What Do Americans Know About Home Pests?

While 60% of homeowners feel confident in their ability to control pests at home, only 22% are fully confident, according to a survey by Modern Pest Services.  

To remedy home pest problems, 97% said they’ve tried DIY solutions, including: 

1. Store-bought pesticides (72%) 
2. Traps (50%) 
3. Scents (e.g., lavender and peppermint) (44%) 

Still, 54% said they believe professional pest control works best, with the top reasons being expert pest identification, better traditional solutions and processes formulated for sustained, long-term effectiveness. 

Respondents mostly said they believe kitchens are susceptible to pests (60%), and nearly 1 in 10 blamed clutter for attracting pests. Still, 32% did not believe that monthly deep cleans would prevent pests.  

The top three things respondents believed about at-home pest control are: 

1. Cats are a good mouse deterrent (59%) 
2. Essential oils are a good repellent (29%) 
3. Mice love cheese (27%) 

Are these myths or facts? Modern Pest Control says: 

1. Cats may deter mice with their scent, but not all cats are active mice hunters, and pests can pose health risks to cats, too. 
2. Botanical insecticides that utilize essential oils like wintergreen, mint and citronella are approved for use around pets, children and food-handling areas. However, essential oils alone may not be effective enough for particularly pesky pests or full-blown infestations. 
3. Mice gravitate toward foods rich in carbohydrates and sugars with some moisture content, and they’re deterred by foods with pungent odors. They’re more likely to be drawn to peanut butter, candy, beef jerky or pet food.