Non-Toxic Pest Control at Home
Last Updated: Mar 17, 2025There is nothing worse than opening your kitchen pantry and finding a horde of cockroaches scrambling into the hidden nooks and corners where you store your food. Besides being simply disgusting, cockroaches also represent a serious health threat. They carry diseases that can cause typhoid fever, polio, and even dysentery. While ants generally do not pose any health threat to humans, ants in the kitchen will inevitably find their way into places where you store food. Termites can compromise your home's structure if you are unlucky enough to have a sizeable infestation.
When cockroaches, ants, or other common household pests are found, the first reaction of many homeowners is to purchase a can of Baygon or other common pesticides. However, spraying strong chemicals on your kitchen counter, in your pantry, and in other areas of your home should raise eyebrows for health-minded individuals. In this article, we look at some of the potential environmental and health problems associated with using pesticides in the house. Then, we offer a variety of ideas for pesticide-free control of pests at home.
Table of Contents
- Problems with Pesticides
- The Importance of Prevention
- Already Have Pest Problems? Take Action Right Away
- Managing Pests at Home with Non-Toxic Pest Control
- Store-bought Non-Toxic Pest Control Sprays and Powders
- DIY Non-Toxic Pest Control Sprays and Powders
- Non-Toxic Pest Control Strategies for Ants, Fleas, Bedbugs & Cockroaches
- Non-Toxic Pest Control Strategies for Flies, Wasps & Moths
- Non-Toxic Pest Control Strategies for Spiders
- Non-Toxic Pest Control Strategies for Mice and Rats
- Non-Toxic Pest Control Is Possible
Problems with Pesticides
Many of the most common household pesticide products contain organophosphorus chlorpyrifos as one of the active ingredients. While this ingredient is certainly effective at killing insects, it is also known to cause health problems for humans, mainly through negatively affecting the central nervous system.
Another common active ingredient in over-the-counter pest control products is the several types of pyrethroids. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) finds that pyrethroids can interfere with the way that the nerves and brain function. They can also cause feelings of numbness, itching, burning, and stinging on the skin. In terms of environmental impact, any type of chemical insecticide use can have ecological effects.
Pesticides can contaminate soil and water sources. They also tend to indiscriminately affect beneficial insects such as bees and other pollinators, which are essential parts of any ecosystem. Even when used in the home, chemical insecticides may take a long time to break down and can negatively affect the ecosystem around your home.
If you go to the store looking for a pest management solution, you'll probably find an abundance of toxic chemicals. These are extremely dangerous if kids or pets come in contact with them. Luckily, there are dozen of non-toxic pest control options to deter critters and get rid of any that may already be crawling around your house.
The Importance of Prevention
In most cases, pesticide use can be entirely avoided through proper preventative measures. Like all live creatures, insects need to eat to live and move toward areas where food is present.
Following strict preventive measures can help to avoid, and also get rid of pest problems without relying on pesticides. Commercial, LEED-certified buildings have to abide by strict indoor air quality requirements and are a great example for the industry. This means that building managers need to follow a lengthy and extensive protocol, focusing on preventive measures before ever resorting to pesticide use for a pest infestation problem.
How to Proactively Prevent Pest Problems
Here are a few tips that will tell pests they are not welcome in your home:
- Clean up spills and messes as soon as they happen
- When cleaning, move furniture, shelves, appliances, and other objects to clean under and around them
- Regularly check for spills and crumbs behind the refrigerator and other hidden spots
- Keep all food (dog food, too!) in airtight sealed containers, bags or bins
- Make sure indoor compost, trash, and recycling bins have tight-fitting lids
- Cockroaches like humid areas to reproduce. Keep your home well ventilated and free from humidity and dampness to discourage them from staying
- Immediately fix any leaks in your kitchen or bathroom sinks to keep bugs away from these prime breeding grounds
- Cover up any cracks and crevices around your home, which are entryways for all types of bugs
- Keep firewood outside
- Dump any standing water after rain and after watering your plants
- Another great way to deter pests is to grow herb gardens around the outside edges of your house, especially in problem locations where pests have gotten in before. Most people love the strong scent of fresh herbs, but most pests find them too strong and will stay away.
Green Shield Certification
Another way to search for pest control companies that offer integrated pest management strategies is to look for businesses that have received Green Shield certification. This certification requires companies to apply effective non-chemical strategies first and pesticides only when necessary. Baits and traps must be used instead of more toxic sprays. The only pesticides allowed are those that have been screened and approved by the Green Shield Certified non-profit organization. You can find a list of Green Shield Certified pest control companies here.
Managing Pests at Home with Non-Toxic Pest Control
If you catch the pest problem early, it doesn't take much time or effort to manage it yourself. When you carry out your pest control, you can be 100% certain you're using non-toxic solutions that are safe even if your dog licks it or your toddler gets her hands on it.
Whether store-bought or homemade, the following pest management sprays and powder solutions will deter most pests, including ants, fleas, bedbugs, cockroaches, flies, wasps, hornets, moths, and spiders.
Non-Toxic Pest Control Strategies for Mice and Rats
Mice and rats are probably your least favorite pest to deal with as they can be quite large and fast. Again, the first thing to do is to seal up those entry points. Next, either hire a professional exterminator or try these at-home solutions.
Store-Bought Mousetraps
- Snap traps are tried and true and will trap and kill your rodent guests with just a little bit like a piece of cheese or a dab of peanut butter.
- Sticky boards can be placed in problem areas to freeze rodents as they scurry about, but this trap might be considered inhumane as the mouse is stuck in place while still alive.
- Catch and release traps are more humane as they capture the mouse or rat so you can safely set him free outside.
- The Ultrasonic Pest Chaser produces a sound that humans and pets can't hear, but mice certainly can.
Easy DIY Mouse and Rat Deterrents
- Corncob bags can be made at home by combining three cubs of corncob bedding with 1 oz of balsam fir oil in a cloth bag. Then leave them near the mouse entry point(s) to naturally deter mice and rats from entering.
- Kitty litter is an excellent, natural deterrent whether or not you have a cat.
- Onions and garlic are strong odors that rodents don't like. Proudly display yours in pretty baskets or braid and hang in your kitchen to ward off potential rodents.
Non-Toxic Pest Control Is Possible
Whether you live in the country or the city, pests can always find a way into your home. Keeping a clean home is the number one way to deter pests from making a home of your house. If you do come across pests, try any of these non-toxic options to remove them without harming your loved ones.
Laura Bourland
Laura grew up in the California suburbs, far removed from environmentalism, but nature always has a way. She uprooted her life in 2015, moving to the countryside of Washington to live a more sustainable and simple life on 12 acres. She and her fiancee are learning on the job as they attempt everything from gardening and natural pest control to eco-friendly building and home improvement.
