Natural Pest Deterents to make at home & Safe

Pest-proof your home: safe for kids and pets, natural pesticides help kick—and keep—bugs out of your living space Better Nutrition,  May, 2007  by Kim Erickson Bugs. They hang from the rafters and skitter across your floors. And while one or two can be a nuisance, an invasion may tempt you to reach for the bug spray or call an exterminator. But this slash-and-burn approach can unleash a witches' brew of toxins that puts your family's health at risk and negatively impacts the environment. While organophosphate compounds like chlorpyrifos have been phased out of home-use pesticides because they cause neurological disorders and birth defects, using the popular pyrethrin-based pesticides aren't without risk. According to the Children's Pesticide Exposure Study, residential use of these "naturally derived" pyrethroids may also affect neurological development, disrupt hormones, induce cancer and suppress the immune system. Pregnant women should take extra precautions because pyrethrin-based pesticides can harm a fetus's developing nervous system. Pyrethrins trigger a miscarriage in animals well before the mother's experienced any toxicity. Related Results The, six best supplements you've never heard of: these secret weapons can... Other pesticides may be more harmful. Propoxur, commonly found in products designed to kill roaches and ants, depresses the central nervous system and respiratory tract and can cause muscle weakness, dizziness, headaches and nausea. Research suggests that exposure may damage DNA and negatively affect fetal growth, early neurodevelopment and respiratory health in kids. Kids at Greatest Risk Infants and children may be especially sensitive to the health risks posed by conventional pesticides because their internal organs are still developing and maturing. What's more, young children spend lots of time playing on floors and putting objects in their mouths, which increases their exposure to pesticides used in homes. Along with the neurotoxic effects, small children growing up in homes that routinely use professional pest control are more likely to develop leukemia. Fortunately, you don't have to choose between toxic pesticides or living with those creepy crawlies. The Safe Solution Making your home unattractive to insects is the first line of defense. Clean up food spills immediately, keep hard-to-reach areas reasonably clean, and remove clutter that can hide pests. It's also a good idea to store foods like flour in the refrigerator. And because water generally attracts pests, repair any leaky faucets and pipes. But even if you keep your home as clean as an operating room, pests occasionally invade your space. When they do, turn to tried-and-tree pest control methods based on nontoxic herbs, minerals and plant oils. Here are a few simple remedies that can help keep your home pest free. ATTACK OF THE ANTS? Grease and sugar ants are the most common type of ants you'll find indoors--often in your pantry or sink. Deter them by sprinkling peppermint leaves, paprika or cayenne pepper across their trails. If you have a full-blown invasion, try dusting boric acid into cracks and crevices with a soft paintbrush. CORNER YOUR COCKROACHES. Cockroaches have antennae that can pick up chemical signals in the air. This makes them hard to destroy with chemical pesticides. Soap, on the other hand, can be very effective against cockroaches because the strong scent repels them. According to researchers at Iowa State University , catnip oil is also an effective way to discourage roaches. Make a catnip tea to spray around baseboards by mixing 1 tsp. of the essential oil with 1 qt. of water. SAY GOOD-BYE TO BEETLES, WEEVILS AND GRAIN MOTHS. These tiny bugs can ruin an entire container of food. Place a cinnamon stick or bay leaf in with your flour, pasta or grains. The strong-smelling spice or herb will repel or kill the insects without affecting the taste or smell of the food. SEND HOUSEFLIES PACKING. While window and door screens can keep most flies outside where they belong, some invariably find their way into your home. Hang sticky, nontreated flypaper from the ceiling near exterior doors to catch and kill these pesky insects. While it's easy to create your own pesticides, many of us don't have the time to do so. Fortunately, a growing number of companies are creating effective nontoxic or minimally toxic pesticides from essential oils. Just be aware that, even though these are natural, you should take the same precautions you would with chemical pesticides. Because these products use concentrated essential oils, prolonged exposure could cause skin, eye or respiratory irritation. Wear gloves, long pants and sleeves, and a mask to prevent exposure. Products from left to right: MITES OUT! cleansing spray from BioForce uses neem oil to kill dust mites, a common allergen. Spray directly on fabrics, including mattresses, carpet and other cloth surfaces. ORANGE GUARD is a water-based indoor/outdoor insecticide that may be used around food, humans and pets. Made from orange peel extract, it works on ants, roaches, fleas and silverfish. Woodstream Corporation's VICTOR POISON-FREE ANT & ROACH KILLER uses a mint oil and a lecithin formula to help kill soft-bodied insects. Kim Erickson "Pest-proof your home: safe for kids and pets, natural pesticides help kick—and keep—bugs out of your living space". Better Nutrition. May 2007. FindArticles.com. 11 Jun. 2008. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FKA/is_5_69/ai_n19311254 COPYRIGHT 2007 PRIMEDIA Intertec, a PRIMEDIA Company. All Rights Reserved. COPYRIGHT 2007 Gale Group