A Green Home Without the Pests

Along with making yourself a green home and ousting many of the toxic chemicals found in traditional household cleaners, the fertilizers, and other poisons used in and around your yard, you can also take the same idea to pest control. When the weather outside gets colder, the mice, ants, and other little critters that may not be such welcomed guests often flee for the warm comfort of our homes. That being said, you can still nip the problem in the bud with the help of a few eco-friendly options and some that are also humane.

I'll be honest, the idea of a poor little mouse meeting his demise from a spring loaded trap does tug at my heartstrings a little bit, but at the same time for a variety of reasons (including health and safety ones) you don't want wild mice running rampant in even your green home. But there are plenty of mouse traps that won't kill them but instead lure them into a sort of cage without poisons, sticky glue, or snaps. These are also reusable, brownie points for that, and you can just release the little guy back outside. Furry mice might be one thing, but cockroaches, ants, silverfish, mites, and the like are another and while it may be a bit cruel of me to say so I don't have any problem killing those nasties.

For a green home that is cockroach free you can use something called Orange Guard that is completely non toxic as well as biodegradable. It can also keep Fluffy and Fido flea free but won't pose a any health concerns for your pets, the kids, or even if it is sprayed near food. But if you are met with cockroaches in particular there are a few easy things you can do that are perfectly eco-friendly. You can actually take cucumbers and slice them up and place those pieces around your kitchen to deter them from your food. Or if you combined 1 ounce of citronella oil, an ounce or rosemary oil, and an ounce of tea-tree oil and mix it up to then spray on the areas infested that should get rid of them as well. And if you actually planted some catnip, not only would your cat be pleased but those cockroaches would be kept at bay as well.

Outside of your green home you can still be met with some pests you'd like to eradicate, but in place of chemicals there are electric pest animal repellents, like the YardGuard, that will work off of an infrared sensor to then make a noise that will cause any anything from deer, raccoons, skunks, and rodents to even armadillos. So if you are met with a few beasts, or insects of burden, don't whip out the Raid just yet and instead opt for a more eco-friendly remedy.

Photo credit: Tkksummers