Pest Control Products to Avoid
- Sean
- Oct 9
- 3 min read
Hey, friends! It’s Sean with LOCAL Bug Guy again!
Today’s advice is for the DIY’ers. Sometimes you want to take pest control into your own hands—make a Saturday project of it to save a little money in the long run. That’s great if you’ve got the time and energy for it.
The problem is that not all pest control products are created equal, and we don’t want you to make the mistake of picking up a product that’s not going to do the job right. Some products can actually make your pest problem worse, especially if you use them wrong. This post will tell you what pest control products to avoid based on your pests, and which products will actually help.
Thinking about taking pest control off your plate and letting a professional handle it? Let us lend a hand. LOCAL Bug Guy has served hundreds of families in California and Utah for years. Contact us for a free quote and we’ll give you no-BS answers!
Bad pest control products for flies
Fly bags for farm settings? Sure. Fly bags are meant to pull flies away from livestock. If you actually own livestock, these can be great.
But for residential settings? Forget about it! Fly bags used in residential areas can actually make fly problems worse. Say no to fly bags.
Do this instead
Make a habit of quickly cleaning messes or spills that can attract flies. Flies are attracted to old food and warm, damp environments. Sweep up crumbs, wipe down spills, and clean any nooks and crannies that might attract flies over time.
Bad pest control products for ants and spiders
Essential oil sprays are a trendy and “green” pest control solution that we’ve found to be a little… weak.
These can kill pests if you spray the pest directly, but when it comes to making a protective barrier, the solutions hardly last over a week. And they don’t help with colony bugs like ants.
Diatomaceous earth is also very hit-and-miss. It makes a big mess, and many pest control experts, including ourselves, don’t feel that it’s worth the hassle.
Do this instead
Use a store bought pesticide like Ortho Home Defense to make a protective barrier around your house’s foundation, doors, and windows. In our experience, praying this every 8-12 weeks will do a better job than these other products.
Bad pest control products for wasps
DIY wasp traps can be hit and miss. We’ve seen the ones you can make out of sugar water and a plastic bottle. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. We just don’t believe it’s worth the trouble when store bought solutions are affordable and much more reliable.
Do this instead
If it’s springtime, get yourself some decoy wasp nests and hang them on your porch and patio. Wasps are territorial, so when it comes time to build a nest in spring, they’ll see that your area is taken and go elsewhere. If it’s summer and they’ve established a nest, find yourself a store bought, long-range wasp spray (like Raid® Defend) and suit up for battle.
Let LOCAL Bug Guy lend a hand
If DIY pest control is starting to sound like too much work, let the pros at LOCAL Bug Guy take care of it for you.
We’ve served the Temecula, California, and Spanish Fork, Utah, areas for years, specializing in the most common pests like spiders, ants, bed bugs, roaches, wasps, and more. With LOCAL Bug Guy, you’ll get assigned a personal pest control tech that you’ll come to know by name, and you’ll have their email and phone number so you can contact them 24/7 for quick service.
Enjoy a cleaner, safer home with the help of a friendly, reliable, and affordable pest control pro! Contact LOCAL Bug Guy for a free quote today!
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