Although pest control options are regulated by the EPA, no long-term studies have been conducted on their safety, and even some that are thought to be safe can cause harm. For example, a University of Southern California study showed that babies exposed to pesticides are more than twice as likely to have childhood asthma than children exposed to none. And pesticides are everywhere in our world – home and garden use is the second biggest user of pesticides next to farms, at 160 million pounds per year. Going entirely without some form of pest control is unreasonable. When your home is invaded by the creepy crawlies, they need to be dealt with. Here are several alternative pest control options for your eco-friendly home:
Prevention:
While the best defense may be a good offense, avoiding a battle altogether is the best alternative. Calk any cracks, keep your floors clean, food sealed and invest in a covered trash can.
Rodents:
Most commercial rodent baits contain anticoagulants, which cause internal bleeding, and if ingested can be lethal to children. Your cat could also die if it catches and eats a poisoned mouse or rat. Instead buy snap traps (about twelve for the average home) and place them in recommended areas, usually against walls or underneath cabinets. Rodents are partial to peanut butter even more than cheese, so place a little on each trap to be sure you catch them. Make sure you buy enough to cover your whole house; sometimes traps seem ineffective because the entire area was not protected.
Termites:
It’s easy to spot a termite-invested house as you drive buy because they’re covered in a tent being completely fumigated by sulfuryl fluoride, a highly toxic gas. They are a common problem; according to USDA Forest Service, termite pest control costs billions every year. However, experts say that you don’t need to bomb the entire house. Most termites will congregate around the porch area, so concentrate the poisonous chemical only there and see if that solves the problem. There is also Bora-Care, which has low-toxicity and protects the wood from any future infestations as well as kills the current termites.
Moths:
Because it is the larvae and not the full-grown creatures that make holes in your wool, freezing your potentially hole-ridden clothing for a few days at the beginning and end of moth season will kill them. If you don’t have room in your freezer, dry cleaning can work as well. Mothballs can cause cancer and liver and kidney damage if ingested, so avoid using them if possible. To prevent the larvae from making your sweaters their home in the first place, keep your clothes clean – sweat and food attract them.
Bedbugs:
According to M & M Pest Control, “The very powerful pesticide DDT was once the most popular method of eliminating bed bugs, but over time they have developed immunity to many forms of chemicals. Since the pesticide is toxic to pets and children and may not have any effect on the bugs, going green is the best all around option.” Extreme heat has been proven to be very effective in exterminating bedbugs (120 degrees or higher). There are also several green chemical options as well that are very effective and available through a local pest control company.
Ants:
Bug spray chemicals work by blocking nerve impulses in insects, essentially paralyzing them, and also cause acute poisoning in people. Soapy water works just as well. Ants follow each other using chemical trails, and soapy water will make the path impossible to find and stop the rest of the colony from making your home their home.
