Three Things I Wish I’d Tried Before Hiring an Exterminator
This month’s guest post comes from Lindsay in St. Louis. After blowing her budget on hiring an exterminator, she wrote us to share why DIY rodent control –with a little help from Victor – is the way to go.
When it comes to the upkeep of our home, there are a few things some of us (me) could have wised up about:
- "Painting? You just brush it on the walls, and you’re good, right?"
- "I can just eyeball that."
- "Sure! I can resurface my driveway and still go camping this weekend. It won’t take that long."
I learned the hard way that it pays to do some research before tackling a DIY project. A simple web search can save a lot of time, stress and money. I’ve since learned that sites like TheFamilyHandyman.com and DIYNetwork.com are packed with free, helpful information.
At first, though, I was intimidated at the thought of doing anything DIY-style for the sake of it not working. That’s why after spotting trails of mice droppings in my kitchen, I jumped the gun and hired an exterminator.
But now that my mice problem is resolved, I’m left with a hefty bill – and a lot of regret.
I wish I’d given the DIY approach a fair shot. There are simple, cost-effective ways to get rid of mice, especially when using Victor products – as I learned later from my more prudent neighbors and a bit of Googling.
And so I share my top three words of wisdom for anyone on the fence about whether to hire help or go to it alone.
My advice? You’ve got this!
- DON’T SHOW YOUR CRACK: The cracks in your walls, silly. Even the smallest openings along your floorboards, under your sink or in between your cabinets are floodgates for mice invaders. This especially applies to folks like me with older homes. Victor has mastered the art of rodent proofing your home – check out this handy visual for tips on DIY rodent control. It’s all about eliminating entry points with caulk, concrete or other sealants. Even steel wool will work!
- CLEAN UP: When I began to wake up to mice droppings on my kitchen counter, I knew I was at risk for diseases and that my new rodent roommates were going to scarf up any little crumb left out on the counter. Now that I’ve read up on the strategies how to get rid of mice in the kitchen, I see that leaving my dog food out and not attending to spills under the fridge were bad ideas.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has put together a thorough protocol on how to clean up after rodents in order to protect yourself from rodent urine and droppings. Don’t skip over these important steps – it’s your health we’re talking about! - GEAR UP!: I like that Victor has different solutions for getting rid of mice because I’ve learned you might need more than a basic mousetrap for complete rodent control. Mice are smart little creatures and can sometimes outwit your trapping techniques. Experiment with a few different tools, like Victor’s ultrasonic repellents or scent repellents.
Oh, and one last word of advice: Wear gloves when you’re handing bait! I made that mistake and know now that the mice picked up my scent and avoided the swabs of peanut butter I had touched. I learned that and other trapping faux pas on Victor’s super helpful post, 7 Mouse Trap Mistakes You’re Making.
That’s everything you need to know to catch a mouse – and do it on the cheap!
As for those DIY projects around my house? I’ve learned there’s nothing you can’t learn from a little Pinterest search.