Some DIY Pest Control Works, Some Doesn’t.

One of the questions I’m asked most often is, “Can I handle this myself?”

The honest answer is… sometimes.

There are quite a few do-it-yourself pest control methods that genuinely work when they’re used correctly. There are also plenty that waste your time, and a few that can actually make the problem worse.

Here’s a look at some of the more common ones.

✅ DIY Methods That Actually Work

Borax Ant Baits

For some ant species, a properly prepared borax bait mixed with a food source can be effective. The workers carry the bait back to the colony, helping reduce the population over time.

The key is using the correct concentration. Too much borax can repel ants before they have a chance to share the bait with the rest of the colony.

Rubbing Alcohol for Bed Bugs

Rubbing alcohol kills bed bugs on contact.

If you see a bug while inspecting furniture or bedding, alcohol is one of the few household products I actually recommend using.

Just remember—it only kills what it directly touches. It won’t eliminate an infestation hiding in walls, furniture, or other inaccessible areas.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is a desiccant, meaning it damages an insect’s protective outer layer and causes it to dry out.

It absolutely works.

However, it’s often misused.

Because it’s a very fine powder, it becomes airborne easily. Breathing large amounts of dust isn’t good for people or animals, so avoid broadcasting it throughout living spaces.

When used, I recommend applying it only in enclosed voids, wall cavities, crawlspaces, or other locations where it won’t become airborne during normal activity.

It also has legitimate uses around poultry, where properly managed dust baths can help reduce certain external parasites.

Sticky Traps

Sticky traps are excellent monitoring tools for insects such as spiders, cockroaches, and crawling insects.

They help identify where activity is occurring and whether a treatment is working.

I do not recommend glue boards for rodent control. They are generally inhumane and often catch only juvenile mice while leaving the real problem unresolved.

🟡 Methods That Can Help… But Usually Aren’t Enough

Flea Foggers

Foggers can reduce adult flea populations and may provide temporary relief.

Unfortunately, they often fail to kill eggs hidden deep in carpet fibers or protected areas, which means the infestation usually returns unless additional treatment is performed.

Mothballs

Mothballs contain a strong fumigant and are designed for use in sealed containers to protect clothing from fabric pests.

People often try using them for mice, snakes, raccoons, and other wildlife.

While the odor can occasionally encourage an animal to leave a confined hiding place, they are not labeled for general wildlife control and should never be used throughout occupied living spaces.

❌ DIY Methods That Usually Don’t Work

Ultrasonic Pest Repellers

Despite their popularity, I have never found these devices to provide reliable pest control.

If they truly worked as advertised, the pest control industry would be using them everywhere.

Peppermint Oil, Dryer Sheets & Soap Bars

These are some of the most common recommendations you’ll find online.

While strong odors may temporarily discourage an animal or insect from using a particular spot, they rarely solve the underlying problem and almost never eliminate an infestation.

⚠️ DIY Methods That Can Make Things Worse

Aerosol Ant Sprays

This surprises many homeowners.

For certain species, particularly odorous house ants, spraying visible workers can cause the colony to split into multiple smaller colonies, making the infestation even harder to eliminate.

Sometimes spraying creates more ants—not fewer.

Consumer Bed Bug Sprays

Most over-the-counter bed bug products simply don’t eliminate established infestations.

Even worse, they can scatter bed bugs into new hiding places, making professional treatment more difficult later.

Bug Bombs for Bed Bugs

This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions in pest control.

People often assume bed bugs can be treated the same way as fleas because both feed on blood.

They can’t.

Bug bombs rarely reach where bed bugs actually hide and often cause them to disperse deeper into walls, furniture, and other protected areas.

My Philosophy on DIY Pest Control

I actually encourage homeowners to start with simple, practical solutions when they’re appropriate.

Good sanitation, sealing entry points, reducing moisture, trimming vegetation, and using the right DIY products can solve many small pest issues before they become major problems.

But when those methods stop working—or start making the problem worse—that’s usually a sign the issue has grown beyond what a do-it-yourself approach can solve.

That’s where experience, proper products, and a thorough inspection make all the difference.

At Tahoma Specialty Pest Services, my goal isn’t just to treat pests—it’s to solve the problem that’s allowing them to be there in the first place.

Tahoma Specialty Pest Services

tahomapest.com / 509 978 7830

Mosquitoes Start With Water

Mosquitoes are one of the most recognizable summer pests, but surprisingly, the best mosquito treatment often begins long before any product is applied.
It starts with an inspection.
Mosquitoes need standing water to complete their life cycle. Even small amounts of water can become breeding sites, which is why identifying and eliminating those sources is one of the most effective long-term control strategies.
Some of the most common breeding areas include:
buckets, pails, and watering cans
flower pots and saucers
children’s toys left outdoors
old tires
bird baths
clogged gutters
abandoned or poorly maintained swimming pools
low spots where water collects after irrigation or rain
overwatered lawns and landscaping
By reducing these breeding sites, you often reduce mosquito numbers before they become a larger problem.
When treatment is needed, the approach depends on the property and the level of mosquito activity.
Treatment options may include:
targeted fogging of vegetation and outdoor living spaces
residual applications to shaded resting areas where adult mosquitoes spend the day
larvicide treatments for standing water that cannot be eliminated
treatment plans tailored to the property’s conditions and your goals
Like most pest issues, successful mosquito control is rarely about one application. It’s about combining inspection, habitat management, and targeted treatment to reduce the mosquito population over time.
Tahoma Specialty Pest Services
509-978-7830
tahomapest.com

Why Ground Squirrels Are More Than Just A Nuisance

Ground squirrels are a common sight throughout Eastern Washington, especially around agricultural properties, pastures, hay fields, and rural acreages.
While many people see them as harmless wildlife, large populations can create significant problems for both property owners and livestock.
The most obvious issue is burrowing.
Ground squirrels create extensive tunnel systems that weaken soil and leave holes throughout fields, pastures, and grassy areas. For horse owners, these burrows can be especially concerning. A missed hole in a pasture can create a serious injury risk if a horse steps into it while running or playing.
Ground squirrels can also contribute to:
damage to pastures and forage areas
loss of desirable vegetation
soil erosion around burrow systems
damage to irrigation and agricultural infrastructure
increased attraction of predators and scavengers
Like many wildlife issues, small populations can quickly become large populations if left unmanaged.
Effective control depends on the property, the surrounding environment, and the presence of non-target wildlife. Management strategies may include population reduction, burrow monitoring, habitat considerations, and ongoing maintenance to keep numbers under control.
The goal isn’t simply removing animals. It’s protecting the property, livestock, and resources that are being impacted by their activity.
Tahoma Specialty Pest Services
509-978-7830
tahomapest.com

Sometimes The Pest Isn’t The Problem

One of the most common misconceptions about pest control is that the pest itself is always the problem.
In reality, many pest issues are symptoms of something else.
Ants may indicate a moisture issue, food source, or structural condition that’s attracting them.
Spiders are often a sign that other insects are present.
Rodents usually don’t appear by accident. They’re finding food, water, shelter, or an easy way inside.
Even nuisance wildlife is often responding to conditions around a property. Accessible garbage, pet food, bird seed, damaged vents, and unsealed entry points can all contribute to ongoing conflicts.
That’s why effective pest management isn’t just about applying products or setting traps.
It’s about understanding why the pest is there in the first place.
When I inspect a property, I’m looking for the conditions contributing to the problem:
-entry points
-moisture issues
-food sources
-harborage areas
-structural deficiencies
-landscaping concerns
Sometimes treatment is part of the solution.
Sometimes exclusion is the solution.
Sometimes a simple change in conditions solves the problem entirely.
The goal isn’t just removing what’s there today.
The goal is preventing the problem from coming back tomorrow.
Tahoma Specialty Pest Services
509-978-7830
tahomapest.com

Ticks: What You Should Know Before Heading Outdoors

As the weather warms up, people spend more time hiking, camping, working outdoors, and enjoying their property.
It’s also the time of year when ticks become more active.

Ticks are commonly found in:
-tall grass
-brushy areas
-wooded edges
-overgrown vegetation
-wildlife travel corridors

Contrary to popular belief, ticks don’t jump or fly. They wait on vegetation and grab onto passing animals or people as they move through an area.
Several tick species can be found throughout Washington and the Inland Northwest. While most tick bites are little more than an unpleasant nuisance, ticks are medically significant because they can transmit disease-causing organisms through their bite.
Fortunately, the risk can be greatly reduced through awareness and prevention.

A few simple steps include:
-staying on established trails
-avoiding tall grass when possible
-wearing long pants and light-colored clothing
-performing tick checks after spending time outdoors
-keeping vegetation around homes and recreational areas maintained

For properties with persistent tick activity, treatment can also be very effective.
For smaller areas, I typically apply a targeted treatment using a backpack sprayer. Larger properties, such as acreages, may be treated using a backpack fogger to efficiently cover broader areas where ticks are active.
Treatment focuses on vegetation, edge habitat, travel corridors, and the places ticks are most likely to be encountered.
Like many pest issues, the goal isn’t simply to react to a problem after it occurs. It’s to reduce the likelihood of encountering one in the first place.


Tahoma Specialty Pest Services
509-978-7830
tahomapest.com

Why You’re Seeing Millipedes Around Your Home

If you’ve noticed millipedes on your driveway, walkways, around the front door, in the garage, or even on the exterior of your home, you’re not alone — especially in newer developments.
I tend to see this most often around newer construction neighborhoods where natural ground cover has recently been disturbed and replaced with fresh landscaping, concrete, and irrigated lawns.
Millipedes normally live in moist soil, leaf litter, and decaying organic material. When those environments are disrupted by construction and development, they often end up migrating into surrounding areas looking for moisture and shelter.
That’s why they commonly gather:
on concrete driveways and sidewalks
around garage doors
near foundation edges
and along the exterior of homes
Concrete and landscaping around newer homes can hold moisture surprisingly well, especially after watering or rain, creating ideal conditions for them to wander through the area.
The good news is that millipedes are mostly a nuisance pest. They don’t bite, sting, or damage structures.
That said, large numbers can definitely become annoying.
The perimeter treatments I apply for ants, spiders, and other crawling insects will also help reduce millipede activity around the home. Treatment focuses on the exterior foundation, entry points, garage areas, and the conditions allowing them to gather in the first place.
Like many pest issues, it’s often less about the pest itself and more about the environment attracting them.
Tahoma Specialty Pest Services
509-978-7830
tahomapest.com