When you have a pest infestation, there are certain steps that you need to take to get rid of the problem. You will need to take steps to prevent damage to your home and protect your health. Rodents and insects can spread numerous diseases. Not just to you, but also any pets you may have in your home. However, pest control is often considered to be unhealthy for those in the home. So in this article, we ask is pest control safe?
Is Pest Control Safe for Humans?
One of the biggest concerns for pest control is whether pest control is safe around humans. There are many concerns that pest control options contain numerous toxins and poisons that can cause significant problems.
Research has shown that pesticides can cause significant health issues with sore eyes, breathing problems, and even an increased chance of cancer among some of the potential problems. Other research in the United States has found that the air quality can be significantly reduced when it comes to pest control use inside the house.
However, those who use pest control substances have stated that once pest control substances have dried, then the area should be safe for humans. But they also note that deep cleaning should not be done for a few days, even after it has dried.
Is Pest Control Safe for Pets?
Most households have pets nowadays. And this can cause significant concern for those who are using pest control. And there is just cause for concern. Many pest control substances state that pets should not go near pest control substances.
And this is a major problem. Pets don’t have the right self-control that humans can have (though children can also be problematic). And these chemicals are normally dangerous to animals. So if the pet consumes the pest control substance they can become very ill. And it isn’t just direct contact that can be a problem.
Some pets might consume elements that can be indirectly infected with the pet control substance. For instance, cats might catch mice or birds that have become infested. Or you might have a pet rabbit/guinea pig that lives outside and a rodent or insect spreads the pest control substance to their living space by accident. Then the pet becomes infected.
Is Pest Control Safe for Dogs?
Dogs tend to be more at risk from pest control substances because of their general behavior. Dogs use their noses and mouths to sniff out new smells and substances around their territory. Some dogs are also known to eat almost anything, including droppings, sickness, and even carcasses. The main reason why dogs do this is pest control, controlling worms, and other infestations.
And this can be a major problem. If a dog comes across any of these items that have been contaminated, then the dog can be contaminated.
Is it Safe to Stay Home After Pest Control?
There are many different types of pest control substances and many different pests that can be used. However, regardless of the substance used, most companies who apply these recommend that you do not use the house or enter the home until the substance has completely dried.
This can take anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of days, depending on the environmental conditions. Even after the pest control substances have dried, you mustn’t disturb them with heavy cleaning for several days.
Alternatives to Pest Control
So there are genuine concerns about pest control substances. However, pest control is important. Pests can damage homes and can also spread the disease directly and indirectly. Therefore, you need to look at alternatives to pest control substances that you might want to use for your home and property.
Here are some of the alternatives to pest control that you might want to use.
1. Environmental
The first thing that you need to do is to ensure that you don’t have an environment that is suitable for pests. There are so many things that you can do that can reduce the potential of pests in your home. For instance, you can remove potential food and water sources. Or you could remove potential hiding locations.
In addition, you can sometimes keep areas dry, many species like termites prefer humid areas.
2. Use Natural Predators
There are natural predators that you can keep on your property that will deter many pests. Rodents, for instance, can be put off by small dogs in a garden. Cats are usually considered to be good, but cats are best suited against mice, though some will sometimes catch a rat.
Other predators can include chickens. Chickens, while thought to attract rodents, can hunt and kill them in gardens.
3. Ultrasonic Devices
Some pests, like mice, rats, and possums are deterred by noises that don’t hurt humans but can be heard by them. These noises stop them from concentrating and listening out for predators. Therefore, they can sometimes not go to the area.
Ultrasonic devices can be used throughout a home, or they can be something that can be used near access points. Plus much more!
All of our products here at Envirobug are chemical and toxin free. Most of our products utilise frequencies that pests often fear or dislike, to prevent them from settling in your home.
4. Motion- Activated Device
A motion-activated sprinkler can be a good alternative to keep pests away from coming close to your home. The Envirobug Garden Sentinel Motion-activated animal sprinkler uses an infrared sensor to detect the body heat of animals and birds. Once triggered, it deploys a startling burst of water combined with unexpected noise and motion creating a safe, highly effective deterrent against all kinds of pests.
5. Close Access Points
Another, and most important thing, is that you should ensure there are no ways that pests can enter the home. For termites, that means that wood is not in contact with the building and the ground at the same time, this is a simple way that termites can use to go between soil and homes.
For rodents and possums, you might need to close down gaps in the wall. Possums can make particular use of large holes in the walls of the building, especially near the attic.
Final Word: Is Pest Control Safe for Your Pets, Family, and Home?
Is typical pest control safe for you? Some would argue it is, but there are a lot of safety instructions that you need to follow. And you need to follow these or there is a higher risk of lots of health concerns, such as sore eyes, skin irritation, and a higher risk of cancer. Therefore, alternatives to pest control substances should be sought before pest control is used.
For example, using chemical free pest deterrent products, are an amazing alternative both health wise and cost wise, to typical chemical pest killing approaches. You can see a wide range of such products on our website.
