| Pesticides are toxic and, while often effective | | | | doors and windows.Nontoxic Pest Control |
| against pests, can be dangerous for your family | | | | ProductsTraps:There are many kinds of traps |
| and pets. Outdoors, sprayed pesticides might drift | | | | available that target many kinds of pests. Some |
| on a breeze and dust your vegetable garden or | | | | examples are sticky traps for cockroaches, |
| your neighbor's yard. Indoors, pesticides can linger | | | | glueboards for mice, flypaper, bug zappers, and |
| in the air, exposing the family to harmful | | | | traps specifically for rats, gophers, or moles. You |
| chemicals. For these reasons, many people are | | | | can usually pick up traps at your local Home and |
| turning to nontoxic pest control | | | | Garden store.Pheromones:Pheromones, essentially |
| methods.Prevention is the best way to control | | | | insect scent hormones, can be used in traps as |
| pests, but there are times when even the most | | | | bait. By emitting the scent of the female insect, |
| thorough preventative measures will not save you | | | | pheromones can be used to lure males into a |
| from intruders, so this article discusses both | | | | trap, where they are caught in a sticky glue. |
| preventative pest control methods and nontoxic | | | | Insects are only attracted by pheromones |
| pest control products.Preventative Pest Control | | | | emitted by their own kind, so you need to know |
| MethodsSanitation:As they say, cleanliness is next | | | | exactly what kind of insects you're trying to |
| to godliness. And it keeps pests out, too. Keeping | | | | eliminate and plan accordingly.Biological |
| your home clean is the most effective pest | | | | Control:Biological control is more often used in |
| control method. If you don't leave food or dirty | | | | agriculture but can sometimes be used in home |
| dishes lying around the house, animals and insects | | | | and garden situations as well. Basically it means |
| won't be attracted to the smell. Sweep and | | | | using desirable organisms to eliminate undesirable |
| vacuum regularly. Remember, just because you | | | | organisms. For instance, planting certain plants in |
| can't see crumbs doesn't mean they don't exist. | | | | your garden can deter certain pests. For example, |
| Clean inside pantries and cabinets cabinets, under | | | | spearmint repels ants. Garlic repels Japanese |
| and around the stove and refrigerator at least | | | | Beetles. Indoors, spiders eat fruit flies and |
| once a year.Screens:This may seem obvious, but | | | | houseflies, so it may be worth leaving some of |
| screens on doors and windows are a simple and | | | | those webs around.Repellents:There are nontoxic |
| relatively cheap way to keep insects out of the | | | | repellents available for pest control. Mosquito |
| house. Also, screens on crawlspaces keep rodents | | | | repellents are the most popular, but if you look |
| from obtaining easy access routes into the | | | | around, you can find repellents that target other |
| house.Caulking:By caulking cracks in your house, | | | | pests. Some herbs, like eucalyptus and |
| you can minimize places for insects to hide and | | | | wormwood, are known for repelling animals and |
| nest. Target bathrooms and the kitchen, especially | | | | insects. |