How Safe Is Pest Control?
When it comes to finding bugs in your house, there’s no doubt about it: You want them all gone. You may have heard that pest control is laden with chemicals and you might be afraid that it will be harmful for you, your kids or your pets. It’s a challenging dilemma: You want to live in a bug-free house, but you also want to be safe. And what makes things even more complicated is the fact that many bugs that you might discover in your house can pose a safety risk to you and your family as well. When looking for pest control, what are the safe options?
How Safe Are Pesticides?
Pesticides can be harmful to you and your family. First and foremost, pesticides are designed to kill living things. And most pesticides are pretty good at doing just that. The bad part is that you, your family and your pets are also living things, so pesticides can be harmful to you as well. Children are specifically at risk for harm from pesticides because their bodies have yet to fully develop. Very young children are especially liable to exposure since they crawl on the floor and have a tendency to put their hands in their mouths.
Are there pesticides that are safe for humans and pets? It depends entirely on the kinds of pest control you use and in which particular situations. While pesticides do contain chemicals that are intended to kill living things, there are some that, if employed correctly, can be safe to use. It’s important to know, however, that no matter how safe a pesticide might be, if it’s used incorrectly, it can cause harm.
Good to Know
Young children are especially liable to pesticide exposure since they crawl on the floor and have a tendency to put their hands in their mouths.
Best Practices for Safe Pest Control Use
Keep the following safety tips in mind when doing your own pest control:
- Be certain the pesticide is for your specific pest issue.
- Stay away from mixing products; look for pre-mixed pesticides.
- Apply the smallest amount of pesticide to the smallest area possible.
- Never use pesticide formulated for outdoors inside your home.
- Properly ventilate your home after applying any pesticide.
- Follow all directions carefully. Read all labels before use.
- Always wear proper protective gear including gloves, masks, long pants and long sleeves. Wash your clothes and shower when you are finished.
Reach Out for Any Pest Control Needs
Doing your own pest control can pose a threat to the health of you, your family and your pets. Additionally, you may put your family at risk and still be unable to eradicate your pest control situation entirely. To be sure that you are doing the safest thing for you and your family, reach out to At Home Pros. We’ll connect you to the best pest control specialist to protect your home from bugs and protect your family from the harm of pesticides.
Learn how much you should be paying for pest control near you.