by Alexius Tan

Created on: July 15, 2008   Last Updated: April 24, 2009

Pest control is an issue that comes along with human civilization. Controlling pests in a non-toxic method is a challenge. Most chemical methods employ the use of poisons, which may cause serious harm and injuries to man.

Non-toxic methods take a more subtle approach of chasing these pests out of your territory instead of poisoning them to death.

ANTS

Ants are one of the most common pests. To chase them out, you must cut their water supply. Most pests that live in big colonies are usually found near water sources. Check for leaking in water pipes, near the sinks especially. Check for their presence near your indoor plants. If they are found there, boil mint leaves or tea leaves (without sugar of course!) in water, leave the water to cool and spray on the plants periodically. It is strange that ants do not like the smells of such scented herbs. Thanks to the smell that ants are sensitive to, rubber bands tied to the legs of your table do ward them off too! And of course, housekeeping is an important measure against pests; clean places where you have your meals and snacks. Bring the potential food for them out of the house before the ants are lured in.

COCKROACHES

Cockroaches are big nasty pests; some of them could even fly! Thorough cleaning can remove the eggs left behind by such pests while you were sleeping. Keeping them out may need the use of a tropical plant named Pandanus amaryllifolius, commonly known as pandan leaves in Southeast Asia. These leaves exude a unique smell like the coconut and putting these leaves at dark corners or in cabinets can force cockroaches out. Putting these leaves in your car may also stop them from staying in.

FLYING INSECTS

Insects are attracted by light, so at night, it is good to light a lamp outside the house so that they are distracted before going into the house, or close the openings to your home after nightfall.

HOUSE LIZARDS

House lizards are also creepy home pests, to keep them off means to cut their food source. Their food source are those insects that fly into your home. Hence the root of the problem is still about keeping most insects away from your home, so as to stop the food chain from propagating on and on. Using specially-scented formula for your home cleaning can get rid of lizards, you may also add germicide containing cyclochlorohexanol mixed in your cleaning water to ward off the pests. Cyclochlorohexanol although toxic to consume, but it is enerally harmless to mammals, so there is no worry in using cyclochlorohexanol-containing

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