Nobody likes to have pests in the home, so it’s only natural that we do whatever we can to avoid them!  However, you don’t have to use a bunch of potentially dangerous chemicals to keep your homes pest free.  There are some options that are both child and pet friendly and we outline them here. For more information, have a chat with your local pest control professional.

Look for Natural or Non Chemical Pest Control Choices

The good news is that you don’t have to use dangerous chemicals in order to keep those nasty pests away!  There are plenty of natural or non chemical options and some of the best include:

• Ultrasonic devices – these are special devices that emit a noise at a frequency that humans cannot hear but that pests find very discomfiting.  The noise alone will deter pests!

• Physical barriers – physical barriers such as flyscreens are an incredibly effective deterrent to most flying insects as they just can’t get through the tiny holes.

• Keep the home clean and free of clutter – pests are attracted to dark spots and rubbish so it only makes sense to keep your home as clean and as free of clutter as you can.  Empty your bins regularly, put food away, wipe up benches, and remove any water sources.

• Keep food in containers – some pests will chew right through cardboard and other packaging to get to food so keep food and pet food in strong plastic or metal containers that they can’t get through.

• Borax – this is an incredibly effective natural means of controlling cockroaches and cockroach eggs. Mix sugar and borax together and place it on jar lids out of the reach of kids and pets.  You can also sprinkle borax over the carpets to kill eggs and cockroaches.

• Ant repellents – use natural repellents such as cinnamon, mint, chilli powder, black pepper and baby powder. Sprinkle these near where you see ants enter your home and they’ll go away in no time!  Alternatively, you can make a vinegar and water spray and use it as a pet and kid safe surface spray.

• Termite baiting – termites strike fear into the heart of any home owner but a combination of termite baiting and the use of a growth regulator that only works on termites is the answer to preventing them.  You can see if termites have taken the bait inside the baiting station and if they do, you add growth regulator to kill them and the colony, removing the threat from your home.

When Chemicals Have to Be Used

If you are calling a pest control professional to your home, try and ensure that they use the lowest toxicity products possible. Ideally, they will use products that are pet safe and friendly for children.  Where this is not possible, they should place the chemicals in clearly marked containers and/or away from the easy reach of children and pets alike.  If spraying needs to occur, remove all humans and pets from the house for the recommended amount of time (but feel free to stay out longer to ensure that the chemicals have properly dissipated).  Before allowing any pest control work to take place, always discuss the treatment method with your pest control guy and make sure that you are happy with what they are doing.