How to Make Safe Pest Control a Habit at Home

May 3
05:56

2015

Ma. Theresa Galan

Ma. Theresa Galan

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Having critters in your home is no fun. A really bad infestation can drive you to thoughts of flea foggers, ant sprays, moth balls, rat poison, and antibacterial products–toxic pesticides! But we advise keeping a cool head.

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There are plenty of ways to drive out pests without fouling your nest.Take your chemical pesticides to your city's next hazardous waste collection day and use the following techniques for controlling unwanted insects in your home and garden.

Those who have children are taking the biggest risk. When they use indoor pesticides for indoor pest control,How to Make Safe Pest Control a Habit at Home Articles they often leave residues on floors where children play and sit. The National Academy of Sciences estimates that 50% of our lifetime exposure to pesticides occurs during the first five years of life. Young children are particularly sensitive to these poisons, which can cause immediate harm and increase the risk of illness later in life, including cancer.

By their very nature, most pesticides create some risk of harm," the EPA says. "Pesticides can cause harm to humans, animals or the environment because they are designed to kill or otherwise adversely affect living organisms." One study found lifelong hyperactivity in laboratory animals resulted from a single dose of organophosphate pesticides on a critical day of fetal brain development.

Know your pest

Do a little research before you attempt indoor pest control. Knowing the name of the critter that's bothering you will help you come up with a non-toxic solution that really works

Build barriers

Prevent pests from coming into your home in the first place. Block their entrances by caulking holes, using door sweeps, and keeping door and window screens in good condition.

Take away their food and drink

Eliminate the sources of food and moisture that may be attracting pests. Keep sugar, flour, cereal, and pet food in sealed containers. Remove water sources by, for instance, fixing leaky pipes and removing standing water. To prevent mold, eliminate excess moisture, fix leaks, ventilate, and use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Go non-toxic. See what non-toxic options are available for your particular indoor pest control problem.

Use the least-toxic chemical option. If you must use a chemical pesticide, choose the most environmentally friendly option that targets your particular pest. The "signal" words on labels can give you a good indication of how poisonous a product is: "caution," for instance, is milder than "warning," which is milder than "danger." To reduce exposure, always choose a gel or solid over a fogger or spray.

Other Considerations

If pesticides are toxic to us, they can also harm our pets. Carefully select any insecticides you use to control ticks and fleas. Try some non-toxic and less-toxic options before resorting to conventional chemical tick and flea control. Vacuuming regularly catches and kills nearly 100% of adult fleas.

Getting Started

Write down various ways you could address your pest problem, and try the least-toxic tactic first.

Go check out Pest Control Auckland for better, effective assistance you can get

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