the pest you want to control. Learn about its lifecycle and habits, and find out if you can exploit those to make your home less appealing to them.
The first step you can take for pest control is to do a thorough cleaning. This will make your home less appealing to pests, then you can assess what the next steps are.
Evaluate Your Exterior and Landscaping
The exterior of your home is your first line of defense against pests. Unwanted guests normally enter homes looking for food, water and shelter.
You can take several actions to make your exterior less appealing to pests, including:
- Move piles of leaves or yard waste away from your home.
- Keep a tight lid on trash, recycling and food waste containers.
- Clean your gutters regularly to stop water from flowing towards your foundation.
- Improve the drainage in your yard so there is no standing water.
- Keep plants near your home trimmed to eliminate hiding places and pathways inside.
- Use window and door screens.
- Seal any gaps or cracks in your siding, foundation and roof.
Generally, keeping your yard and the exterior of your home neat and clean helps stop pests from coming into your home. If yard maintenance is too much trouble for you, you may need to hire a landscaping company for help.
Spray Your Home’s Perimeter With Repellant
You have several options of natural or chemical sprays that will stop insects or other pests from getting close to your home. Always read the instructions for the repellant carefully and follow them.
Some repellants could be dangerous for your or your pet’s health. On that note, always wear personal protective equipment, and keep children and pets away from the areas you spray for a day or longer.
For a more natural approach, you can plant flowers and herbs that repel insects and other pests. Some of the best plants you can include in your garden for repelling pests are:
- Basil – this tasty green is great for repelling flies and mosquitos.
- Lavender – this soothing smelling plant can help repel fleas, flies and mosquitos.
- Chrysanthemum – this beautiful flower keeps spider mites, ticks, cockroaches, lice, and aphids away.
- Rosemary – this herb is easy to grow in containers and keeps many insects away.
- Garlic – this flavorful bulb can help to deter mice from coming into your garden.
- Daffodils – this spring delight helps to keep rodents away.
Eliminate Pests From Within Your Home
If you see one pest inside, likely, you will soon see more. Some are solitary creatures, but most live in groups and can multiply rapidly.
Moreover, these reasons make it critical to act fast when you notice pests inside. Fortunately, there are plenty of chemical-based and natural pest elimination solutions available, including:
- Natural Home Remedies: You may attract and then kill pests using ingredients already in your pantry like vinegar, boric acid and essential oils. There are many tutorials online to teach you how to get rid of the pest you are dealing with.
- Natural Pest Control Products: You can find natural products for eliminating or repelling pests at your local hardware store. These products might be less harmful to the environment, but you still need to follow the instructions and be safe with them.
- Baits and Traps: Luring in pests with bait laced with poison or sitting in a trap is an effective way to eliminate them. Just be sure that children and pets won’t get injured by the traps and that you check them often and throw dead pests away.
- Chemical-based Pest Control Products: Foggers, sprays or gels are a strong option for DIY pest control. They can help with a large infestation or even eliminate just a few cockroaches under your sink.
What Do Pest Control Professionals Do?
When you hire a pest control company, they will first come to evaluate your situation and inspect the site. Next, they will create a treatment plan and prepare a quote.
Pest control professionals will help you identify food and water sources that attract pests and entry points. Then, they will return to treat your home with pesticides.
In most situations, the pest control company will return each month to treat your home. Most pest control services come with a guarantee to eliminate pests from your home.
What Do Professionals Use For Pest Control?
Many pest control companies use a group of pesticides called pyrethroids and pyrethrins. They are derived from or mimic the natural pesticides found in chrysanthemum plants.
These pesticides are low-toxicity and degrade fast in the environment. For these reasons, pyrethroids and pyrethrins are the most popular pesticides among professionals. The drawback of these pesticides is that they kill beneficial insects, such as bees.
You can find pesticides containing pyrethroids and pyrethrins for homeowner use. When used correctly, they can be harmless. But, you still need to be cautious, protect yourself, and follow all the instructions when using them.