Going Green | Green Tip of The Week: May 3, 2009
Kill Pests, Not The Environment -
As warm weather arrives, so do pests of all kinds. No one wants to see roaches running across the kitchen floor, ants in the pantry, or rodents in their garbage. Here are some green pest control tips to help you rid your home of pests while protecting the environment.
Before reaching for pesticides, try these green alternatives.
First, remove the things that attract pests. Keeping a clean home can reduce pests and illness. Keep your kitchen counters clear of food scraps. Every night, clean up the kitchen. Scraps of food, dirty dishes, and standing water are all things that can attract unwanted guests. Try these eco-friendly cleaning products to help with the task:
Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner, 32-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6)
Seventh Generation Kitchen Cleaner, Wild Orange & Cedar Spice, 32-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6)
Citra Solv Natural Multi-Purpose Spray Cleaner, Valencia Orange, 22-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6)
Next, put the dishes in the dishwasher. Soaking dishes serves as a water source that is attractive to unwanted pests. Researchers at the University of Bonn in Germany determined that a dishwasher not only cleans dishes better than hand-washing, but saves energy and time too. Do you still have pests? Here are some eco-friendly alternatives to pesticides:
- Get ants where they live. Follow the ant trail to their source. Sprinkle some chili pepper, borax, or dried peppermint; these eco-friendly products have proven to be a green way to steer ants away from your home.
- Roaches- Combine equal parts borax, sugar, and flower and sprinkle the mixture behind light switches, behind cabinets, under sinks, and any other infested areas. This green alternative to pesticides can prove to be very effective.
- Moths and other pests can be controlled with ceder chips.
- Clean away dust mites. Vacuuming is the first line of defense against dust mites. If you find you have dust mites in your bedding, wash the bedding regularly with these eco-friendly laundry detergents:
- Earth Friendly Products Ecos Liquid Laundry Detergent, Magnolia & Lily, 100-Ounce Bottle (Pack of 4)
Keeping a clean home can help to keep the earth and your family healthy this summer. If you have tried these green home remedies and still find yourself faceing insect infestation, try these all natural pesticides:
Orange Guard Water Based Indoor/Outdoor Home Pest Control – 32 oz Spray #103
Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap – 32 oz Spray #5110
Espoma Organic Earth-Tone Insect Control – 16 oz Concentrate #ICC16
These, and other green tips, can be found in 365 Ways To Live Green, by Diane Gow McDilda, Copyright 2008, F+W Publications, Inc.
Here are other green books you may be interested in:
