How Safe Is Pest Control?
When it comes to finding bugs or rodents in your house, there’s no doubt about it: You want them all gone — and fast. After all, many pests in and around your house can pose a health and safety risk to you and your family, from food contamination to disease transmission. But you may have also heard that pest control products involve dangerous chemicals that can be harmful to you, your kids or your pets. Naturally, you want to live in a pest-free house, but you also want to be safe. When looking for pest control, what are the safe options?
How Safe Are Pesticides?
It’s important to remember that “safe” is a relative term. It’s better to think of pesticides in terms of risk. There may be risks associated with using pesticides, but there are certainly risks to having pests as well.
Pesticides, when used improperly, can in fact be harmful to you and your family. Pesticides can be harmful if they applied at an incorrect dosage or in the wrong places. In addition, it’s critical to reduce risk by storing pesticides in a way that children and pets cannot access them. Children in particular can ingest pesticides if they are left accessible.
However, pesticides are designed to affect pests; there is little risk if humans and other animals are not exposed to them. Using approved pesticides correctly will target the pests while not exposing non-targets, including people and pets. The key is to prevent exposure to the products — and most pesticides are good at doing just that.
Different pests call for different types of pesticides — and even different methods of application. Employed correctly for their intended purpose, they involve minimal risk.
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Pesticides must be registered by the EPA and have an EPA number on the label. This shows that the product has been analyzed and approved for correct use. If there is no EPA number, the product is unregistered and possibly harmful.
Best Practices for Safe Pest Control Use
Keep the following safety tips in mind when doing your own pest control:
- Follow all directions carefully. Read and follow all labels before use. This is the first and most important thing you can do to reduce the risk of exposure. Not reading the label is like trying to bake a cake without knowing the ingredients, the directions, the temperature, or the baking time! The label will supply essential information about what is in the product, what it is intended for, how to apply it, and other safety considerations. Labels will also supply information about first aid and poison control in the unlikely event something goes awry.
- Be certain the pesticide is designed for your specific pest issue. Some products are developed for a single pest like cockroaches or ants, while other products may be broad and apply to many types of pests. Many pest control companies like Terminix have helpful information on their websites to help identify common pests.
- Stay away from mixing products; look for pre-mixed pesticides. Better yet, many products are formulated in bait stations. These contain the product inside a protective casing. There is enough room for pests to enter, but not for fingers or paws.
- Apply the smallest amount of pesticide to the smallest area possible. It helps to know where the pests are located, so you can place the pesticide exactly where it is needed. For example, if you know there are cockroaches in the kitchen, you can target behind the refrigerator or stove where you see most of them. But make sure you don’t underdose. Using less than the recommended levels can create resistance and the pests can become immune to the product.
- Never use pesticides formulated for outdoors inside your home. These outdoor pesticides are typically used for broader perimeter treatments (and different pests), where they are used about three feet out from the structure. Obviously, this isn’t an option indoors. Also, be careful of using pesticides inside in different areas or rooms. Some products cannot be used around food or food contact surfaces, while others may be used only in wider areas.
- Properly ventilate your home during and after applying any pesticide. The label should tell you how long to do this. As long as the product is still wet, it should not be touched. Applying it in small areas means it will dry more quickly. If more of it is used, or used in bigger areas, you can expect it to take longer to dry.
- Always wear proper protective gear, including gloves, masks, long pants and long sleeves. Also, wash your hands immediately after applying, then launder your clothing. If there is a spill or contact with your skin or other areas, refer to the label for first aid information and consult a medical professional if you have concerns.
Reach Out for Any Pest Control Needs
You can make pesticides work better by taking a few extra steps. Like all living animals, pests need food, water and shelter. By cleaning up food, scraps and trash, you can limit their food source; they will then more likely go to pesticide baits you’ve applied. For example, if that big bag of birdseed in the garage is taken away, the mice that were feeding on it now must find a different source of food and will be much more attracted to the bait.
Some pests need water or high humidity to survive. If that leaky kitchen sink is fixed, the cockroaches won’t be able to survive the dry conditions and will be forced out, where they will contact the liquid pesticides that were applied. Also, tipping out standing water in plant bottoms and bird baths will eliminate the water that mosquito larvae need to develop. This means fewer adult biters near the patio where the family likes to sit.
Don’t forget: Indoor pests typically came from the outside. Once they are inside, many can reproduce and cause big problems. Sealing up doors and windows, as well as any other cracks in the home, can help keep pests outside. If you see daylight around a door, particularly on the bottom, pests from outside can easily slip inside. Mice need an opening only the size of a dime to squeeze into your home. By sealing those openings, you can prevent future pest issues while using minimal pesticides inside. That means you may need to apply only an outdoor pesticide, decreasing the risk to family and pets.
Some maintenance can also reduce the number of pests around the outside of the home, further reducing the need for large applications of pesticides outdoors. Overgrown trees and shrubs should be cut back and kept from touching the house. Not only do they provide a pathway for pests to enter, but they also hold moisture, allowing pests to have a comfortable environment to survive. By having a clear border around the home, it is also easier to treat for pests. If there is heavy ground cover, the pesticide can’t penetrate underneath, where the pests are living.
Reach Out for Any Pest Control Needs
If it’s performed improperly, doing your own pest control can pose a risk to the health of you, your family and your pets. Additionally, you still may be unable to eradicate your pest control situation entirely, especially if the underlying conditions for the pest issues haven’t been addressed. To be sure that you are taking the right steps to protect your home and your family, reach out to At Home Pros. We’ll connect you to the most reputable pest control specialists in your area — to protect your home from bugs while still protecting your family from the risk of pesticides.
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