Are you struggling with nasty pests at home as they are going out of control and damaging your property? I was also working with some troublesome rodents several months back and it was a very hard and struggling journey getting rid of them. But, I’m not here to share my success story, rather, I will tell you how one can do my own pest control and what can be some dangers associated with doing the tough stuff yourself according to https://www.go-forth.com/blog/post/can-i-do-my-own-pest-control-garner-exterminators.
The common house pests can become your worst enemy if you don’t control them at the start and they can ultimately become uncontrollable and unstoppable. These include spiders, termites, cockroaches, mosquitoes, fleas, ants, bed bugs, rodents, and flies.
What benefits can I get if I do my own pest control?
Many people believe that DIY pest control is better than hiring professionals to do the job because of the following benefits:
● It saves money
One of the biggest motivations behind doing my own pest control is that it can save you money. You will have to spend a large amount of money if you hire professional pest controllers. You just need to buy pest control products and carry out the treatment in your free time or whenever you find it necessary. Wear protective gear and follow the provided instructions to stay safe from accidents and inhale the chemicals you are applying.
● You know better about your home
When you are applying the treatments yourself, you know whether you need to warn your family members and pets about the products you sprayed and keep them safe. Keeping your family and pets safe is the first priority and stops them from entering the treated areas. But when you hire professionals for the job, you can’t stay with them all the time. So, you may not know where they have applied treatments.
● Choose your preferred pest control products
When professionals are hired for the job, they use their desired products. While if you are doing pest control on your own, then you can use the products you are satisfied with and which are safe for you.
● Convenience
If you get professional pest controllers, then you have to book an appointment with them and this could take many days. But, if you don’t control the pests in a short while, then it can become a worse scenario for any house owner. Doing your own pest control is good if you want to treat the pests early and conveniently. You don’t have to wait for anyone, just apply the pest control products when you have free time and stop the infestation from becoming a nightmare.
Are there any drawbacks if I do my own pest control?
If you do your own pest control, then it can be beneficial for you, while also posing some disadvantages too.
● Can be risky
The pesticides you use can be harmful and applying them on your own can prove risky for your own, your family’s, or your pet’s health. Inhaling pesticides can affect the respiratory system, making you go for medical attention immediately.
● No or little experience
Getting pest control products from the market and reading their instructions doesn’t guarantee that you can apply them safely and in the right way. You may not know how and where to apply the pesticides and the pesticides you used once may not work the second time.
● Ineffective treatments
There are some hardy pests that cannot be killed by the method you use, such as termites, bed bugs, and cockroaches. If you use spray on them, this can worsen the infestation, making it even harder to eliminate them. If the infestation is already big, then doing your own pest control can trigger the pests.
● You can make it worse
If an infestation is occurring in your house and you think that you can do my own pest control, then it is not the right solution. If you do a treatment in the middle of an infestation can make the pests grow in numbers, causing more enormous damage to your property.
Which pests are attracted to which foods?
Here are some food items that usually attract the specified pests, according to moyerpest.com/blog/post/food-and-beverages-that-attract-pests-into-your-home. You can remove these food items to tackle the related pest problem:
- Bakes foods that you leave on the counter – rodents
- Sugary treats and sugar granules – ants
- Fresh produce – fruit flies
- Sugary drinks – stinging insects
- Wine, liquor, and beer – fruit flies
- Crumbs – rodents, ants, and cockroaches
- Packaged foods (cereals, pasta, flour, etc.) – pantry pests
What are some good pest prevention tips?
If you are wondering how can I do my own pest control, then you can follow the pest prevention tips we list here and get rid of pests that come because of foods and drinks in your home.
- Store all food items in air-tight bags or containers to keep the pests out
- Always put caps, bottle stoppers, or corks on all your liquors and wines to keep fruit flies away
- Crumbs and spills can attract pests, so always clean them immediately
- Always buy your grocery carefully; checking for fruit flies and pantry pests that may travel in the food you buy. Choose unripened produce as they are less likely to have fruit flies and check for damaged food packages.
- Use your produce either right away if it begins to ripen or store it in the freezer or fridge to use later. This prevents fruit flies from getting attracted to your product.
- Try to keep sugary drinks inside and have their lids on as it prevents stinging insects from getting attracted.
Are there any natural ways to do my own pest control?
If you have a small infestation, or you feel that you can tackle the pests yourself, then you can switch the store-bought chemical pesticides with some natural remedies as https://naturesnurtureblog.com/natural-ways-to-keep-pests-out/ tell us.
● Use citrus peels
We find the scent of citrus peels to be light and refreshing, but pests such as spiders, mosquitoes, and ants run away from this scent. Just rub the citrus peels on any problem areas that you have, such as bookshelves, doorways, and windowsills. Not only a pest deterrent, but citrus peel also proves to be a great furniture polish for wooden surfaces.
● White vinegar
If you see ants coming towards any food sources that you cleaned up, then white vinegar can prove to be a good solution. Ants leave a trail of pheromones when they come through the house and other ants follow the trail to reach the food source. To get rid of ants, killing the ants that you see on the scene isn’t sufficient; you also need to destroy the chemical trail they leave behind.
● Herbs
Herbs are not only a great garnish and addition to different dishes, but they are also a good pest deterrent. You can grow some easy herbs such as lemongrass, citronella plants, and mint near your home entrances and they will prevent the pests from getting inside.
If you are growing cilantro and you see the leaves turning yellow then read: why is my cilantro turning yellow?
● Cinnamon
You can draw a cinnamon line around the entrances to keep the bugs out. Pests, especially ants are deterred by cinnamon and you can sprinkle cinnamon on counters and other surfaces to cover the scent of the chemical trail left by ants.
● Cucumber
There are many pests that hate cucumbers, including ants, mites, moths, silverfish, and wasps. Just place cucumber slices or peels near your house entrances and they will deter many pests. But remember to replace the cucumber slices from time to time as the rotting slices may prove attractive for the pests.
● Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus can be a good solution for people struggling with flies. Take a small cloth and apply some oil on it and leave it in places infested with flies and it will make your home fly-free.
● Peppermint oil
Spiders are nasty creatures that hate peppermint. Make a solution of peppermint oil and water and pour it into a spray bottle. Just when you see a spider, spray it on that place. These will not only make your house spider-free, but it is also safe for homes with children and you can enjoy a nice minty fresh smell around the house.
● Keep your house clean
This is the biggest natural remedy to keep pests out of your home. Regularly wipe and clean the surfaces where you keep food to keep the ants out and don’t have any dark hidey holes where spiders or rodents could hide. It is good to use a natural cleaning product, as it will not just keep your house clean, but also keep the pests out.
When is it good to do my own pest control?
It mostly depends on the pest problem you are facing: if you have just a few pests or the pest issue is at its starting phase, then you can treat it on your own to drive the few pests out of your home. But, if you have a large infestation and there is already a huge number of pests at your home, then trying a treatment on your own may be dangerous and can even prove devastating.
Which DIY pest treatment works best?
You can make an effective pest control spray on your own by mixing 1 quart of liquid soap and ½ cup of rubbing alcohol and pouring it into a spray bottle. Use it for plant pests, such as scale insects, whiteflies, mealy bugs, aphids, and thrips.
Wrapping Up
In case you are struggling with nasty and troublesome pests at your home, then doing pest control with the right treatment is all that you need. To answer, can I do my own pest control, it is necessary to say that it is a good option if the infestation is just starting and you have the proper technique and equipment to do it yourself safely. You can also take help from natural remedies and apply them to deter pests from your property. As it is easier to prevent pests from coming rather than trying to tackle an infestation after it has grown big.
