Do It Yourself Pest Control (Your Complete Guide!)
Pests have a way of getting into our homes and disrupting our lives. Whether it’s ants, cockroaches, mice, bed bugs, termites, spiders, scorpions, silverfish or even bees, pests have the ability to squeeze themselves through small holes to enter your home.
No matter the pest, you might have wondered, Should I kill this pest? And how?
Do it yourself pest control is tricky because it is possible to make a tame situation much worse if you do not know the proper techniques for how to get rid of pests. Some pests require professional products and techniques to get rid of them and, if you try to take care of them yourself, it could potentially exacerbate the problem. However, there are some pests and pest problems that you can DIY.
In this do it yourself pest control guide, we will go over the common household pests that get inside our homes, which pests you can take care of yourself and which pests you should call professionals for, how to get rid of specific pests, and a few common strategies to limit pest problems in the future.
How Do Common Household Pests Get In?
As homeowners, we hope that our walls are solid, our foundation is sturdy, there are no cracks in our windows, and that there aren’t any opportunities for pests to infiltrate our home. Unfortunately, there are a number of ways in which common household pests can get into our homes, no matter how sturdy or solid our home is.
Most walls are filled with tiny passageways, perfect for small rodents or insects, and it is almost impossible to make your home entirely bug-proof. However, there are some things you can do regarding do it yourself pest control, starting with knowing how common household pests get into your home.
Did you know:
If you can slide a pencil into a crack in a wall, this crack is big enough for a young mouse to squeeze through!
Ants
Watch out for clogged gutters: ants tend to nest here. Also, pay attention to tree branches or plants that touch your house, since these act as “ant bridges” to your home.
Bats & Squirrels
Bats and squirrels tend to nest in your attic. Pay attention to gaps in your roof vents, dormers, or adjoining roof lines as these become entry points for these pests.
Cockroaches
Do you have clutter in your garage, basement or attic? Debris, old papers and cardboard boxes are the perfect spot for cockroaches to nest in your home.
Beetles
Large gaps under doors and surrounding your windows provide the perfect entry point for beetles.
Mice & Rats
Gaps around utility lines and surrounding the foundation are the primary access point for mice and rats.
Spiders, Centipedes & Moisture Bugs
There are a couple factors that contribute to a moist basement or lower floor, which contributes to spiders, centipedes, and moisture bugs in your home: shallow slopes, poorly directed downspouts, and thatchy lawns.
DIY Pest Control
As mentioned previously, there are some pests that you can take care of yourself, while there are others you need professional help with. Sometimes, the ability to do it yourself pest control has to do with the size of the infestation, rather than the particular pest itself. Other times, however, the pest itself requires professional products and techniques to rid them from your home.
Before you can do it yourself pest control, you need to know which are DIY pests, and which are non-DIY pests. For the pests that you can apply do it yourself pest control techniques, there are products and tips for how to get rid of those specific pests. For the non-DIY pests, give us a call at AZ BEE KINGS, and we’ll take care of it for you.
DIY Pests
Ants
Cockroaches
Small Mosquito Infestations
Small Mice/Rat Infestations
Non-DIY Pests
Bed Bugs
Large Mosquito Infestations
Large Mice/Rat Infestations
Termites
#1 How To Get Rid of Ants
If the infestation is minor and caught in time, most ant problems can be dealt with by the homeowner. However, regardless of species type, it is possible for ant populations to grow rapidly if not taken care of in time.
(Check out our Pest Control Phoenix page to know the common types of ants in Arizona.)
For relatively minor ant problems in Arizona:
For serious, recurring ant infestations, consider:
#2 How To Get Rid of Cockroaches
Having a cockroach problem can be a huge issue, especially if you live in a multi-family home, condo, or apartment building. However knowing how to get rid of cockroaches is a doable do it yourself pest control project that can be done.
Consider these tips and products:
First, address the cleanliness of your home and any sanitation problems. Put all food away, stored in containers; take trash out every day; clean all surfaces and remove grease from kitchen countertops.
Do NOT use repellent pesticides for cockroaches; use Roach Bait only.
#3 How To Get Rid of Mice/Rats
Trapping mice and rats is the best way for how to get rid of mice or rats, and works as a great do it yourself pest control method. First thing you have to do is locate the holes that the mice or rats are using to get in and out of your home, and place the traps outside these holes. Common baits to use with the trap are peanut butter, cheese, oats, chocolate and Slim Jims.
For how to get rid of rats or mice, consider using the following trap:
Home Pest Control Strategies
Do it yourself pest control can be relatively simple, depending on the level of pest infiltration you have in your home. Now that you’ve dealt with getting rid of the pests that were in your home, you need to work on sealing up your home to prevent future pest issues. There are a few tried-and-true tricks you can do to help with do it yourself pest control.
#1 Plug Gaps with Copper Mesh
Go around the outside of your home and look for any cracks or crevices where pests or rodents might enter your home. With a screwdriver, stuff in quite a bit of copper mesh into these cracks. Leave about a half an inch of room to use expanding foam to seal it all up.
#2 Protect Wood From Moisture
Insects and small pests draw nutrients from their surroundings. A common way in which they survive in and around your home is by living off of the moisture found in wood chips. If the soil surrounding your house, the foundation, and the walls are all dry, it will be much more difficult for insects and pests to survive.
#3 Seal Gaps at Windows & Doors
Go around the outside of your home and inspect the underside of your siding using a mirror. Do you notice any gaps? Mark the location with masking tape so you can come back and fix it later. Look for gaps in your dryer vent, as well. With adhesive-backing weatherstripping, seal all of your doors and windows, cleaning the surface first so the strip will stick. Next, caulk the gaps between trim and siding. Use a wet cloth to wipe away any excess caulk.
And there you have it!
Absolutely everything you need to know about do it yourself pest control. If you think your infestation is too large for you to handle on your own, or if you have a pest problem that requires professional assistance, contact us today and we’ll be there in no time to help you with any and all Arizona pest control problems.