The most common household pests are ants, cockroaches, termites, rodents, bed bugs, spiders and flies, and getting rid of each one starts the same way: identify the pest, remove the food, water and shelter it depends on, close the gaps it uses to get in, and then treat it with a method suited to that species. Saela Pest Control is a residential and commercial pest control company based in Orem, Utah, and it treats most of the pests below, from ants and cockroaches to rodents and bed bugs. This guide covers each pest in turn, with the steps you can take yourself and the point where professional help makes sense.
1. Ants: The Persistent Invaders
Ants usually enter homes looking for food, water, warmth and shelter, and they are hard to control because the colony and its queens stay hidden. UC IPM’s guide to ants explains that sprays only kill the foraging ants you see, while slow-acting baits are carried back to the nest, where the whole colony, including queens, can be killed.
How to Get Rid of Ants:
- Identify the ant species: species prefer different foods, so the right bait depends on the ant; our article on the importance of pest identification explains why
- Seal entry points: caulk cracks and openings, especially where wires and pipes enter
- Keep food sealed: store food in airtight containers, wipe up spills and fix leaks
- Use baits, not sprays: UC IPM warns that spraying while using baits undermines them
- Get professional help: if ants persist, Saela’s ant control starts with identifying the species
2. Cockroaches: The Resilient Pests
Cockroaches are more than unpleasant: the EPA’s guide to asthma triggers notes that their droppings and body parts can trigger asthma, and proteins in their feces and saliva can cause allergic reactions. They look for food, water and shelter, which is why kitchens and bathrooms are where most people first see them.
How to Get Rid of Cockroaches:
- Clean regularly: keep counters, sinks and floors clean and clear crumbs and spills right away
- Seal gaps: close cracks and openings around and inside cabinets
- Store food in airtight containers, and don’t leave dishes or pet food out overnight
- Fix leaks under sinks and around appliances to remove water sources
- Get professional help: Saela’s German cockroach treatment uses gel baits, crack-and-crevice applications, monitoring devices and a follow-up visit
3. Termites: Hidden Wood Eaters
Termites can damage a home’s wood structure for years before anyone notices, so regular inspection and moisture control matter more than any single treatment. The EPA’s guide to identifying and controlling termites recommends checking exposed wood for hollow spots and watching for swarms, and notes that firms offering termite services must be licensed by your state.
How to Get Rid of Termites:
- Inspect regularly: look for mud tubes, swarmers and shed wings, and probe exposed wood for hollow spots
- Manage moisture: keep soil around the foundation dry through grading and drainage, and fix leaks
- Reduce wood-to-soil contact and keep firewood and wood debris away from the house
- Ask for the product label before treatment, as the EPA advises
- Get professional treatment: Saela’s termite packages use Trelona bait stations, with a Termidor perimeter treatment in the upgraded package
4. Rodents: The Destructive Intruders
Mice and rats contaminate food and surfaces and can spread disease, so the goal is to keep them out, not just trap the ones inside. The CDC’s guide to sealing up against rodents notes that mice can fit through a hole the width of a pencil.
How to Get Rid of Rodents:
- Seal entry points: fill small holes with steel wool and caulk, and use hardware cloth or metal for larger ones
- Store food properly: keep food and pet food in sealed containers and put pet food away after use
- Trap rodents that are already inside, placing traps where you see droppings or activity
- Keep garbage in sealed containers and move woodpiles away from the house
- Hire a professional: Saela’s rodent exclusion service inspects for access points, repairs openings and places traps for rodents still inside
5. Bed Bugs: The Nocturnal Nuisances
Bed bugs are among the harder household pests to eliminate because they hide in mattress seams, furniture and cracks, but the CDC’s overview of bed bugs notes they are not known to spread disease. Their bites cause itching and lost sleep, and they travel easily in luggage and secondhand furniture.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs:
- Inspect regularly: look for dark spots, rusty blood spots on bedding and shed skins in mattress seams
- Use heat: dry bedding and clothing on high heat
- Vacuum mattresses, carpets and upholstered furniture often
- Use encasements on mattresses and box springs to remove hiding spots
- Get professional help: Saela’s bed bug programs pair repeated treatments with laundering and vacuuming between visits
6. Spiders: The Web Weavers
Most household spiders are harmless and help control other insects, but black widows and brown recluses can cause serious bites. The jaws of most spiders are too small to bite people, according to UC IPM’s guide to spiders, which recommends reducing clutter and sealing cracks to keep spiders out.
How to Get Rid of Spiders:
- Declutter: reduce stored boxes and clutter where spiders hide
- Block entry points: seal foundation cracks and keep window and door screens in good repair
- Shake out shoes, gloves and stored clothing before use
- Keep the exterior tidy: rake leaves, store woodpiles away from the house and keep vegetation trimmed back
- Get professional help: Saela’s spider control can identify the species and treat where spiders shelter
7. Flies: The Persistent Buzzers
House flies breed in warm, moist organic material such as garbage, lawn clippings and rotting fruit, so sanitation is the main way to control them. UC IPM’s guide to flies notes that house flies can carry bacteria and viruses that cause illnesses such as food poisoning and dysentery.
How to Get Rid of Flies:
- Keep kitchens and dining areas clean and don’t leave food or ripe fruit out
- Manage waste: bag garbage, use cans with tight-fitting lids and put them out for pickup at least weekly
- Use traps for small problems: UC IPM notes sticky traps help in confined areas but can’t manage heavy infestations
- Seal cracks around windows and doors and keep screens well fitted
- Get professional help if flies keep returning, since a hidden breeding source is often the cause
Conclusion
Most household pest problems improve when you identify the pest, take away its food, water and shelter and close its way in; professional treatment fills the gap when those steps aren’t enough. Every Saela plan includes a 50+ point property inspection of entry points and nesting sites. In a February 2024 Google review, Richard Haile wrote, “Great service and professional recommendations.”
Saela’s Lakewood, Washington location is rated 4.8 out of 5 from 1,164 Google reviews as of October 2026.
To talk with Saela about a pest problem, book a call.
To learn more about how Saela works, see why homeowners choose Saela.
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.
