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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.

How can I treat bed bugs myself?

Bed bugs are among the most difficult pests to treat. Low-level bed bug infestations can be hard to detect and DIY methods aren't as reliable. These parasitic insects are resistant to many insecticides and over-the-counter products and can require multiple treatments. Additionally, bed bugs resemble other insects so, if not properly identified and treated, they can continue to propagate.

Should you find bed bugs in your home, these do-it-yourself tips may help:

• Run clothing, bedding, and other smaller soft items through a dryer for at least half an hour at the highest setting. Afterward, seal them in plastic bags until the entire home has been treated.
• Heat your home to at least 120°F for 90 minutes to kill bugs and eggs on items that won’t fit in a dryer.
• Purchase do-it-yourself kits that contain mattress encasements and products designed to treat bed bugs.

Self-administered foggers are not an effective form of treatment when used independently as they don’t reach into the areas bed bugs hide. They may also force the bugs to migrate to another area of your home, spreading the infestation. Drying agents called desiccants can be effective, though they may take months to work. Both foggers and desiccants should be used with caution as they may pose health risks to people and pets.

The best way to treat a bed bug problem is to hire a pest control professional who will utilize integrated pest management methods to address the issue.

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.

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.

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 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 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.