Pest control
 

I have a condo on James Island SC that I currently pay for an exterminator. They seem to just walk around the foundation and spray some chemical once a quarter. Any suggestions on a good pesticide I could spray myself. I can buy a sprayer. Less toxic the better.
Thanks.

Every state can be different, but here you have to be licensed to buy and apply the 'good' stuff.

Stores like Lowes or Menards have liquids to apply, but they are a weaker, watered down version of the good stuff. They will still work ok.

Texas allows us to buy the 'good' stuff. Can't get it at Home Depot or other big retail but feed stores, tractor supply, etc have it. My go to is 'Demon'.

I use a company called DIY pest control (or something) because that’s exactly what my monthly pro-visit looked like.

You know what? Knocking on wood first: I’m doing a better job! I refresh a few baits. Mostly ones inserted/spiked into the ground around the yard. And some spray dusting into holes, cracks, crevices.

The website is cool. You enter your target pest and they suggest the treatment and send you to instructions.

I lived in SC most of my life. I figured out I could do the same thing with a big bottle of Home Defense insecticide spray from Walmart.

As for termites, SC only has subterranean. It's easy enough to go through the crawl space and look for any dirt tube. When you find one, get the soil treated.

I use Bayer Tempo SC Ultra. only use outdoor, but its supposedly indoor safe. I mix and use it in a handheld pressure sprayer. Usually 2-3 gal. will get the house perimeter.

That's the one, available via Amazon
I use the "WP" (wettable powder)
https://www.amazon.com/Insecticide-Envelopes-Containing-Water-Soluble-Cypermethrin/dp/B002Y6DNCK

but I think a lot of folks use the liquid
https://www.amazon.com/Demon-Max-Insecticide-25-3-Cypermethrin/dp/B00555SR9Q

I have used Demon mostly outside, but a little inside even when we had pets. When using inside, I limit it to out of the way places (under behind fridge, oven, dishwasher, washer/drier, cabinets, etc....). My understanding is that once it's dry, it's safe so when we had pets or grandkids might visit, I just juggle/time application so things will have a chance to dry when kids, pets, etc... are not running around licking things. The instructions say something like "don't use on food prep surfaces, around hospital patients, etc..."

You used to be able to get a sprayer at the big box stores where the sprayer was all brass instead of plastic. The last time that I looked, they no longer had the good brass one. The one that I got last time was a Dewalt which has been working well for me and is at least partially brass.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-2-Gal-Sprayer-190612/314759418

At our old house, once or twice a year was all I needed. Here at the new place (very rural) where there are more bugs, and the 100 yo wood house is built like a sieve I probably use it 2-4 times per year (depending upon the weather which impacts how many bugs and what kind of bugs). A year with a bumper crop of scorpions (last year), will get more spraying than a "regular" year.

NY blocks you buying proper pesticides. Fortunately places like diypestcontrol.com exist.

The place is a quad plex so the footage I need to take care of is 40-50 feet and on a slab. I do put the termite plugs in the ground every few months just as a precaution. I’ll try that stuff from Walmart. Seems the guy just sprays the foundation so I’ll give that a shot. Thanks everyone.

I live in Mount Pleasant in a townhome now. We use Palmetto Exterminating and all they do is spray the front and the back, as we are an interior unit. I called and asked them why they didn’t come inside and they said if we’re not seeing bugs, then everything‘s working.

A while back, I did see a Palmetto bug in the owners bathroom, near the window, so I’m going to get them back to treat the inside.

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