What Do Homeowners Need to Know About DIY Pest Control?

If you are a resident in the State of Indiana, you should become – at least – somewhat familiar with DIY pest control. Examples of the steps that you would take when proactively engaging in DIY pest control is to ensure that your entire home – both indoors and outdoors – is clean and is completely dry. You would then inspect your entire home for cracks, holes, and other spaces that pests may use to gain entry into your home. Continue reading to learn what you need to know – as a homeowner – about DIY pest control.

What is DIY Pest Control?

DIY pest control are steps that you may take as a homeowner to prevent various pests from entering your home and jeopardizing the health of your home, you, your loved ones, and your pets.

Additionally, it is a collective group of processes that will prevent pests from taking up residence in your home, lawn, and other structures on your property. It may involve the usage of over-the-counter products that may be used in the interior of your home, as well as the exterior aspects of your home, such as insecticides, natural deterrents.

A solid example of a natural deterrent is diatomaceous earth. While preventative measures are recommended, over-the-counter pest control products are not recommended. Continue reading to learn more.

Is DIY Pest Control Actually Worth it?

The answer to this question is both “yes” and “no”. While the steps that you take that involve the purchase of over-the-counter pest control products are worth the investment as they help in preventing costly damage, aid in protecting you and your loved ones from pests, their bites and/or stings, and protecting your home from the damage that many pests may cause. It is essential that you understand that DIY pest control is more than just buying pesticides and/or insecticides that are designed to kill the creatures.

Steps to DIY Pest Control

If you plan to engage in DIY Pest Control, you must complete the following steps – most of which – are do-it-yourself; however, the final step should always be consulting with a professional pest control company and/or technician to verify that the proper steps have been taken for your home, specifically. Below, we have outlined the steps to DIY pest control as well as a brief explanation as well:

1. Pest-Proof Your Home – The first step to DIY pest control is take steps that will protect your home from being invaded with pests. Examples of these activities include sealing up any entry points in your home, fixing and sealing cracks and/or crevices. Pay special attention to areas where something – such as pipes or utility pipes – may prove to be an access point. You should seal these areas with caulk so that everything is blocking spaces that various pests could potentially enter into the home. If you are not ready to perform these steps, you may hire a handyman. Just be certain that they are certified, licenses, and insured first.
2. Moisture Reduction – It is a known fact that all types of pests are attracted to areas that have a high level of moisture. While inspecting your home, pay attention and determine if any of the pipes are leaking throughout the structure, if faucets are dripping, and if your gutters are working correctly. If you see that any problems have developed, you should hire a plumber right away to have the issue dealt with.
3. Cleaning and Decluttering – The next preventative pest control method that you may use is to ensure that the inside of your home is decluttered and as clean as possible. Regularly vacuum, sweep, mop, and wipe down the various surfaces in your home. You should store food in your pantry in airtight containers. Dry your dishes once you have washed them, and put them away immediately. Then, you should wash the dish drainer, tilt is to get all of the water out, and ensure that it dries and that you clean the counter underneath it.

What Steps Should Be Taken Outside to Prevent Pests?

Once you have completed all of the previously-mentioned steps, you should go outside of the home and complete the following steps:

1. Clear Debris – You should go around your property and eliminate any type of debris. This may include papers that have blown in the wind, branches, leaves, and other types of debris in and around the property that could be an excellent hiding area for various types of pests.
2. Vegetation Management – The Grass around your home should be properly mowed and kept short. Tree branches should be trimmed back. Shrubs, flowers and other types of plant life should be trimmed and kept away from the foundation of your home.
3. Keep Gutters Cleaned – You should make sure every few months or so that you completely clean out the gutter system that is on your home. If you fail to do this, it could serve as shelter to various pests. By cleaning out the gutters, you will find that water is rerouted away from the foundation of your home and that it does not stand. Both of these situations could attract pests to your home.
4. Firewood Storage – When you store firewood, you should make sure that it is stored at a minimum of twenty feet away from your home as it could attract carpenter ants and termites to your home.

Interior Pest Prevention Strategies

In addition to exterior strategies to help in preventing pest problems, there are also interior pest prevention strategies that you should take to prevent pests from being attracted to your home. These are as follows:

1. Check Screens – If you are engaging in DIY pest control, you should check the screens that are part of your home. Make sure that they are not broke and that similar spaces – such as your chimney openings and the vents in the attics – are in great condition. If you notice any splits, holes, or any other type of damage, it is time to replace the broken screens.
2. Plastic Bins to Cardboard – If you have an area in your home where you store items, you should ditch the cardboard and go for plastic storage bins with covers/lids. Cardboard attracts many pests. These include rodents, termites, carpenter ants, and similar pests.
3. Pet Food and Supplies – You may not realize it, but pet food attracts various types of pests. If you give your pets dry food, store the food in airtight containers with solid lids. The same holds true for litter, pet pads, and similar items as these items may be targeted by pests – such as rodents and bats – that build nests.

Natural DIY Pest Control Techniques

The following outlines a few DIY pest control Techniques that many homeowners have used successfully:

1. You may sprinkle diatomaceous earth in areas in and outside of the home where pests are known to travel – such as near sidewalks, behind baseboards, and behind appliances in the home.
2. Essential oils have been successful in preventing pest infestations. The best are citronella, peppermint, and eucalyptus oils. These may be used inside and outdoors and in other structures on your property.
3. Mint Spray – You can combine mint with rubbing alcohol in water and place it in a spray bottle that may be used to spray various areas in and around the home – without being offensive to anyone that may spray it.

Over-the-Counter Pesticides

If you elect to purchase over-the-counter pesticides, you should err on the side of the caution. You should follow the steps outlined below:

1. Keep pets and children away from the areas where purchased pesticides have been used.
2. When storing the pesticides, make certain that they are out of reach of children and pets.
3. You should not spray pesticides all over the entire room. Instead, you should only place the sprays in targeted locations within the room.
4. Only purchase and apply pesticides that claim that they may be used safely within the home.
5. To be safer, you may use pesticides that are sold as a bait or a trap. If you have a baby, toddler, or small pet that is usually inside of your home, you should not use these types of products because the pet, the baby, etc. could pick it up and put it in their mouth and this could result in a serious medical emergency.

Contact Us Today

If you are considering DIY pest control, there are probably many reasons why you want to go this route. It is advised that you opt for professional pest control. We here at All Pest are standing by to assist you. We offer very reasonably-priced pest control services for the interior and the exterior of your home. In addition to offering complete pest control services, we also offer pre-inspections, home inspections, and complete coverage. We have been serving customers like you since 1995. We come with rave reviews for our high-quality customer service and out highly-effective pest control services. You may contact us today at the following phone number: 765-965-2171