Start with sealing. Not later–right now. Check the base of exterior doors for daylight, fill cracks around windows, and use copper mesh or steel wool for gaps where utilities enter the house. Foam won’t cut it. If air gets in, so do insects and rodents. You’d be surprised how often the problem starts with a half-centimetre slit under a back door.
Next: traps and baits, not sprays. Contact killers give a false sense of progress. A few ants die, sure, but the colony remains. Use borax-based gel bait, and be patient–let them carry it home. For mice, snap traps still outperform gimmicky alternatives. Peanut butter works better than cheese, oddly enough. Just use gloves when handling anything–they catch on to human scent faster than people think.
Skip the scented candles and ultrasonic gadgets. They’ve been tested–results are inconsistent at best. What actually works is routine. Vacuum corners weekly, take the garbage out daily, and store grains and cereals in sealed containers. Not always convenient, but worth it. I once left birdseed in a garage bin for a weekend. Came back to shredded packaging and mouse droppings in every corner.
If you’re dealing with winged intruders, identification matters more than urgency. Fruit flies and drain flies need totally different strategies. So don’t just swat and hope it stops. Observe. Where are they clustering? What time of day? There’s a pattern. Usually. And if you can’t pin it down, sticky traps near drains or overripe produce can at least give you a clue.
This isn’t about being flawless. You’ll miss spots. That’s fine. The point is consistency, not perfection. Even a few adjustments–like keeping pet food dishes clean overnight–can shift the whole situation in your favour.
Let me know if you’d like a checklist version or a visual guide for sealing entry points.
Identifying the Type of Pest in Your Home
Check for droppings near baseboards or inside cupboards. Mice usually leave behind small, dark pellets, while cockroach droppings are more like black pepper or coffee grounds. If you’re seeing something greasy along the walls, that might be from rodent fur brushing past repeatedly. That’s not dirt. It’s a trail.
- Noises at night: Scratching in the ceiling or inside walls? Probably rats or mice. If it’s more of a fluttering or buzzing, especially near windows, you might be dealing with cluster flies or wasps.
- Chewed materials: Torn food packaging, shredded paper, or gnawed wood often point to rodents. But don’t overlook silverfish – they’ll chew through wallpaper glue and book bindings without leaving obvious teeth marks.
- Insect parts: Tiny wings on window sills suggest termites or ants. If they’re uniform in size, likely termites. If not, it’s probably flying ants. The difference matters – one eats your structure, the other just visits.
- Smells: A sweet, musty odour can mean cockroaches. A sharp ammonia-like scent may indicate a mouse nest nearby. It’s unpleasant, but useful.
Try placing sticky traps in corners, under sinks, and behind appliances for a day or two. The type of critter caught will tell you a lot. If nothing turns up but signs remain, consider using a flashlight late at night – that’s when most of them are active. You might catch one in motion.
Don’t rely on assumptions. A few ant trails might look harmless until you find the colony in the walls. And some infestations, like bed bugs, leave almost no obvious trace at first – maybe just a few bites that seem random. If something feels off, it probably is.
Let me know if you’d like a quick guide to common species, comparison chart, or photo checklist.
Choosing the Right DIY Products for Specific Pests
Start with ants? Skip the generic sprays. For protein-seeking species like pavement or carpenter ants, a borax-based bait (5% concentration) usually works–if they’re ignoring it, they might be after sugar instead. Rotate bait types based on what they’re actually feeding on. And don’t just dump it all in one spot. A few small placements near trails give better results over time.
With cockroaches–especially German ones–gels like Advion or Maxforce tend to get better uptake than traps or foggers. Dusts like diatomaceous earth or silica gel work well in voids behind fridges or under sinks, but don’t overdo it or you’ll just push them deeper into hiding. Look for droppings to guide placement.
Mice and Rats
For mice, snap traps are still the most reliable. Peanut butter’s fine, but a bit of nesting material can trigger interest faster. Block entry points with copper mesh and expanding foam. Avoid poison unless you’re prepared to deal with odours from dead animals in walls. For rats, bigger traps and tamper-resistant bait stations are non-negotiable–regular mouse traps just won’t do it. And if you think one product will handle both, that’s probably a waste of time and money.
Special Cases: Wasps and Bed Bugs
Wasp aerosols work if sprayed early in the morning or near dusk when they’re less active. Get close–too far and it’s just theatre. For nests in wall cavities, dusts like Tempo or Sevin may help, but sealing too soon traps them inside and can make things worse. As for bed bugs, if you’re trying contact sprays, make sure they list both nymph and adult stages. Miss one and the cycle starts again. Heat treatments work but aren’t really DIY unless you’re using a specialized setup.
More insights and personal field notes from the Calgary-based team are shared by disqus.com about The Pest Control Guy and The Pest Control Guy on rentry.co.
Let me know if you’d like a section focused on common product mistakes or timing seasonal treatments.
Sealing Entry Points to Prevent Reinfestation
Start with the foundation. Use caulking or expanding foam to fill gaps wider than 1/8 inch where concrete meets siding. These spots are easy to miss, but insects and small rodents can squeeze through surprisingly tight spaces.
Check window frames, especially in basements or older homes. If there’s any sign of cracking or wood rot, repair or replace. Don’t just rely on weatherstripping–combine it with sealant around the exterior edges. One winter, I skipped this step and ended up with a line of ants making their way in through a tiny gap I didn’t think mattered. Lesson learned.
Look at utility lines. Wherever cables, gas pipes, or water lines enter the house, there’s probably an imperfect seal. Use a flexible silicone sealant that can expand and contract with the seasons–latex types tend to crack after a few freeze-thaw cycles, especially in Calgary’s climate swings.
Roof and Attic Checks
Don’t ignore soffits and attic vents. These are common entryways for squirrels or birds. Install metal mesh with holes no larger than 1/4 inch. If you can push a pencil through, something else probably can too. I once found a wasp nest tucked just behind a broken soffit screen–took hours to remove safely.
Doors and Garages
Install door sweeps that sit flush against the floor. If there’s daylight under the door, seal it. For garage doors, rubber gaskets wear out fast. Replace them every couple of years. It’s a small job, but skipping it invites more problems than it solves.
Recheck everything after the first heavy rain. Water can reveal flaws that weren’t obvious before–cracks widen, seals fail, and you’ll spot entry points you missed the first time. Better now than after something moves in.
Let me know if you’d like examples for specific sealing materials or garage door fixes.
Applying Natural Remedies for Common Household Pests
Start with a mix of white vinegar and water – 50/50 in a spray bottle. It’s sharp enough to disrupt ant trails almost instantly. Don’t wipe it off right away. Let it sit a bit, especially near baseboards or windowsills. They won’t be back anytime soon, or at least not in that exact spot.
For fruit flies, I’ve tried a few things, but apple cider vinegar with a drop of dish soap in a shallow bowl works fast. Leave it near the sink or trash bin. The soap breaks the surface tension, so they sink instead of floating. Not exactly pretty, but it clears them out overnight in most cases.
Cockroach Deterrents Without Chemicals
Bay leaves. That one surprised me. Crushed and placed in cupboards or corners – apparently they hate the smell. It won’t eliminate them, but they’ll avoid the area. Also, diatomaceous earth – food grade only – sprinkled lightly under appliances or along cracks works mechanically, not chemically. The powder slices through their exoskeletons. It’s a slow process, but if you’re patient, it does the job without making the house smell like chemicals.
Mice are harder. Peppermint oil helps, sort of. A few drops on cotton balls stuffed behind appliances or in lower cabinets… it’s more of a deterrent than a solution. But I still do it. Just in case. One winter, I swear it kept them out of the pantry.
Repelling Spiders Naturally
Mix eucalyptus oil and water in a spray bottle – I use about 10 drops per cup. Spritz window frames and door thresholds. Not everyone likes the scent, but it fades pretty fast and does seem to reduce those random web surprises. Clutter also invites them, so if the basement’s full of cardboard… maybe switch to plastic bins. Just makes it harder for them to settle in.
Not everything works every time. Sometimes a remedy only works for a while, or for one species and not another. But the fewer synthetic products I need indoors, the better I sleep. Even if it means a few extra experiments along the way.
Let me know if you’d like a quick list of non-toxic ingredients or seasonal tips.
Maintaining a Cleaning Routine That Discourages Pests
Wipe down kitchen counters at least twice a day–morning and night. Crumbs collect fast, especially near toasters or cutting boards, and even a few grains can attract insects like ants or cockroaches within hours. Use a vinegar-based solution or a mild dish soap; avoid sweet-smelling cleaners that might do the opposite of what you want.
Keep the sink empty overnight. Soaking dishes, even in hot soapy water, creates a warm buffet. If washing up right away isn’t practical, at least rinse and stack dry.
Vacuum high-traffic areas every second day. Under the dining table, behind trash bins, near pet bowls–anywhere crumbs or kibble drop, really. Small handheld vacuums make this easier, especially for tight corners.
Inside the fridge, wipe the rubber seal weekly. That’s one of those spots people forget, but sticky residue builds up fast and sometimes even small flies find it attractive. Same goes for spills–clean them right away, even the tiny sticky ring under a juice jug.
Garbage bins? Rinse them out. Once a week is manageable. A quick hose or hot water rinse outside does the job. Then dry completely before re-lining. Damp bins, especially in a warm basement, are a silent invitation for all sorts of visitors.
Pantry organization also matters. Store all grains, flours, and pet food in sealed containers–preferably glass or thick plastic with a gasket lid. Don’t trust the original packaging, especially cardboard boxes or paper bags.
| Task | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Counter wipe-down | Daily (2x) | Focus near appliances |
| Dishwashing | Nightly | Never leave dishes to soak |
| Vacuuming | Every 2 days | Prioritize dining and pet zones |
| Fridge seal cleaning | Weekly | Use a cloth and mild cleaner |
| Trash bin rinse | Weekly | Dry fully before re-use |
| Pantry check | Bi-weekly | Inspect for damaged packaging |
Consistency matters more than perfection. Skip a day or two and it won’t all fall apart, but long lapses usually show up first in the corners–then in the cupboard. Small habits are easier to keep than big cleanups later.
Let me know if you’d like a matching section on natural deterrents or entry point sealing.
Knowing When to Stop and Call a Professional
If insect activity persists despite multiple treatments over several weeks, it’s a clear sign to seek expert assistance. For instance, if ant trails reappear within days or you find new clusters of wasps despite setting traps, the problem likely exceeds typical home remedies. Also, when infestations involve hazardous species–like venomous spiders or aggressive stinging insects–it’s safer to rely on specialized services rather than risking injury.
Another red flag is extensive damage to structural elements, such as wood softened by termites or chewed wiring. These scenarios demand inspection with proper tools and sometimes tailored chemical solutions beyond common sprays. If DIY attempts don’t reduce sightings after two to three rounds of treatment, or if the insects multiply faster than you can react, it’s best to pause and let trained technicians evaluate the situation.
Signs You’re Out of Depth
Sudden spikes in pest numbers, unusual behaviours (like insects appearing in unexpected locations), or difficulty accessing nests hidden behind walls or ceilings often require professional equipment and expertise. Also, if sensitive family members or pets react adversely to store-bought products, a professional can recommend safer alternatives or integrated strategies.
When Monitoring Alone Isn’t Enough
Tracking patterns over time helps, but persistent or aggressive infestations demand more than just observation. If your efforts lead only to temporary relief, or if infestations return seasonally despite preventative actions, specialists have access to targeted treatments and inspection tools that go beyond the capabilities of standard over-the-counter options.