DIY or professional pest control?

Often fine to try yourself

• A few ants in the kitchen: clean the trail and use bait stations
• Pantry moths: throw away infested food and clean cupboards thoroughly
• The odd spider or silverfish: vacuum and reduce damp
• A single mouse you have just noticed: snap traps baited with peanut butter, placed along walls, while you seal obvious gaps

Usually needs a professional

• Rats, especially in lofts, walls or under floors, or if they are coming from drains
• Bed bugs, which hide deep in furniture and resist many shop products
• Cockroaches, which breed quickly and spread through buildings
• Wasp nests in roofs, walls or near people, especially if anyone is allergic
• Squirrels in lofts, where the law on release applies
• Fleas that persist after pets have been treated
• Anything in a business, where you need records

What about ultrasonic devices?

There is little reliable evidence that plug-in ultrasonic repellers clear an established rodent or insect infestation. Pests may avoid them briefly but quickly get used to them.

The problem with shop-bought poison

Loose rodent poison can harm children, pets and wildlife, and rodents may die in walls and under floors, causing smells and flies. Some rodent baits are restricted to professional use because of the risk to wildlife.

Why DIY can cost more

Problems that are not treated properly grow. A few mice become dozens, and a few bed bugs become a whole flat. The most cost-effective time to call a professional is early, when one visit and some proofing may be enough.

Questions and answers

Related pages

• Pest control cost guide
• Is pest control safe for pets and children?
• What happens on a pest control visit

This page is general information, last reviewed on 19 October 2026. It is not a substitute for an on-site inspection.