Tiny Choices Q&A: Pest Control?
By Jenn (TinyChoices.com) | October 16, 2007
Welcome to Tiny Choices Q&A, where we open the floor for discussion on questions which ya’ll have submitted (read the first list of questions here).
Stacey asks:
Pest control - bugs and, ick, actual critters - many of us are New Yorkers, living in multiunit buildings. If we say no to the exterminator, do bugs & critters flock to our place? How do we get rid of them without poisoning ourselves and our environment in the future?
First let’s get a big giant collective YICK out of our systems… buggies in the wild are one thing, but buggies in our houses are a different story altogether. Sometimes a plague of pests is brought by our own poor habits, but often they just appear with no rhyme or reason- must be that pesky “act of God” thing.
You make a good point by bringing up the issue of living in multi-unit buildings- I’ve noticed a direct corollation between my neighbors sanitary issues and my own dealings with the crawly beings-notably, when the neighbors moved out and took their messy food habits with them, the buggies trucked through the walls and into my kitchen, in search of forgotten crumbs.
So I’ve done what I reasonably can: I stuffed all gaps and holes in the kitchen (especially the pipes under the sink and the behind-the-stove gasline) with steel wool, which bugs can’t eat through. I caulked around the baseboards and the random spaces where windowsill doesn’t quite meet wall, etc. This all helps, because if you can keep them out in the first place then you’ve won the battle. But the most important part of the equation by far is this: keep your kitchen clean. Critters won’t stick around and starve to death in your home just because they like your color scheme- they’ll pack up and leave in search of food. When I actually remember to clean the counters, empty the sink drain-catch, and give the floor a quick sweep each night, there are far fewer crawlers that scatter when I later come back into the room and flick on the light. Conversely, when things aren’t so squeaky-clean en mi concina… more movement when that light comes on. Also, it’s incredibly important to keep all food in tightly sealed containers, even the stuff in your cabinets.
I’ve also decided not to let the building exterminator spray in my apartment anymore. I was always torn on the issue but, you know, YICK. They would spray a clear liquid on the baseboards and behind the stove- but one time, the guy sprayed along the back edge of my countertop- right behind my clean dishes, and right where food prep happens! I recovered from the shock and decided that was enough for me, and I haven’t noticed any difference in pest levels since then.
Some people may decide to trap bugs and critters, to release them back outdoors. I would probably employ this method if I had mice or other beings larger than say, a roach, in my home… but since I don’t, I squash all the bugs I find. And, yes, I do realize this severely impacts my karma. I’ve also set out bottlecaps filled with a mixture of cornmeal and boric acid, and sometimes this works incredibly well. Sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s relatively eco-safe. I’m not entirely sure if it’s toxic to humans/pets but my guess is “yes,” so be careful where you put it.
Here’s a very thorough listing of green pest control tips, for controlling: ants, moths, mice, lice, fleas, ticks, flies, mosquitos & bees. Think we’re all set, then!
Dear Tiny Choosers, what are your methods for controlling unwanted visitors?
Click here for the Q&A archives!
Topics: Home, Q&A | 3 Comments »
3 Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Ultra thorough vacuuming does wonders, no really. But, of course that’s not all :) … if you have pets with fleas, using good old powdered borax (20 mule team for example) along baseboards, sprinkled in area rugs, etc. and then vacuuming it up each week and replacing it with a fresh sprinkling works very well. I’m also a hole-plugger as suggested above.
Happy, but green, exterminating
Diane
Thanks for the tips, Diane!
Happy Green Exterminating to you, too!
[...] since I moved out of my parents’ house, but I’ve been wanting to mend my ways. Jenn at Tiny Choices recommends bottlecaps filled with a mixture of cornmeal and boric acid, and sometimes this works [...]