How to Avoid Usage of Chemicals in Doing Pest Control

Many insects and rodents are attracted to food and water, so start off by making your home less enticing to pests.Deny access to new invaders by making sure potential entry points are sealed off.

How to Deny Access

• Use silicone caulk to seal any cracks and crevices in baseboards, moldings, cupboards, pipes, ducts, sinks, toilets and electrical outlets.
• Place screens in front of heating and cooling vents, and repair holes in any existing screens. The average mouse found in homes can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime!
• Keep vegetation, stacked firewood and other debris away from the exterior of your house so pests can't climb up and in.

Now that you're denying pests food, shelter and access, it's time to put the squeeze on any lingering intruders. To solve your pest problems without using chemical pesticides, you can:

• Vacuum for individual bugs or nests (bugs will usually suffocate in the bag)
• Lay traps (flytraps, jar traps, pheromone traps, light traps, etc.)
• Use a swatter

STEP 4:Choose Lower-Risk Pesticides

If problems persist, try these techniques, which will minimize the health risks to members of your household.

• Dust boric acid on cracks and crevices, which slowly poisons crawling insects like ants, cockroaches and silverfish, but is far less toxic to humans and other mammals.
• To control insects and rodents, try tamper-resistant bait boxes -- an effective and safer choice than sprays, powders or pellets, which all spread pesticide residues. Look for one that uses a nonvolatile chemical, like boric acid, and make sure to keep bait stations out of the reach of children.
• Try insecticidal or fatty-acid soaps, which kill soft-bodied insects like caterpillars, fleas and mites on contact, and are virtually harmless to humans and mammals unless they're ingested.

• Hire a professional trained in Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which uses physical pest controlsand low-toxicity products to manage pest problem.

STEP 5:Minimize Exposure

When using any pesticide, be sure to limit the exposure of everyone in your household.

• Avoid frequent, preventative applications. Never exceed the application rate indicated in the instructions.
• When applying pesticides, follow all precautions listed on the label, such as wearing gloves, masks or goggles.
• Make sure any baits, traps or pesticide residues are kept out of reach of children and pets.
• Never dump leftover pesticides in the garbage, on the lawn, or down the drain, where it could contaminate the soil or drinking water. Check with your public works department about how to dispose of hazardous waste.

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