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Concerns about public health and our environment have caused people to seek non-toxic solutions to pest control. Pesticides can kill beneficial bugs and animals along with the harmful pests we are trying to get rid of.

The most important step in pest control is cleanliness. Clean up immediately after eating and store your food in secure containers. Pet food dishes attract pests and should be put away, immediately after your pet finishes eating. Wipe off counters and sweep floors. Get rid of clutter. Drain stagnant puddles of water in the yard that attract mosquitoes and other pests. Remove animal waste from your yard to avoid attracting flies. Pets should be on a flea control program approved by their doctor. Secure vegetable gardens with fencing. Pests are attracted by food, shelter, and water.

Pests can invade even the cleanest homes. You may need to use other non-toxic methods, in addition to cleanliness, to keep rodents, termites, snails, slugs, and plant eating insects away from your home.

Rodents carry diseases, contaminate food supplies, and destroy gardens. Snap traps are inexpensive and easy to use. You need to place the traps carefully, so that pets are not harmed. Predators such as dogs and cats can also help to decrease rodent populations. People have been using domestic cats and dogs to keep rodents away for thousands of years.

Termites can severely damage or destroy your home. A non-toxic way to kill termites is by spraying them with Orange Oil. Exterminators, who specialize in non-toxic pest control, will come to your home and spray the termites for you. You and your pets do not have to leave your home while they are spraying.

Snails and slugs are annoying pests that devour your plants. There are several non-toxic ways to get rid of these critters. Iron phosphate can be purchased at the hardware store in the pest control section. The label should say safe for pets and wildlife. Snails and slugs are attracted to the iron phosphate, which stops them from feeding on your plants. Ingesting the iron phosphate kills the snails and slugs in a few days. Iron phosphate also fertilizes your garden. Placing crushed eggshells or bowls of beer in the garden will help to eliminate snails. Snails and slugs do not like to crawl over sharp eggshells. Bowls of beer will attract and drown snails and slugs.

Ladybugs can be released in the garden to eat whiteflies, aphids, and other little bugs that damage plants. You can purchase ladybugs at your local nursery or in the garden section of a hardware store. Power washing your plants before releasing the ladybugs helps to disturb the nests of the little bugs. The best time to release your ladybugs is in the late afternoon or evening, after watering.

If pests invade your home, consider non-toxic alternatives before reaching for poison. Non-toxic pest control methods decrease the risk of your family, pets, wildlife, and the environment becoming accidentally poisoned.

Learn more about this author, Linda Shortell.
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