Pest Control With Babies and Pets in Perth

What to do before pest treatment arrives

Preparation is the first step to keeping your family safe. The clearer your home is, the shorter the job takes, and the less time surfaces stay wet. Put all food into resealable containers with tight lids. Move pet bowls, water dishes and children's toys off the floor. Pet bedding, blankets and cushions go into a cupboard or bedroom you have told us not to treat. Babies' cots and change tables should be in a room you are keeping closed if possible.

Tell us if you have reptiles, fish tanks, bird cages or aquariums. Unlock side gates and the garage so we can access the external perimeter without delay. Strip beds only if you have asked for bedroom treatment, which most families do not need. Pull items back from wet-area skirtings and under the kitchen sink where we will spray. If you have a shed with pests, or a retic box where redbacks shelter, point those out.

A bed bug shown from above with distinctive rounded carapace — A bed bug, the distinctive rounded carapace visible from above.

How re-entry works on the day

A re-entry period is the time between when we finish spraying and when your family can move back into treated areas safely. We confirm the exact re-entry period for the products we are using before we start, and we print it on your treatment report. For most general pest treatments indoors, surfaces dry in around two hours. Some products need longer. We tell you straight.

During re-entry, keep kids and pets out of treated rooms. Open windows to help air circulation if the weather suits. After the re-entry time has passed, treated areas can be used normally. Babies can go back in their cots. Pets can move around freely.

Before and after for babies and young children

Tell us if you have babies or young children. We can apply the treatment in a way that minimises time spent in treated rooms. Toddlers and young children move everywhere, so many families choose external treatment only on the first visit.

Some families combine visits. Internal treatment in the morning, kids at school all day, they come home after the re-entry time has passed. Others use a simpler approach: external only, which covers the perimeter where most pests enter. We tell you which option fits your house on the phone or in the quote.

Pets and pesticide products

Pets should stay out during the re-entry period. Tell us if you have reptiles, fish tanks, bird cages or aquariums. For furry pets, move food and water bowls away during treatment.

If your pet is old, ill, very small or has respiratory sensitivities, tell us before we arrive. We can adjust the treatment scope or suggest a time when a vet visit confirms it is safe to return.

What happens during the treatment

We start with a walk-through. We look before we spray. Which pests are present, where they are harbouring, where they are entering the home. We photograph what we find and confirm the scope with you before we open a product. Indoors, we use non-staining, low-odour products applied to skirting lines, wet areas, behind appliances and roof void entries where pests hide. We do not fog whole rooms. We do not spray food-preparation surfaces, toys or bedding. If cockroaches are present in the kitchen, we use gel baits and an insect growth regulator in the voids behind appliances. Outside, we treat the perimeter: eaves, weep holes, window and door frames, fence lines and retic boxes. Webs are brushed down first.

You receive a treatment record with the product name, active constituent, rate and areas treated, kept for three years as WA regulations require. You can read it anytime to know exactly what went where.

What not to do before or after treatment

If you have already sprayed something, tell us on the day. We can adjust the treatment or ask you to wait a few days before we reschedule.

Follow the after-care instructions we give you. The treatment record will list the areas treated and the re-entry period. If you have questions about washing floors or other after-care steps, ask us on the day.

When to call a professional for pest control with families

If you have seen cockroaches in the kitchen at night, redbacks under outdoor furniture, or ant trails after rain, a professional treatment is worth the investment. We look before we spray, tell you the re-entry period in writing, and provide a treatment record you can keep. Our general pest control treatment page outlines what a typical Perth treatment covers and how we prepare homes with kids and pets.

If you are concerned about termites entering under your slab or around your sub-floor, a timber pest inspection first tells you whether treatment is needed and what kind.

What it costs for general pest treatment

A typical range for a standard three-bedroom home in Perth's northern suburbs, internal and external, is $250 to $350 GST inclusive. Every job is itemised in writing after we have seen it. We confirm the re-treatment period for your job on the quote. General pest treatment carries a six-month re-treatment period, with terms at djpest.com.au/warranty. If the pests on your invoice are still active inside the treated areas within six months, we return and re-treat at no charge. Our investment guide shows the full range for all services and what moves the price up or down. No call-out fee, no deposit, seven-day payment terms.

Frequently asked

Is the treatment safe for my baby?

Until treated surfaces are dry (usually around two hours for indoors), keep your baby out of the treated room. After that time, you can return. We confirm the re-entry period in writing before we start.

How long do I need to keep my pet outside?

Pets stay out until treated surfaces are dry, which is usually around two hours for indoor spray. We confirm the exact re-entry period before we start. Keep food and water bowls away during treatment.

Can I use a supermarket bug spray before you arrive?

If you have already used a spray, tell us on the day. We can adjust the treatment or ask you to wait a few days before we reschedule.

What if my baby develops a rash after treatment?

Contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 or seek medical advice. Tell them which product was applied (we give you the name on the treatment record), and describe the rash. If you believe the rash is caused by the treatment, contact us at [email protected] or 0468 170 107 and we can discuss the symptoms. Do not re-enter treated areas until medical advice is clear.

Do I need to keep a veggie garden watered differently after external treatment?

External treatment is applied around the perimeter, eaves and fence lines. Check the label of your pesticide if you have questions about safety for plants or gardens. The HealthyWA guide to using pesticides safely has more detail on garden safety.

What is a treatment record and why do I need it?

A treatment record lists the product, the active constituent, the rate and the areas treated. You receive a copy kept for three years as WA regulations require. You can refer to it if pests come back or if you have questions about what was applied.

How often should we treat the house if we have young kids?

Frequency depends on the pest and the house. For general pests, most northern-suburbs homes need treatment once a year, timed for spring before ants and spiders wake up or autumn before cockroaches move indoors. Homes backing onto bush, with heavy garden cover, or with a history of German cockroaches might benefit from six-monthly visits. We tell you what suits your house on the quote, not the other way round. Read more in our guide on how much pest control costs in Perth.

Can I claim treatment on my home insurance if we have a baby?

Insurance questions go to your provider. Ask your insurer whether a general pest treatment is covered or what documentation they need if a claim is involved. DJ Pest provides a full treatment report with photos and a detailed invoice, which insurers often ask for.

Sources

General Pest Control Perth, the full service and the investment
Every guide on other pests
Pest management investment ranges in Perth, every service with a typical range
What's my pest?, pick what you saw
All pest guides