Best 20 DIY Pest Control Hacks From The Pros
By Eco Pest Control Brisbane|May 19, 2022
Pest Control Strategies That Actually Work
If you are looking for the best DIY pest control tips, these are 20 of the best from the pros at Eco Pest Control who know best. If you want to save money, time, and headaches caused by pests, you’ll want to read through this. Let’s cut to the chase and get started:
1. Seal off any gaps you can find
This is quite obvious. Many pests will find a gap that will be the perfect access point into your home. These include windows, doors, ventilation systems, your foundation, and more. Seal them off with whatever you can.
2. Keep wood piles far away from your home
Many pests including termites love wood. If it’s leaning up against your home, that is the perfect bridge from outside of your home to the inside. Relocate your wood pile elsewhere and as far from your home as possible.
3. Repair your windows and doors
Your windows and doors can have the responsibility for keeping pests out. However, if they are damaged, it will counteract that purpose. If you are dealing with damage to your doors and windows like cracks, gaps, and holes, fix them as soon as possible.
4. Use fresh herbs
There are plenty of fresh herbs that pests absolutely hate. The reason is perhaps due to the scent. There are plenty of them that you can use including lavender, citronella, and rosemary among others. These will be your best line of defense against mosquitos.
5. White vinegar is great too
White vinegar is an excellent product against pests. Ants, in particular, are going to hate this kind of scent. Add it to areas where ants can gain access into your home. They won’t go near it.
6. Weather strip your garage
Your garage door may not be weather stripped. This can make this the perfect entry point for all kinds of pests. Make sure you perform this task to reduce any kind of pests from gaining entry into your home (especially if the garage is attached).
7. Dehumidify parts of your home
Needless to say, a lot of pests find high moisture environments to be their paradise. Especially spiders. Of course, there are a handful of spiders that are dangerous here in Australia. Keep them away by reducing the humidity levels in your home.
8. Consider alternative food sources
If you are not in the business of killing off pests, you can deal with them in a more humane way. Provide them with alternative food sources. Smaller animals can use food sources that are set up away from your home such as feeders. Think bird feeders, except made for rodents such as squirrels and the like.
9. Onions are your best friend
The smell of onions can make your eyes water. Spiders may not like it either. Slice some onions and put them in a water bowl. Place it in a popular entry point and watch the spiders turn in the other direction.
10. Install wire cloches in your garden
A cloche will be ideal for your garden plants. This will keep small animals out of them. If you want to create your own cloches, you can create some out of chicken wire.
11. Copper mesh for sealing holes
If you have exterior entry points, consider using copper mesh to plug them up. You will need to install plenty of it in these areas. Use a screwdriver to push it farther up.
12. Apple cider vinegar - Goodbye fruit flies
Pour a bit of apple cider vinegar into a bowl and wrap it up in plastic. Punch holes into the plastic itself and the fruit flies will gain access. The best part: they can get in, but never get out.
13. Clean off spider webs
If you have spiderwebs forming inside your house, you’ll want to clean them as soon as possible. Yes, dehumidifying is one thing. At the same time, taking a broom to your basement will be the other half of the battle against them.
14. Use your coffee grounds
If you are brewing your morning coffee, throwing away your used filters may be a good idea. Yet, you can use it for something else. Coffee ground placed outside will ensure that no pests get inside of the house because of the abhorrent scent they smell.
15. Take care of your crawl spaces
Your crawl spaces will be one of the best access spots for pests. If you take a look at your crawl space, you’ll want to check for shredded materials that are being used as nests (sign of rodents). Also, it’s a place where smaller pests like roaches and pests will traverse.
16. Store your pet food
If your pet food is in bags, move them to another container. For example, put the pet food in plastic containers or even a spare trash can that you don’t use.
17. Check your dryer vent
The damper to your dryer vent will need to stay intact. If it’s missing or it’s stuck open, that’s an access point that pests will take advantage of. Make sure that the seal is tight and intact.
18. Trim your hedges, bushes, etc.
If you have vegetation that is close to your house, you’ll want to trim it regularly. If you let it grow out of control, that’s going to invite trouble.
19. Cornmeal…the ant killer
Did you know ants won’t have the ability to digest cornmeal? If they eat it, they will be dead within a few days.
20. Keep your house clean
This seems simple enough. Make sure your home is vacuumed, everything is washed and dried regularly, and all your food scraps are disposed of. Do this and you won’t see a single pest in sight.
Conclusion
If you are looking for DIY pest control tips, the 20 listed above are a good starting point. You can put these to good use and save yourself time and money in the process. If the issue gets to be too severe, that’s when you’ll want to enlist the help of a professional pest control service.
Try and mix it up a bit and see which tips work. Especially if you are trying to get rid of specific pests.
If you are looking for the best DIY pest control tips, these are 20 of the best from the pros at Eco Pest Control who know best. If you want to save money, time, and headaches caused by pests, you’ll want to read through this. Let’s cut to the chase and get started:
1. Seal off any gaps you can find
This is quite obvious. Many pests will find a gap that will be the perfect access point into your home. These include windows, doors, ventilation systems, your foundation, and more. Seal them off with whatever you can.
2. Keep wood piles far away from your home
Many pests including termites love wood. If it’s leaning up against your home, that is the perfect bridge from outside of your home to the inside. Relocate your wood pile elsewhere and as far from your home as possible.
3. Repair your windows and doors
Your windows and doors can have the responsibility for keeping pests out. However, if they are damaged, it will counteract that purpose. If you are dealing with damage to your doors and windows like cracks, gaps, and holes, fix them as soon as possible.
4. Use fresh herbs
There are plenty of fresh herbs that pests absolutely hate. The reason is perhaps due to the scent. There are plenty of them that you can use including lavender, citronella, and rosemary among others. These will be your best line of defense against mosquitos.
5. White vinegar is great too
White vinegar is an excellent product against pests. Ants, in particular, are going to hate this kind of scent. Add it to areas where ants can gain access into your home. They won’t go near it.
6. Weather strip your garage
Your garage door may not be weather stripped. This can make this the perfect entry point for all kinds of pests. Make sure you perform this task to reduce any kind of pests from gaining entry into your home (especially if the garage is attached).
7. Dehumidify parts of your home
Needless to say, a lot of pests find high moisture environments to be their paradise. Especially spiders. Of course, there are a handful of spiders that are dangerous here in Australia. Keep them away by reducing the humidity levels in your home.
8. Consider alternative food sources
If you are not in the business of killing off pests, you can deal with them in a more humane way. Provide them with alternative food sources. Smaller animals can use food sources that are set up away from your home such as feeders. Think bird feeders, except made for rodents such as squirrels and the like.
9. Onions are your best friend
The smell of onions can make your eyes water. Spiders may not like it either. Slice some onions and put them in a water bowl. Place it in a popular entry point and watch the spiders turn in the other direction.
10. Install wire cloches in your garden
A cloche will be ideal for your garden plants. This will keep small animals out of them. If you want to create your own cloches, you can create some out of chicken wire.
11. Copper mesh for sealing holes
If you have exterior entry points, consider using copper mesh to plug them up. You will need to install plenty of it in these areas. Use a screwdriver to push it farther up.
12. Apple cider vinegar - Goodbye fruit flies
Pour a bit of apple cider vinegar into a bowl and wrap it up in plastic. Punch holes into the plastic itself and the fruit flies will gain access. The best part: they can get in, but never get out.
13. Clean off spider webs
If you have spiderwebs forming inside your house, you’ll want to clean them as soon as possible. Yes, dehumidifying is one thing. At the same time, taking a broom to your basement will be the other half of the battle against them.
14. Use your coffee grounds
If you are brewing your morning coffee, throwing away your used filters may be a good idea. Yet, you can use it for something else. Coffee ground placed outside will ensure that no pests get inside of the house because of the abhorrent scent they smell.
15. Take care of your crawl spaces
Your crawl spaces will be one of the best access spots for pests. If you take a look at your crawl space, you’ll want to check for shredded materials that are being used as nests (sign of rodents). Also, it’s a place where smaller pests like roaches and pests will traverse.
16. Store your pet food
If your pet food is in bags, move them to another container. For example, put the pet food in plastic containers or even a spare trash can that you don’t use.
17. Check your dryer vent
The damper to your dryer vent will need to stay intact. If it’s missing or it’s stuck open, that’s an access point that pests will take advantage of. Make sure that the seal is tight and intact.
18. Trim your hedges, bushes, etc.
If you have vegetation that is close to your house, you’ll want to trim it regularly. If you let it grow out of control, that’s going to invite trouble.
19. Cornmeal…the ant killer
Did you know ants won’t have the ability to digest cornmeal? If they eat it, they will be dead within a few days.
20. Keep your house clean
This seems simple enough. Make sure your home is vacuumed, everything is washed and dried regularly, and all your food scraps are disposed of. Do this and you won’t see a single pest in sight.
Conclusion
If you are looking for DIY pest control tips, the 20 listed above are a good starting point. You can put these to good use and save yourself time and money in the process. If the issue gets to be too severe, that’s when you’ll want to enlist the help of a professional pest control service.
Try and mix it up a bit and see which tips work. Especially if you are trying to get rid of specific pests.
