DIY pest control works best when you know what you can handle and when the job has outgrown you.
A good DIY plan begins with inspection. Find the pest, the food or water supporting it, the route it is using and the places where it hides before reaching for a pesticide.
A good DIY plan begins with inspection. Find the pest, the food or water supporting it, the route it is using and the places where it hides before reaching for a pesticide.
Inspect before treating
Look for droppings, trails, egg cases, gaps, leaks, food residue and harbourage. Treatment is easier to target when you know where activity is concentrated.
Fix the conditions you can fix
Clean food residue, seal storage, repair leaks, remove rubbish and close practical entry points. These are core parts of integrated pest management.
Use pesticides carefully
Read the label, keep products in their original containers and place them away from children, pets and food-contact surfaces. Do not invent mixtures or use more than directed.
Know the handoff point
Call a licensed operator when the infestation is heavy, widespread, recurring, structurally difficult to reach or beyond the pests named on your household product.
What people usually want to know
Can I do my own cockroach control?
Small, localized problems can sometimes be managed with sanitation, exclusion, monitoring and a suitable labelled household product.
What should I do before applying pest control product?
Identify the pest, clean food and grease, correct moisture where possible and read the product label completely.
Should I mix two insecticides?
No. Do not mix products unless the labels specifically permit it.
When is DIY pest control not enough?
Heavy, recurring or widespread infestations and difficult structural harbourage often need professional inspection and treatment.