Should you call pest control or treat pests yourself?

DIY pest control vs pest control singapore: quick comparison

Treat it yourself when the problem is small, easy to see and stays in one spot, such as a few cockroaches around the kitchen sink of a three-room HDB flat. Call a company when pests come back after weeks of your own effort, hide where you cannot reach, or are not the kind household products are made for.

No single figure fits every company visit. Quotes depend on the pest, how far it has spread, the size of your home and how many visits the plan includes. The pest control cost guide explains what shapes a quote.

What DIY can handle

Early cockroach and ant problems usually start with food, water and a way in. Good diy cockroach control is mostly housekeeping: wipe grease off the hob and the wall behind it, keep dry food in sealed containers, empty the kitchen bin at night and fix dripping taps. Seal gaps where pipes pass into cabinets. Then place baits along the routes pests use, such as under the sink and behind the fridge.

Next, read the label. NEA says pesticides and repellents against the five vectors (mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, rats and rat fleas) must be registered before they are sold, supplied or advertised. Registered products for households are labelled "For General Use". Products labelled "For Restricted Use" are only for licensed Vector Control Technicians (VCTs) or certified Vector Control Workers (VCWs), so they are not for home use.

For a full cleaning routine, see how to get rid of cockroaches without calling anyone.

When to call a company

The clearest sign of when to call pest control is that the problem keeps coming back: you have cleaned, sealed and baited, but the same pests still appear. Other signs are droppings or nests you cannot reach, such as inside a false ceiling, behind built-in kitchen carpentry in a condo or in the roof space of a landed home. Rats anywhere indoors are another sign.

NEA advises the public to buy vector control services, such as cockroach treatment, from licensed Vector Control Operators (VCOs), whatever the type of service provider. A VCO may start work only after it is registered and must use licensed or certified technicians and workers. It should also give you a service report and recommendations at agreed intervals. Keep each report, because it records what was treated and what to fix next.

This licensing covers the five vectors only. It does not cover termites, bed bugs or ants. Before you agree to a plan, ask which pests it treats and how many visits it includes. The guide on how to hire a pest control company covers the rest.

Termites and bed bugs

Neither pest is one of the five vectors, and both hide where a can of spray seldom reaches. If you find damaged timber in a door frame, a cabinet or the garden fence of a landed home, leave it alone and have it inspected.

Termite treatment can involve the soil. NEA says pest control operators and site owners must make sure soil treatment with termiticide does not pollute water resources. Termiticide must not be spilled or discharged into open drains or public sewers. Pest control operators must also apply for a Hazardous Substances Licence or Permit to sell, buy or use termiticides containing controlled hazardous substances. The termite treatment guide covers the process in more detail.

Bed bugs take patience. NEA says treatment combines non-chemical and chemical methods, such as vacuuming, hot laundering, steam and heat treatment, eliminating harbourages and insecticides. Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases to humans, but their bites can cause discomfort, itching and allergic reactions in some people. You can vacuum and hot launder bedding yourself. If the bites keep coming in a bedroom or rented room, bring in a company.

Safety with chemicals

Read the whole label before you spray, and use the product only where the label allows. HealthHub advises keeping a child away from areas just sprayed with insecticide until the spray has cleared, and following the product instructions. If a child may have swallowed a chemical, get medical help immediately. Do not give the child anything to eat or drink. Note the time and the substance so you can tell the medical professional.

Store sprays and baits in their original containers, out of reach. Take the same care with the cleaners you use to scrub the kitchen first. Never mix bleach with acid-based cleaners or ammonia. The guide on mixing cleaning products explains which combinations to avoid.

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