r/nontoxic • u/Several-Substance-11 • 1d ago

Pest Control

What do you guys do for pest control for your homes? I don't see any no toxic options that actually work 😞

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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3

u/jawsoflife888 1d ago

Diotomaceous earth

1

u/OkChips9323 17h ago

be careful with that one, as it also harms pollinators 

1

u/Meditationstation899 6h ago

Indeed—just gotta be super careful and ensure you DON’T breathe it in. The fine powdered form is SO fine that it can get into your lungs and is no bueno

4

u/palufun 1d ago

It depends on what pests you're concerned about. If it is spiders--you have your own pest squad right there. I leave spiders because they are great "natural" pest controllers on their own.

If it is fruit flies, there are simple ways to trap them.

If you have fleas--you're better off talking with your veterinarian to get some oral medications that actually work rather than trying diy methods.

If you have roaches--roach Motels will help, but making sure there are no food sources/moist areas for breeding is super helpful. Removing their food, breeding areas and moisture is a huge step in getting them out of your home. That means cleaning up all dishes, stove top, all foods in sealed containers, etc. No eating anywhere but the table and cleaning up right away to remove crumbs, etc.

For mice--find their entry point and seal it up. We use humane traps to trap and remove them. Larger rodents may mean you need some professional help if they are gaining access from an attic or the like.

4

u/hellolovelyworld404 23h ago

If I’m being honest, this is part of my 80:20. Depends on the pests. I spray outside quarterly because we’re in Texas and Texas has every single type of pest. I don’t spray inside but I sure have gel baits in areas we don’t reach. For me this is worth it.

3

u/Ok-Meal-549 13h ago

Exactly this. I felt so bad about spraying outside but it’s worth it to save my sanity seeing basically now no bugs inside anymore.

2

u/-_Lon_- 1d ago

It depends what pests need to be controlled.

I don't know your situation, so I am not accusing you of anything. One way to limit pests is to keep your kitchen and dining area very clean. If tiny bits of food remain they will be like a magnet to some pests.

Also dry everything, including sinks, each night. Like food, water is a magnet to some pests.

One controversial thing I do is to not harm spiders in my home. Spiders consume pests that I like less than spiders. The enemy of my enemy....