DIY Pest Control (At Your Own Risk!)

We get it — pests are seriously annoying. They bring dangerous bacteria to your property, spread illnesses, and leave behind fecal matter that contaminates the air. Yuck!

So it’s tempting to get rid of bed bugs, ants, mice, and other critters yourself using DIY “solutions” you might find at a local store.

The problem with do-it-yourself pest control is that you won’t solve the root cause of the problem, meaning these creatures will likely return. You also risk having an accident and wasting money on products that don’t work.

Here are some reasons why DIY pest control might not be the best idea.

You Probably Won’t Solve Your Pest Control Problem

Many stores in Maryland and Northern Virginia sell pest sprays, traps, baits, poison, and other so-called “solutions.” However, these products only provide a temporary fix and don’t solve the root cause of your pest control issue.

That means you might stop pests from infiltrating your property for a little while, but they’ll likely come back again!

Instead, you need to identify what’s causing your pest problem, whether that’s:

  • Excess moisture in your home or business
  • Food waste
  • Gaps and entry points in your property
  • Or something else entirely

Only a local pest control specialist can solve your pest infestation for good.

You Might Have an Accident

Professional pest control experts use the right tools and safety gear to remove unwanted critters from your property. If you don’t know what you’re doing, exterminating pests yourself leads to all kinds of problems, such as accidents and injuries.

Say you’re trying to remove wasps from your home or business. These insects can bite, resulting in an emergency room trip in extreme cases.

Then, there are the dangerous chemicals often found in pest poisons, sprays, and other products. Getting these chemicals on your skin can lead to allergic reactions and even burns.

Sometimes, it’s just much easier and safer to leave things to the experts!

You Might Waste Money

Unfortunately, many pest control products on the market just aren’t strong enough to get rid of these creatures from your home and business. That means you’ll just be throwing your hard-earned money away for no reason.

Pest control experts have access to the strongest products on the market that can solve your problem. They might use these with pest prevention techniques, such as:

  • Removing sources of food and water
  • Removing moisture from your property
  • Sealing gaps and entry points in your home or business
  • Fixing leaky plumbing

What’s the Solution?

Sure, DIY pest control might seem like a good idea if you want to save money. However, you won’t be able to solve the root cause of your issue, and the problem might get worse if pests return.

Consider investing in professional pest control services instead. Located in Mt. Airy, Maryland, Pest Shield has 60 years of combined experience and has helped thousands of home and business owners overcome a nasty pest infestation.

Some of the reasons you can count on us include:

  • We’ve protected military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan against disease-carrying pests.
  • We’re licensed and certified by the Maryland and Virginia Departments of Agriculture in all pest, termite, and public health categories.
  • We have multiple five-star reviews on Facebook.

A pest-free property starts by requesting a FREE inspection here! Alternatively, call us at 301-829-0060.

Excellent rating
Based on 344 reviews
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Troy replied quickly - easy to deal with and removed a significant hornet nest safely. Highly recommended.
Ross Zirkle profile picture
30 August 2026
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Troy was great in treating a yellow jacket nest in our wall. Timely, efficient, and reasonably priced. Would definitely use Pest Shield again.
Bilbo profile picture
22 August 2026
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Awesome service. Large aggressive bald faced hornet nest removed. Done professionally and expeditiously.
Eric Thorndike profile picture
17 August 2026
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Troy inspected my home carefully, made a recommendation, gave me a bid and did the work competently. He explained the termite life cycle n how the pesticide treatment worked. He indicated they may swarm again but after 90 days all evidence of live termites should be gone. He explained his warranty n yearly inspection.
Jim Ferrant profile picture
6 May 2026
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Great expertise. Very professional and thorough. I would highly recommend.
Joe Siegle profile picture
26 April 2026
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Control or Inspect for Termites I was deeply impressed by the expertise and professionalism of Troy and Jeff. They have great knowledge about the biology and behavior of termites as well as years of experience working with residential customers. They knew exactly what needed to be done, were on time, worked hard, and patiently answered any questions I had. Having them do the job gave me great confidence that my pest problem will be promptly resolved.
Joe S profile picture
25 April 2026
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Troy is the best! As realtors, we work with Pest Inspectors a LOT and have had issues with multiple companies being wrong or missing some sort of infestation. Troy is the ONLY guy we can always trust will do an amazing job. He is quick to respond and usually can get the job done very quickly! We really appreciate you!
Camille Dixon profile picture
8 December 2025
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Look no further. They offer free initial inspections. Robert from Pest Shield came out and quickly developed a plan to solve our yellow jacket problem. His advice provided quick and complete eradication of the yellow jackets and a plan for any future concern. Pest Shield offered the honest and pressure free service we appreciate. Pest Shield is now our “go to” for any future pest control issue.
Karen M profile picture
22 September 2025
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Fast and reliable and professional service. Price was very reasonable. I would definitely recommend!
Jim Lynch profile picture
14 September 2025
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Great service, called them about an issue I was having with yellow jackets flying in and out of the siding of my house, Troy came out the very next day and assessed the situation and got the problem fixed, he even checked in a couple days later to make sure the yellow jackets were not coming back. I would highly recommend them for the super quick service they provided and the fact that they check up on their work. Thanks again
Kevork Araklian profile picture
4 September 2025
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