Clever and deceptive, John George Haigh was not a good man. Known as the "acid bath murderer," he killed six people between 1944 and 1949, mistakingly believing that if he quietly disposed of their bodies in large vats of concentrated sulphuric acid, he could silence the truth of his actions.
As I studied the chemical revolution, which occurred within the timeline of the Industrial Revolution between 1760 and 1840, I was alarmed by both the harmful use of chemicals during that time period and the similar uses of chemicals in today's world. Sulphuric acid can lead to blindness and cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs. It can lead to a medical emergency (and can apparently do much more harm). Yet, today it is freely used in fertilizers and household products, including laundry detergent, soap, dishwasher liquid, and even cosmetics.
This was adequate evidence for me in my aspiration to develop a company that my solutions must be 100% non-toxic, 100% non-poisonous, and 100% honest with their ingredients, uses, and effects. I also recognized early on the importance of and need for exceptional care for customers. Welcome to Dr. Killigan’s.
My products, along with my team, aim to help you and your family—including the furry ones—feel safe, protected, and free from the stress and harm of bugs. I believe that we can give you all that you need to do your own pest control and preserve the comfort of your home without a need for pest management service providers.
So, let’s get started.
What do I need to do my own pest control?
I have come up with 8 key areas of focus that should help you keep your house, your garage, and your yard pest-free.
1. Do routine house inspections
Homes settle and, as they do, crack lines appear in their foundations and gaps may appear around window and door frames. These hairline cracks can be large insect gateways into your home. Walk the perimeter of your home every few months and do your detective work—look for those minute entrances, paying special attention to the spaces around your doors, windows, utility penetrations, and other potential points of entry into your home. Using the Insect Buster and its brass rod extension, spray diatomaceous earth or Dust to Dust into these cracks and crevices.
2. Evaluate your lawn’s foliage
Do you have tree branches, vines, or shrubs that are elbow-to-elbow with your home's siding or roofline? If so, these must be trimmed back. Not only do they serve as bridges and launching pads for spiders and other creepy crawlies, but they can also retain moisture—and bugs love moisture.
Also ask yourself:
Is there any water accumulating in my yard? Inspect water spigots and sprinkler systems for blockages, backups, and leaks.
Are there a lot of insects in my bushes and trees? Pay special attention to the areas around tree trunks which often become harboring areas for many species of ants and other insects.
3. Pull out your ladder
Some insects, such as mites, springtails, nematodes, woodlice and pillbugs, feed on decaying leaves in your gutter. Other insects, like termites, sawflies, woodworms, and two species of beetles—longhorn and powderpost, are attracted to the rotting wood and roof material that often results from perpetually clogged gutters. Keep your gutter from getting leaf-choked.
4. Puff a line of defense around the perimeter of your yard
If your home or yard often seems under bug attack, I recommend dispersing a thin line of Dust to Dust, a superb alternative to diatomaceous earth (with use of the Insect Buster) around your property. This will need to be reapplied every few months and especially after heavy rainfalls.
Note: Dust to Dust is proven to have kill times of up to 50% faster than diatomaceous earth.
5. Keep a tidy yard
Remove any piles of logs or leaves. Having yard clutter welcomes insect tenants to take up residence, as it provides warmth and insulation (especially through cold winters) and is filled with organic matter that makes an excellent food source.
6. Buy Pantry Moth Traps and Clothing Moth Traps
The good news is that Dr. Killigan's Premium Pantry Moth Traps—opened—are good for 3 months; the great news is that—unopened—they are good for three years from the date of manufacture. If you keep grains, flour, sweets, spices, nuts, or spices in your pantry, changes are that you’ll encounter pantry moths at some point. Without traps at-the-ready, a seemingly small issue could quickly escalate into an infestation. With a trap already in place, you can detect an issue before it gets out of control.
If you own wool sweaters or other keratin-rich fabrics, like furs or silk, you want to keep them hole-free. One way to ensure this is to place two of Dr. Killigan's Premium Clothing Moth Traps in your closet. Their pheromones will allure and catch any sweater-chomping miscreants before your treasured garments are ruined.
7. Seal your pet’s food container tightly and store it in the garage
If you have pets, and particularly so if you have birds, keep their food far away from (your) food items. While plastic is the most popular choice for storage, look for a plastic container that's BPA-free and void of any other plastic contaminants, as those can be harmful to your pet. Another option is stainless steel, which is extremely durable and easy to keep clean.
8. Have everyday DIY pest control supplies on hand
A kill-on-contact pest control spray. Dr. Killigan's Six Feet Under Non-Toxic Insect Spray is effective, eco-friendly, and completely safe to use around your children, your pets, and food when used as directed. Use this fast-acting formula to rid your home of ants, pantry moths, and clothes moths—in egg, larvae, and adult stages—flies, fruit flies, mosquitoes, roaches, ticks, fleas, earwigs, and silverfish. End a bug battle before it starts.
Diatomaceous earth or Dust to Dust. Though mentioned above, it is worthwhile to write about again. Dust to Dust is a non-toxic powder that is effective against fleas, mites, lice, ants, millipedes, earwigs, cockroaches, silverfish, bed bugs, centipedes, pill bugs, sow bugs, (most) beetles, fungus gnat larvae, and even some grubs. Using the Insect Buster—a bulb duster for diatomaceous earth, Dust to Dust and other non-toxic pest control powders—lightly dust behind appliances, near baseboards, in any holes or cracks in the walls, and along the backs of food storage areas.
A fruit fly attractant and killer. Powered by a handpicked blend of vinegar, sucrose and citrus, Sweet Surrender provides a catch-all solution for fruit flies both indoors and outdoors. Simply add two ounces of this solution to a glass or jar with an open lid, and place the container near fresh produce. You'll soon have fruit flies sleeping with the fishes.
A natural fly trap. It’s nice to have a sturdy flyswatter tucked away in a discreet location. It’s outrageously grand to have a fly trap on your window that simply does all of the work for you. The Fly Inn is that trap. Designed for placement in bright windows where flying insects have popular hangouts, one box comes equipped with two traps and four sticky glue inserts to catch and kill those flying miscreants. Put your feet up, relax, and let The Fly Inn do the dirty work for you.
Final word on DIY pest control
I hope that you feel girded with the knowledge and strength necessary to tackle any bug issues that may come your way. Do reach out if you have questions and remember that you’re not in this alone. We are just a phone call, an email, or a message away.
