Pest Control: Inside or Outside? Family Choices Explained

When you schedule a general pest spray with us, you'll need to make an important decision: do you want treatment for both the inside and outside of your home, or just the exterior?

Choosing both inside and outside means comprehensive coverage for your entire home. Opting for outside only allows everyone to remain indoors during the treatment. Many families prefer the outside-only option for this very reason, ensuring no one has to leave the house.

Here’s a detailed comparison of both treatments and guidance on determining which option best fits your needs.

What Areas Does an Outdoor Pest Control Treatment Address?

An outdoor treatment includes the exterior of your home, your garden, the fence line, and the area around your washing line. We focus on the common spots where pests congregate and travel: the eaves, window and door frames, exterior walls, alfresco areas, and along the fence line.

This treatment acts as a surface application. Any pest that traverses a treated area will come into contact with the treatment. This is why we target areas where spiders spin their webs and where crawling insects approach the home.

It's important to note that many pests that enter your home typically originate from the outside. For instance, webbing spiders often reside in the eaves and around windows, while white tail spiders come inside in search of them. By addressing the spider population outdoors, you significantly reduce the likelihood of white tails entering your home.

What Is Not Included in an Outdoor Treatment?

Choosing an outdoor-only treatment means that the interior of your home, the roof cavity, and the inside of the garage will not receive any treatment.

As such, if there are pests already residing inside your home, an outdoor treatment will not eliminate them. For example, silverfish hiding along the skirting, earwigs in the bathroom, or daddy long legs in the ceiling corners will require an indoor treatment.

What Does an Inside and Outside Pest Treatment Include?

This treatment encompasses everything covered by the outdoor treatment, in addition to the interior of your home, the roof cavity, and the garage.

A comprehensive pest treatment targets webbing spiders, cockroaches, silverfish, earwigs, and other crawling insects that may infiltrate your home. Inside, we apply the treatment in their hiding spots and pathways, such as along skirting boards and around window and door frames.

Why Is It Necessary to Vacate the House for Four Hours After an Indoor Pest Treatment?

After we treat the interior of your home, it is essential for the house to remain unoccupied for four hours. This waiting period allows the treatment to dry effectively. Please take your pets with you, as dogs and cats tend to walk on all fours and groom themselves, which we want to avoid while the treatment is still wet.

If anyone in the household suffers from allergies or respiratory issues, they may need to remain out of the house for a longer duration. Please inform us when you make your booking.

Why Families with Pets and Young Children Prefer Outdoor Pest Control Treatments

While some households can easily vacate the premises for four hours, others may find it challenging.

Consider a baby needing a nap at home, a dog that dislikes car rides, someone working from home with important calls, or a shift worker sleeping during the day. For these families, coordinating everyone to leave the house for four hours can be quite a burden.

This is a key reason many families with pets and young children opt for the outdoor-only treatment. Everyone stays at home, including pets, allowing children to maintain their routines while still ensuring the exterior of the house receives the necessary treatment.

Choosing the outdoor-only option hinges on who will be at home on the day of treatment, not on the effectiveness of the service. We prioritise safety for pets and families while delivering a lethal solution for pests, regardless of the treatment you choose.

When Is Outdoor Pest Control Sufficient?

If your primary concern is the presence of spiders outside your home, opting for outdoor-only treatment is often the best choice. This option addresses issues such as webbing on eaves, cobwebs around windows, and spiders along fences and pergolas, which are their natural habitats.

This treatment is also suitable for homes where the interior is pest-free and you wish to keep any potential invaders at bay. If you haven't observed any pests in the kitchen, bathroom, or bedrooms, an outdoor treatment may be all that’s necessary.

Spiders are frequently the reason individuals reach out for pest control services. If you are primarily concerned about spider infestations, you can learn more about our treatment methods on our dedicated spider control page.

When Is an Indoor Pest Treatment Also Required?

If you notice pests inside your home, it indicates they have established a presence indoors. Examples include silverfish in the bathroom, earwigs entering through doors, or webs in ceiling corners that reappear after cleaning. In such instances, an outdoor-only treatment will not resolve the issue.

Choosing both inside and outside is crucial when the roof cavity or garage is part of the infestation problem, as these areas are not addressed by an outdoor-only treatment.

Why German Cockroaches Require Specialized Treatment

The cockroaches dealt with in a general treatment typically wander in from the garden. small tan cockroaches with two dark stripes behind their heads spotted in kitchens are often German cockroaches. These pests require a targeted treatment plan and may necessitate multiple sessions for effective eradication. If this sounds familiar in your kitchen, please let us know when you contact us so we can arrange the appropriate treatment. More information is available on our cockroach control page.

How Frequently Should Your Home Undergo General Pest Treatments?

Most households benefit from one or two general pest treatments annually, whether that involves both inside and outside or just the exterior. Booking treatments as the warmer months approach is wise, as spider activity peaks during this time.

If a specific pest has become particularly problematic, a targeted treatment will be necessary, and our technician will assess the situation and recommend the best course of action.

Your Outdoor Pest Control Queries Addressed

Is It Necessary to Vacate the House During an Outdoor Pest Treatment?

No, you can remain indoors, including your pets. The four-hour vacate rule applies only when we treat the interior.

Can I Schedule Outdoor Pest Control for a Unit or Townhouse?

Absolutely. Our pricing page includes an outdoor-only option for units and townhouses, in addition to single and double-storey homes.

Will Outdoor Pest Control Eliminate the Spiders Inside My Home?

This treatment focuses on the spiders outside your house, addressing the source of many indoor spider problems. spiders that have already settled inside, such as those in ceiling corners or behind curtains, will require an indoor treatment as well.

How to Book Outdoor Pest Control or Full Treatments in Melbourne

We offer both treatment options for all home sizes on our pest control prices page, catering to units, townhouses, and double-storey residences.

When making your booking, please inform us of:

• Your pets: the types you have and where they typically spend their time during the day.
• Young children: so we can plan the treatment schedule accordingly.
• Allergies or respiratory issues: anyone in the household who may need to stay out for an extended period.
• Your pest observations: whether you’ve seen spiders outside or other pests indoors as well.

If you're unsure which treatment is best for your situation, share your findings with us, and we can discuss the options. Call us at 1300 737 821 or send us a message.

SOS Pest Control is a family-owned pest control business based in Melbourne, operating since 2003. Our licensed technicians provide expert treatment for homes and businesses throughout Melbourne, from Brighton, Sandringham, and Mentone to Camberwell, Hawthorn, and Toorak.