Three common pest-control habits that don’t work on their own are relying only on a clean kitchen, counting on a pet to catch pests, and assuming you would notice an infestation if you had one. Each one deals with part of the problem while leaving entry points, moisture or hidden activity in place. Below, Saela Pest Control, a residential and commercial pest control company based in Orem, Utah, explains why each approach falls short and what to do instead.
Relying Only on a Clean Kitchen
A clean kitchen lowers the risk of pests, but it won’t keep them out if the rest of your home still offers water, shelter and easy ways in. UC IPM’s guide to cockroaches notes that cockroaches thrive wherever they find food, water and shelter, and it recommends sealing cracks and openings as well as removing food and water sources. Leaky pipes, damp crawl spaces and gaps around doors and utility lines can draw pests however clean the counters are, and mice can fit through a hole the width of a pencil. Keep cleaning, and add moisture control and sealing to the routine.
Counting on Your Pet for Pest Control
A cat or dog may catch the occasional mouse, but a pet won’t control a pest population. UC IPM’s house mouse guide says some dogs and cats will catch and kill mice and rats, but there are few situations in which they control rodent populations, and predators can simply teach rodents to hide better. Mice and insects also retreat into wall voids, under floors and behind appliances, where no pet can follow. For more on where home remedies run out, see why do-it-yourself pest control often falls short.
Assuming You’d See an Infestation
Not seeing pests doesn’t mean you don’t have them, because many pests are active at night or live inside walls, soil and wood. Termites are the clearest example: termite guidance from Mississippi State University explains that a building has usually been infested for some time before signs become obvious, since termites stay hidden in the soil and wood they live in. Regular inspections check the places homeowners rarely look, and every Saela plan includes a 50+ point property inspection that looks at nesting sites and structural gaps. What the inspection finds then guides identification, monitoring and targeted treatment.
If home habits haven’t solved the problem, a professional plan adds inspection, identification and follow-up. Saela’s Protection Program includes interior and exterior treatments with every-other-month or quarterly visits, depending on the plan, plus no-charge return visits for covered pests between scheduled services. Compare options on Saela’s pricing page or read about its residential pest control services.
Treatment protocols at Saela are developed by its board-certified entomologist, Dennis Weiss, who also trains technicians. In a February 2024 Google review, Paul Rugg wrote that his technician “did a great inspection and noticed some areas that needed attention.”
If you’ve tried these steps and still see signs of pests, book a call to schedule an inspection. Saela is listed in QualityPro’s directory of accredited pest management companies.
Who wrote this article?
Devin Hutchings (Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control) wrote this article.
Devin leads Saela’s marketing and growth strategy. He brings more than 15 years of marketing experience across Uber, C.R. England, Lugg, and Neighbor. His background spans customer acquisition, retention, and developing marketing channels for service businesses and consumer marketplaces.
