No one wants to have pests in their home. There’s no worse feeling than seeing something moving in the corner of your eye and realizing that it’s a bug or a spider. But while you may not be thrilled to have pests in your home, that’s no reason to jump straight to toxic pest control measures. Don’t panic. Take a couple of deep breaths.

Identify

Whether you’re considering spider pest control or any of a host of insects, the first step is identification. For that, you will have to look at the pest in question. Try trapping a specimen under a glass. Sometimes taking a snapshot will do. Do internet research, paying attention to any markings and being aware that juveniles and females may have different identifying features.

Investigate

Getting rid of household pests isn’t just a matter of finding them and squishing them, there’s a certain amount of research required. What you think of as a pest might not be a pest at all. It may be completely harmless, or even beneficial to your home. You may not like spiders, but they’re a natural way to control many other pests. Additionally, you may discover that traps won’t address the root problem that drew pests to you in the first place.

Eliminate

If you have a dangerous or pervasive pest problem, to the point that it’s becoming a severe inconvenience or even a hazard, it’s time to talk about eliminating that problem. It’s tempting to try DIY home remedies at first, and sometimes they are effective, but there will be times when they won’t be enough. Even store bought pesticides might not do the trick, or they might be more of a nuisance than the pests themselves. But if your pest problem is serious or doesn’t respond to home-grown or store-bought means of pest removal, it’s time to consult a professional in pest control.