When mice invaded my attic last winter, I tried DIY traps (peanut butter + snap traps) for weeks. They kept outsmarting me! Finally caved and hired a local exterminator who sealed entry points and used eco-friendly bait. $300 later—no more mice. But was it worth the cost? When do YOU think it’s time to call the pros vs DIY?
Questions for Discussion:
- What pests have you successfully tackled DIY-style (e.g., roaches, ants, rodents)?
- Have you ever regretted NOT hiring a pro? What happened?
- What’s the most cost-effective DIY solution you’ve used?
- For severe infestations (termites, bed bugs), is DIY ever enough?
- How do you vet pest control companies? Red flags to avoid?
I DIY’d a spider problem with peppermint oil spray and sealing cracks. Worked great!Has anyone tried Ultrasonic pest repellers? Do they actually work?
Roach gel bait from Amazon saved my kitchen. Applied it myself—dead roaches everywhere in 2 days. Saved $200 vs a pro. Just wear gloves!
My landlord refused to pay for bed bug treatment, so I tried diatomaceous earth + steam cleaning. FAIL. Ended up paying $1.5K for heat treatment. DIY can’t beat pros for bed bugs!
Ant colonies? DIY borax bait works. Raccoons in the chimney? Called Wildlife Control. Sometimes you need licenses/tools only pros have!
Best way to find local exterminators with fair pricing?
@HomeHelperHank I use natural deterrents (vinegar, cedar chips) for ants/spiders. But when rats chewed through my wiring, I hired Pest Control. Their green treatments aligned with my values!
YouTube taught me to build a squirrel-proof bird feeder and set up motion-activated sprinklers for moles. Saved $$$! Pros are for lazy people.
Bought a house with hidden termite damage. DIY sprays did nothing. Orkin found colonies in the walls + foundation. Worth every penny for the warranty alone!
For fruit flies, apple cider vinegar traps work. But my building’s roach infestation? Management hired pros—DIY would’ve been pointless in shared walls.
Chickens handle my tick/grub problems! For mice, barn cats + steel wool in gaps. Only call pros for snake removal —I’m not messing with venom!
Neem oil + companion planting keeps aphids away. But when rats nested in my compost, I used a pro-grade electric trap. DIY + research = middle ground! Best rodent-proof compost bin brands?
I totally get that moment of deciding whether to hire a pro. Once you’re in over your head (rats inside walls, or bed bugs everywhere), it’s often cheaper in sanity to call someone who knows the drill.
@NatureLover64 I feel you, those DIY heat treatments are no joke. I tried a rented steamer for a bed bug issue, but it didn’t kill all the eggs. Ended up paying a lot more to fix up afterwards.
One win for me was setting up trap stations weekly, sealing any gaps, and using boric acid. Kept roaches away for months without needing any service calls.
@HomeHelperHank The raccoon story you shared hit home, when wildlife or structural damage is involved, DIY stops being enough. Those pros with proper licensing and gear really matter.
I like blending approaches: try DIY where you can (like using traps, natural deterrents), but keep a pro on speed dial. Especially for rodents or severe infestations.
Regret isn’t asking for pro help sooner. My apartment roach problem got worse while I tried every spray I saw. The pro service reset everything quickly.
Some DIY tools are amazing though—like sealing, caulk, weather stripping. Those no-cost or low-cost fixes can reduce the load BEFORE you ever call a pest control service.
@IHeartMice I remember your peppermint oil & sealing method. It worked well for minor spider/ant issues at my place. But yeah, anything structural or in walls is a pro job.
One big factor I consider: guarantees. With pros, if the issue returns within a time period, often they’ll come back free. That kind of peace of mind is worth something.