Home Defense Bronze

DIY methods of ant control

While the most effective way to prevent or address an ant infestation is to call in pest control professionals, you can also try these do-it-yourself methods:

• Place natural repellents like coffee grounds, peppermint oil, and lemon in areas where ants are likely to enter. This will keep ants at bay, but will likely not resolve the source of an ant problem.
• Clean with a solution of equal parts water and distilled white vinegar, which ants dislike.
• Poison ants with bait stations or topical solutions from a home supply store. Ideally, the worker ants will take the poison back to the queen and eradicate the colony. However, in many cases, the workers die before they ever get back to the nest, so the poison doesn’t make it to the source of the problem.

DIY Cricket Treatment

Once crickets find their way into your home they can be difficult to eliminate. While you may be able to stop adults or nymphs with do-it-yourself treatments, they don’t address any eggs that are hiding. The best approach to preventing or treating a cricket problem is to work with professional exterminators who are experts at keeping these insects outside where they belong.

DIY Earwig Treatment

Earwigs found indoors can be swept up and thrown away. While this resolves the immediate issue, it does not address hidden eggs and nymphs. Do-it-yourself insecticide treatments can be used both inside and out, but if not administered properly, they have the potential to drive earwigs into untreated areas in your home. The most effective and safe way to eliminate earwigs is to work with a pest control professional.

Can I treat fire ants myself?

As noted, fire ants are extremely territorial; they will attack if threatened. Trying to treat a fire ant mound with granular pesticides with a do-it-yourself method not only may be ineffective, but this also puts you in danger of being attacked. If you spot a fire ant mound on your property, the best course of action is to contact a pest control professional who is trained to safely identify, treat and eliminate fire ant colonies.

DIY Flea Treatment

Once you’ve spotted a flea, act quickly! The presence of a live flea means there are likely eggs and pupae nearby. Most do-it-yourself solutions target adult fleas but do not prevent those in earlier stages from developing. To minimize the spread of fleas, follow the preventative steps we've outlined. However, a flea problem can be difficult to control, so your best bet is to hire a professional exterminator.

How To Treat Flies

Many off-the-shelf DIY products are designed to target the variety of fly species. Use these remedies with caution, as they can be harmful to your family and pets if applied incorrectly. Do-it-yourself solutions often only treat adult populations; therefore, you should plan on re-treating as eggs hatch and larvae develop. If you experience a problem with flying insects, a pest control professional can identify the type of fly and treat it appropriately at all stages of its lifecycle.

DIY Treatment

If voracious grasshoppers have invaded your garden, it can feel like your plants are being damaged and consumed everywhere you look. Luckily, there are several natural ways to bring your garden back to life and protect your plants from further harm. Here are some of our favorite home remedies:

• Dust Your Plants With Flour - this method is a quick and convenient way to get rid of grasshoppers destroying your plants. Flour causes grasshoppers to starve by gumming their mouths and preventing them from being able to eat. Be sure to use all-purpose flour for the best results and simply sprinkle a thin layer over any affected plants.
• Apple Cider Vinegar - as a simple pantry item with so many beneficial uses, it’s no surprise that apple cider vinegar is also a great solution for fighting off grasshoppers. We recommend placing disposable cups or open freezer bags filled halfway with vinegar and placing them throughout your garden beds. Grasshoppers are immediately drawn to the solution and drown in the vinegar.
• Introduce Natural Predators - one of the best ways to tackle an overactive grasshopper population for the long-term is by introducing some of their natural predators to your landscape. In particular, praying mantises, birds, cats, and chickens are some of the most effective predators when it comes to eliminating your grasshopper problems.

DIY Mosquito Treatments

Some do-it-yourself treatments may help manage small mosquito populations:

• Apply an over-the-counter insecticide. These will kill mosquitoes on contact, but will not prevent new ones.
• Add bacteria called bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (or Bti) to water where larvae are found. Bti produces proteins that become toxins once ingested by the larvae.
• Place mosquito traps in infested areas. These traps are capable of killing thousands of mosquitoes per day.
• Avoid bug zappers. While these machines kill other types of insects, they have proven to be ineffective for mosquito problems.

Mosquitoes pose a serious health hazard and should be professionally treated if found in large numbers.

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Tips for DIY methods of roach control

While there are many do-it-yourself treatments sold – like foggers, bombs, or powder containing boric acid – they can be ineffective if not administered correctly. These DIY treatments may disperse rather than kill roaches, driving them into areas they might not have previously been. Their contents can also be highly toxic and harmful to other humans and pets in your home. The best way to address a roach infestation is to contact a pest control professional who can identify the type of roach and the most effective approach to exterminate them.

DIY methods of rodent control

Do-it-yourself baits and traps may attract rodent intruders. However, if not properly administered, they can also be harmful to people and pets. A pest control professional can evaluate your property to determine how to best prevent and treat pesky rodents.

DIY Silverfish Treatments

Should you identify the presence of silverfish in your home, these do-it-yourself solutions may give you some relief:

• Trap silverfish using a glass jar. Place a starchy food like bread inside the jar to attract the silverfish. Wrap the outside of the jar with masking tape to give the pest traction to climb. Once inside, the silverfish cannot climb back out of the slick glass walls. This approach will remove silverfish, but not their eggs or those insects who don’t climb into the jar.
• Use purchased baits. Baits attract silverfish to a sticky surface which prevents them from moving. Like traps, baits do not treat the cause of a silverfish infestation.
• Apply diatomaceous earth. This desiccant removes moisture, ultimately drying up the silverfish. While not toxic, diatomaceous earth is a lung irritant and should be handled very carefully.
• Use chemical treatments. Powders and sprays containing boric acid, pyrethrins, or pyrethroids are effective at repelling silverfish. However, these compounds should not be used in areas where pets or children are likely to come into contact with them.

Often, destruction done by silverfish is attributed to moths or other insects, allowing the real culprit to continue to reproduce until discovered. A professional pest control service can discern the source of damage and treat appropriately and effectively.

DIY methods

Do-it-yourself spider treatments can be ineffective and potentially toxic to people and pets if not administered correctly. With so many varieties, it can be difficult to determine whether a spider is potentially harmful or helpful. The best way to prevent or address a spider infestation is to contact a pest control professional who can identify the type of spider and the most effective approach to treat them.

DIY Methods

Insecticide sprays designed for bees, wasps, and hornets can be effective when they make contact with the insect. However, they can also irritate a nest, causing it to become more active. Also, bees are important pollinators that help our crops grow, but they are on the decline worldwide. It is advisable not to kill the bees if possible. Because of the high degree of danger associated with stings, the best way to handle a bee, wasp, or hornet issue is to contact a licensed pest professional who can remove or relocate the nest.

DIY Tick Treatment

Should you find a tick on a person or animal, the most effective way to remove it is by using pointy tweezers. Using the tweezers, grab the tick’s head as close as possible to the host’s skin and pull. This will lessen the potential for harmful germs to be forced into the host. Wash the affected area with soap and water or alcohol and apply an antibiotic cream. If you or your pet develops any unusual symptoms, visit a doctor or veterinarian. A professional tick treatment is a powerful option for tick control.