DIY PEST CONTROL BRISBANE
Get Tips and Advice for DIY Pest Treatment
Pests in and around the home is a major concern. It makes living in the house uncomfortable and it is not always an option to move out of the house. Some pets can also cause diseases which becomes a health hazard to your family. Australia specifically is home to many types of pest infestations in the home.
At DIY Pest Control Brisbane we empower home owners with DIY methods for treatmenting comon pests. This site will help you learn the advantages and disadvantages of DIY pest control. We will also provide DIY techniques that you can use in the home for a variety of pests.
Advantages and disadvantages of DIY pest treatment
Advantages:
Save money – The number one advantage of ridding an infestation by yourself is the money aspect. It is much cheaper to go out and purchase and apply chemicals yourself than it is to hire an expert to do the job.
You can choose family-safe products – You can choose the most eco-friendly pest treatments. This ensures the safety of occupants in the house.
Control the applications – If you apply the chemical baits and sprays yourself, you can take safety precautions to minimise contact with humans. This is especially true when you have children living in the house.
Disadvantages:
No experience – You have no experience treating pest infestations. Doing the pest control yourself can make the infestation worse.
Safety Risks – You could put children at risk if you use the wrong pesticides.
Make it worse – You could end up making the infestation worse. You could move the bed bugs to another location in the house or spread the termites to the opposite side of the property.
DIY Methods
Below is a list of treatment methods the team DIY Pest Control Brisbane recommend.
1. Ants
Ants can be a real nuisance pest. Crawling in long trails like map lines across the floor and table tops. They are attracted to areas where fatty or sugary food residue. Therefore, the first step is ensuring that all food is properly sealed when stored. Close food using plastic containers and Ziploc bags to keep the ant pests out.
If you have done this and the ants still return, you will need to manually wipe ants away. Take a soapy cloth and wipe away the line of ants that are causing the nuisance. This will remove the pheromones that they use to walk in a line.
If there is an ant nest in the yard, pour boiling water into it until no more ants flush out. There are also granules that you can buy from local hardware stores to pour into the ant nest.
2. Termites
Termites affect one in every three homes in Australia which is a shocking statistic. They are also called “white ants”and are extremeley destructive pest.
Unfortunately, termites cost money to treat. DIY pest control chemicals for termites can be expensive. The 2 most common products are termite bait and termite traps – you can choose which one suits you.
Laying out termite bait does not require any special training or experience and can performed yourself at home. You need to read the instructions on where the bait should be placed. It’s as easy as planting a seed in the ground.
When it comes to termite traps, one needs to simply follow the instructions in the manual and place them where directed inside and outside the house. Some traps do not come with any chemicals – these are recommended as they are safer to use by yourself.
This is an excellent alternative to a large outlay of cash to professionals who come with equipment that they must install and potentially harmful chemicals that they need to use.
3. Cockroaches
Cockroaches are the annoying pests, best known for their unhygienic nature. They can be eliminated however by cutting out what they need to survive – food, water, a safe place to stay.
If you can eliminate the food, water, or a place to stay then your cockroach pest problem will be something of the past.
Here are some quick pest control tips that you can use for cockroaches:
- Get rid of items in the home that you do not use such stacks of papers and boxes as roaches can hide between these objects
- Fix drains and taps that leak
- Vacuum the house regularly
- Make sure that the family does not eat in all rooms of the house – example they should only eat in the dining room
4. Bed bugs
Bed bugs are easier to get rid of in the initial stages compared to when there is a full infestation.
Take a sample that you suspect to be bed bugs and take it to an appropriate testing lab to determine if it is bed bugs to start off with.
If you get confirmation that they are bed bugs, there are readily available liquids that you can use to treat bed bugs in initial stages.
There is also a low-cost option of 91% isopropyl alcohol that you can use. You can get this from a local pharmacy. Note that this option has a fire hazard and it gives off toxic fumes.
Spray on infected areas with a spray bottle and ensure that the areas in the house are properly ventilated. You should wait for the spray to dry off before adding back the linen, etc.
You may require an expert for a full infestation.
5. Ticks
One of the best ways to control ticks is to keep grass in the yard short.
If this does not seem to do the trick, you can use an insecticide. Apply insecticides in the Summer or the beginning of Autumn as these insects are easier to kill in larvae and nymph state.
Flea collars and tick treatment gel are the best treatments for animals. You can buy this from your local pet store.
6. Fleas
For the treatment of fleas one has to identify the source. Is it from a cat or a dog?
Having a clean home helps prevent fleas and ticks. Clean the house by completely vacuuming the entire house including behind couches and under beds. Spray insecticides on the floors and carpets. This should assist in eliminating the fleas.
7. Silverfish
Silverfish strive in areas that are prone to moisture. These pests damage clothing and paper. Make sure there is adequate ventilation. This would include showering with the window open. You can also remove old paper stacks, vacuum, dust and clean often.
8. Spiders
Australia is home to some of the most venomous spiders in the world. Keeping them out of your living space is possible with DIY pest control.
Spiders have a strong sense of smell and have taste receptors on their legs – we can take advantage of this to help keep them at bay.
You can use scent related pest products around the house including lemon juice, lavender, mint leaves, dishwashing liquid, and natural oils such as citronella and tea tree.
Spray or sprinkle them around the house to deter thse creepy crawlies.
9. Mice
Mice can be difficult pests to kill if you don’t know exactly what to do.
The trick with killing mice is to firstly lay out bait that they will kill them. Then you need to eliminate other sources of food such as open bins and food in your pantry – either put food in the fridge or place them in sealed containers.
Next, you need to eliminate the water sources – do not leave any open water in the house.
This will ensure that the mice flee before dying.
10. Rats
Rats are larger than mice. They are called rodents but are also known as pests. Another great method to get rid of rats would be to get a cat – this is one of the most natural, eco-friendly methods that one can use to rid the home of rodents.
Remember
When using household tips and tricks to get rid of pests, opt to use eco-friendly methods as listed above. There are benefits to using professional exterminators when the infestation is out of control. DIY pest control products may not be strong enough in these situations. Always use extreme caution when dealing harmful chemicals to treat pests. The safety of your family should be your first priority.
Note that small children can easily mistake rat poison for candy, so take extra care when choosing your method of extermination for pest control. There may be a safer alternative.
The above tips will assist you in cleansing your home from common pests! They are the perfect introduction to DIY pest control methods in Australia. Contact DIY Pest Control Brisbane to get answers to any questions you have.
Good luck and remember, safety first.