57 Ways - 49. Control Household Pests With Less Toxic Alternatives

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57 Ways To Protect Your Home Environment (and Yourself)

Caring for the Home Landscape

1. Aim for a healthy lawn rather than a perfect lawn
2. Cut the grass without gas
3. Prevent insect, disease, and weed problems in the garden
4. Identify fruits and vegetables that need fewer pesticides
5. Select native trees and shrubs that will thrive in your yard
6. Keep your tress healthy and safe
7. Plant “wild” in your backyard
8. Attract birds and butterflies to your backyard

Using Alternatives to Traditional Pesticides & Fertilizers - Where Practical

9. Scout for pests on the landscape
10. Consider microbial insecticides
11. Consider botanical insecticides & insecticidal soaps
12. Conserve beneficial insects
13. Monitor & control insects with traps
14. Use pest barriers in your garden
15. Solarize soil
16. Consider the potential of natural fertilizers

Using Chemicals on the Landscape - If Necessary

17. Know what to ask a lawn-care company and arborist
18. Understand pesticide toxicity
19. Read the pesticide label
20. Apply pesticides accurately and safely
21. Apply fertilizers accurately and safely

Storing & Disposing of Hazardous Chemicals

22. Store hazardous chemicals safely
23. Dispose of pesticides safely
24. Dispose of auto products safely
25. Dispose of paints and solvents safely
26. Dispose of adhesives, areosols, household cleaners & other hazardous waste safely

Managing Yard, Food & Other Household Waste

27. Reduce household waste
28. Recycle paper, glass, & aluminum
29. Reuse and respond
30. Recycle grass clippings
31. Create a compost pile
32. Use yard waste as mulch
33. Dispose of tree residues

Protecting Your Drinking Water

34. Know when & how to test your water
35. Test your water for coliform bacteria & nitrate 36. Test your water for pesticides - if necessary
37. Know the signs of contaminants in drinking water
38. Select effective water-treatment methods
39. Prevent contamination from septic systems
40. Know the pros & cons of bottled water

Protecting the Indoor Environment

41. Prevent contamination by lead
42. Test your home for radon
43. Reduce radon levels
44. Control dust, dust mites & other allergens
45. Reduce pollution from combustion equipment
46. Prevent contamination by formaldehyde and asbestos
47. Recognize tht it's not always necessary to control indoor insects
48. Select the right household pesticide
49. Control household pests with less toxic alternatives
50. Select household cleaners wisely

Conserving Energy & Water

51. Design new homes for energy effciency
52. Save energy in heating & cooling
53. Insulate & seal your home
54. Choose energy-efficient appliances
55. Save money & energy with compact fluorescent light bulbs
56. Use plants & other landscape tools to conserve energy
57. Conserve water in & around the home

49. Control Household Pests With Less Toxic Alternatives
	A variety of strategies avoid the use of synthetic pesticides in the home. Here are some nonchemical control options. Eliminate entry points to the house. Place screening over openings, as well as on air vents and ducts. Use caulk to close cracks and crevices, especially around water pipes and windows. Seal or repair openings on the exterior of the house. Also, screen attic vents. Inspect plants and food products for infestations before you bring them into your house.
	Eliminate the insects’ sources of food, water, and shelter. Dispose of food waste in sealed plastic bags, or in containers that have snap-on lids. Empty garbage on a weekly basis or more often. Don’t allow food to remain in the garbage disposal overnight. Store bulk foods in sealed containers. Keep pantry and cabinet shelves, toasters, and couch cushions “crumb-free.”
	Remove pet food and water bowls from the floor at night, especially if cockroaches are problem. Discard overripe fruits, onions, and potatoes to control fruit flies and fungus beetles. Also, remove bird nests from your house. Vacuum regularly and thoroughly, or steam-clean carpets and upholstered furniture, to reduce some pest populations.
	Eliminate or disrupt the habitat where a pest resides. Store wood away from the house because it can harbor termites and other pests. Remove debris and fallen leaves near foundations and limbs that touch the house. Use a dehumidifier, especially in basements. In a dry environment, problems with sowbugs, centipedes, silverfish, firebrats, and dust mites are reduced.
	Certain old-fashioned methods still work. To eliminate visible or less mobile insects, there’s the old reliable rolled-up magazine, fly swatter, or the sole of your shoe. The vacuum cleaner is the most appropriate tool for eliminating boxelder bugs, black vine weevils, and elm leaf beetles that have moved indoors.
	Insecticidal dusts tend to be less hazardous to humans than most synthetic pesticides. They do not vaporize in the air and pose little risk of injury due to skin contact. Even so, they can irritate mucous membranes and the respiratory tract, so use goggles and a dust mask. Three of the most common insecticidal dusts are silica aerogel, diatomaceous earth, and boric acid.
	Traps use sticky substances or funnel-shaped openings to capture insects and rodents; they catch only the pests that wander into or onto the trap. With bait stations, on the other hand, the insect collects a poisoned bait, takes it back to the nest, and shares it with the rest of the colony. As a result, baits often do a better job than traps in controlling a large pest population.