Non-Toxic Pest Control for the Eco-Home

We recently moved into a gorgeous 112-year-old house in the historic district of our town. We are renting long-term with an option to buy. We have an awesome landlord who has let us really make this our home and he’s very easy to work with. He and his wife had contracted the local affiliate of a national pest control service. They have offered us the benefit for free, which is generous. However, I’ve owned several old houses and I’ve never used chemical pest control methods.

I’m not particularly good with insects, but I know they are a vital part of our eco-system. I have spent a lot of time and energy over the years working on making peace with the insect world and finding ways to co-exist. Don’t get me wrong, I REALLY don’t like ants in my kitchen, spiders in the bedroom or other various multi-legged critters terrorizing us inside the house. When I find a misguided critter in the house, I do my best NOT to freak out and put them back outside with a stern lecture on staying OUTSIDE.

I’m the one with the scrappy lawn because I refuse to use chemical fertilizers on it. I’m sensitive to chemicals and just know too much about the negative effects of many chemicals not only on our bodies, but in our environment as well. There are many studies showing how our bodies are being overburdened by toxins and how babies are now being born pre-polluted – yikes! Environmental Working Group has done a lot of homework for us and offers tons of resources for research on commonly used chemicals, toxins and their effects on our health and their environmental impact.

So, one morning the nice pest control man knocks on the door unexpectedly. I’m sure he figured he’d just let me know he would be spraying the outside of the house and he didn’t expect me to start questioning him about the type of chemicals they use and what exactly they are for – killing v. deterring. I said, “Thanks, but let me do some research and I’ll get back to you.” He looked genuinely baffled, but he eventually gave up and wandered back to his truck.

I had my intern do some research and the pest control company stonewalled her. I gave it a try, and they weren’t any better with me. Their website doesn’t divulge ANY information about the types of chemicals they use. OK – one can only surmise, whatever they use must be toxic or they wouldn’t work so hard to keep the information from you! Luckily for me, my landlord is interested in helping the environment and was ok with my doing some homework and considering some possible alternatives.

It is important to realize that in an environment where humans and man-made structures do not exist, insects play a vital role in the eco-system. We consider insects pests when they appear to be invading our space. Termites for instance can do severe damage to a wood dwelling, but in nature, their role is key to help the decomposition process of dead trees. While I don’t think I’ve got arachnophobia, I’m not happy when I see spiders in the house. They are icky, but generally harmless to humans. I LOVE that they eat other insects, so they are among those that are carefully escorted outside with the standard lecture to keep it outside.

Next: Non-toxic alternatives for household pests

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Antoinette S.

7:18AM PDT on Sep 3, 2012

Thanks for the comments on the danger to lungs - that is somewhat vital information that was not mentioned in the article. Apart from that, great article, although it is not as comprehensive as it could be with a bit more research. I always find it funny to read about people escorting spiders (or insects) outdoors with stern warnings! lol I've never actually had that work....but thanks for the comic relief!

September 3
send a green star

Lyn S.

8:46PM PDT on Aug 21, 2012

We have a standard comment at home, "Leave and you live. Don't and you die!"

I do my best not to harm anything in its own, outdoor environment (I am in their home, after all), but I do reserve the right to keep my home the way I like it !

August 21
send a green star

Terry V.

5:36PM PDT on Aug 21, 2012

Nutmeg for grease ants

Victoria P.

5:11PM PDT on Aug 21, 2012

When using diatomaceous earth it's a good idea to invest in and use a dust mask to reduce the risk of breathing it in and damaging the lungs. If you use it on your animals it might be a good idea to dust them lightly outside to reduce their risk of breathing it in as well. Unless you can convince them to wear a dust mask!

Jane H.

12:49PM PDT on Aug 21, 2012

Many thanks.

Geela G.

10:25AM PDT on Aug 21, 2012

Great ideas, great tips.

Amanda M.

9:58AM PDT on Aug 21, 2012

I try to be as eco-friendly as I can about bugs in our house too. Larder beetles get the soap-water "swirlie"-take half a cup of water and a drop or two of liquid dishwashing or hand soap, mix together, and drop the larder beetle or larva in and swirl for a minute. Once the bugs are drowned, you can either dump the cup of liquid down the drain or toss it outside. This also works well for brown marmorated stink bugs too.

Spiders also get the standard "get out and stay out" escort and admonition too. We also have house centipedes (those brown striped ones that look like feathers rippling when they move and can move like sixty), but I don't mind them so much because they are also pest control in their own right, just like spiders. They eat other bugs, and since they tend to keep to their own devices in the garage and rec room, I don't mind them so much. When they get too rambunctious, they simply get escorted outside as well.

This time of year being tomato harvesting season, we also have fruit flies-they're a nuisance, but we just put up with them. There's a fly strip hanging over the compost bucket on the counter, and since they come in through the window screens, it's all but impossible to get rid of them permanently until the weather cools off. We just empty the bucket before it has a chance to "ferment," and make sure the fly strip is still doing its job.

Meg G.

3:35PM PDT on Aug 20, 2012

Great tips and ideas. Another one for you which is a good cockroach deterrent is pure peppermint oil. I found the bests way to use it is - as a spray under stoves, fridges, furniture etc with a mixture of 250ml methylated spirits and the 20-30 drops of oil. The metho evaporates and leaves behind the oil. Then I put a few drops on a cotton wool balls or soft absorbent fabric and place them in cupboards and drawers and renew the oil every 2mths. The bonus of this is you have lovely minty smelling cupboards.

August 20
send a green star

Angela B.

10:36AM PDT on Aug 20, 2012

I live surrounded by forest so bugs are a fact of life. We keep the screens fixed and I draw a chalk line by the basement door where the ants like to come in for a visit and it seems to keep them outside. I don't kill alot of insects except for mosquitoes and deer flies.