Non Toxic Pest Control for The Home

The following article is from from Jennifer, TheSmartMama.  See more tips on green parenting and non toxic living at her personal blog: TheSmartMama.

You may love all the creatures of this world, but you probably don’t want to share your home with moths, ants, fleas, roaches, termites, mice or rats. Finding evidence of any of these pests can have you considering ant sprays, moth balls and rat poison. But, we all know the pesticides are some of the most toxic products we use in our homes.

All pesticides have some risk of harm. The broad term “pesticides” includes those products that kill, repel, or block insects (insecticides), weeds (herbicides), fungus (fungicides), and even bacteria, viruses, molds, and other micro-organisms (antibacterials and antimicrobials). “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.” And, the government doesn’t keep us safe from pesticides. In the United States, pesticide law is not a health-based safety law. It balances health and environmental risks against economic benefit.

Apparently unconcerned about the possibility of harm (or perhaps too confident in our government’s ability to keep us safe), 80% to 90% of Americans use pesticides in and around the home. Kids, particularly fetuses, face the biggest risk from exposure to household use of pesticides. According to one study, lifelong hyperactivity in laboratory animals resulted from a single dose of organophosphate pesticides on a critical day of fetal brain development. Other research has linked exposure to household pesticides to an elevated risk of childhood leukemia by as much as 3 to 9 times. Exposures to insecticides early in life are more significant than later exposures in terms of increased cancer risk, and the highest risk associated with exposure to insecticides during pregnancy.

Keep in mind that when we use indoor pesticides, they leave residues on those areas where children play and sit. As a result, the National Academy of Sciences estimates that 50% of our lifetime exposure to pesticides occurs during the first five years of life. The National Research Council concludes at least with respect to pesticides that absent data to the contrary, “there should be a presumption of greater toxicity to infants and children.”

So what can a green parent do?

• Know your pest. Do some research and knowing exactly what pest is bothering you. Knowing your pest will let you choose a non-toxic solution that really works.
• Keep pests out. Mom was right – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keep pests from coming into your home. Block their entrances by caulking holes, using door sweeps, and keeping door and window screens in good condition.
• Let them starve. If you don’t feed them, they won’t come. So, take away what may be attracting them in the first place. Use sealed containers for sugar, flour, cereal, and pet food. Remove water sources by, for instance, fixing leaky pipes and removing standing water. My favorite tip for pet food left outdoors is to put it in a bowl and then put that bowl in a bowl of water to prevent ants. Of course, this will not deter raccoons.
• Use a fan. A breeze will keep mosquitoes and some other flying insects at bay.
• Go non-toxic. See what non-toxic options are available for your particular pest. Here are some of my favorite non-toxic options for common pests: (1) For ants, I use soap with peppermint essential oil and water. Soap has been used as an insecticide and antibacterial substance for many years. Just add about 2 teaspoons of liquid castile (vegetable-based) soap to a gallon of water, 10 to 15 drops of peppermint essential oil, and put in a spray bottle.  If you don’t have peppermint essential oil, use Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint castile soap.  (2)  For fruit flies, figure out what moist or wet decaying organic matter is attracting them and get rid of it. If you suspect your drain, tape a piece of waxed paper over your drain. If the fruit flies accumulate on the paper in a day or two, remove the paper and pour boiling water down the drain. If that doesn’t work, try ½ cup of baking soda, followed by ½ cup to a cup of vinegar down the drain.  Let the drain fizz for 5 minutes, then pour some boiling water down. For a garbage disposal, run ice cubes made from vinegar through it to clear off any gunk that may be allowing fruit flies to breed. (3) For moths, I skip mothballs made of naphthalene, a possible carcinogen, and use sachets of cedar chips or lavender to deter them.

Sometimes none of these solutions work.  So, if you must use a chemical pesticide, pick the least-toxic chemical option.  Never choose a broad spectrum pesticide.  Instead, pick one geared to address the particular pest.  And, read the label and look for the hazard “signal” words. Those “signal” words can give you a good indication of how toxic a particular product is. For example, the term “caution” is milder than “warning,” which is milder than “danger.”

Another option is some of the organic, non-toxic pesticides on the market.  These pesticides generally come from natural sources. You can use plant-based natural pesticides with pyrethins, rotenone, or essential oils or you can try boric acid or diatomaceous earth, which are also natural products. But, natural doesn’t mean the product is safe. Pyrethins, which are derived from flowers such as chrysanthemums, have been linked with autism.  Don’t put your faith in claims of “environmentally safe,” “environmentally friendly,” “eco-safe,” or “eco-friendly.”  These are NOT regulated terms.  I’ve seen an “environmentally friendly” pesticide on the market (and widely promoted in the blogosphere as green) that contains mineral oil – a petroleum substance that isn’t really environmentally friendly.

Another thing to keep in mind is the method of delivery. Spray pesticides cover wide areas of your home, so reduce exposure by using a gel or solid over a fogger or spray. If you use a chemical pesticide, ventilate the area and clean all surfaces after you’re finished. And be kid safe! Always secure pesticides in a secure location to prevent accidental poisonings.

Tagged as: Green & Simple Living, Non-Toxic Family