Sometime in the 1950s, America fell prey to a brilliant marketing scheme. In an effort to promote “better living through chemistry,” millions began waging war on germs, weeds and stains with an arsenal of weapons supplied by chemical manufacturing companies. The fear of germs and disease had the nation frenzied, and people embraced synthetic chemicals with fervor. Entire neighborhoods were doused with chemicals such as DDT, ignorant to the disaster it promised. Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” illuminated the dangers of a nation hooked on poison, and told a tale of a spring when no birds sang, as they had been poisoned by chemicals aimed at insect and plant pests.

Carson showed us that all things are indeed interconnected, and there is no poison on the planet that remains in the organism that it targeted. We will undoubtedly become the victims of the poison we carelessly splash upon the ground, spray into the air, and fumigate our homes with. We have seen higher instances of childhood asthma, lymphoma, cancers and hormone disruption in the days since pesticides became commonplace.

Since Carson’s time, chemical companies and society in general have made efforts to reduce pesticide exposure to humans and sensitive species. There are a number of organizations in place to raise awareness and provide sensible alternatives to commonly used pesticide products. In order for these alternatives to work, there needs to be a bit of a paradigm shift away from that of the ‘50s, which viewed any “undesirable” life form as an invader, an enemy to be eradicated at all costs. So often we forget that we live in nature, and are a part of it. A little tolerance goes a long way.

That being said, there are arguably fewer things more aggravating than the sight of ants in the sugar or the not-so-subtle scratching of mice in the walls at night. Termites are among the most costly household invaders, causing more than $1.7 billion in structural damage a year. For the gardening enthusiast, weeds, gophers and slugs can be enough to send you into violent fits, wishing that only the life forms we desire could survive within our fence lines.

For these pesky buzzing, crawling, gnawing or climbing creatures, please consider the following alternatives to rid yourself of some common home and garden pests without the use of harmful synthetic pesticides. The first basic rule for keeping your home free of invaders is to keep it clean. It may sound basic, or even patronizing, to mention that the garbage must be taken out, food put away, and the dishes washed at night, but the truth is that these food sources are a haven for ants and flies. The next rule is that your home must be secure and offer few, if any, points of entry for bugs and rodents.


Many ant species come inside the house from the outside, and return to the outside to nest. Remember, there is no such thing as a lone ant. That solitary fellow you may see crawling innocently across the counter should not be spared, for he is the pioneer of new territory: your kitchen. The word that you are occasionally messy or an outright slob, whichever applies, will soon be relayed to the queen, and her army will begin planning to overthrow your empire. If you are still not able to bring yourself to spray him with a lethal dose of soapy water followed by the swipe of a sponge, think of it this way: to the ants, there is no such thing as one. It is all or none for these guys. Your swift attack will not be regarded as cruel and you should not feel any guilt, as long as the death is as quick as possible. Orange cleaner or Simple Green will end their lives and erase the chemical trail they leave. If you can, follow their trails to the point of entry, and seal it with silicone caulk.


Other uninvited guests are the rodents. Again, the same aforementioned rules apply: cleanliness is key, and where there is one there are many. Good old-fashioned mousetraps are very efficient, and are arguably less disgusting than the odor of poisoned dead rodents inside the walls. Depending on your rodent tolerance, you may prefer the humane traps that catch the mouse inside. If you prefer letting the mouse go in a field down the street, Havaheart live traps may be for you. Once the mice are dead or gone, find the way they got in and seal it off. Rodents need slightly larger entryways, but because of their flexible skeletons, mice can fit through a hole the size of a dime. Caulk works less well for rodents because of their ability to chew through almost anything. A rodent will not be able to negotiate steel wool if it is jammed into a hole, and secured in place with duct tape.


Fleas are very difficult pests to get rid of. Many flea collars contain the chemical DDVP (dimethyl dichlorovinyl phosphate), which affects the insects’ nervous system and may have the same effect on the pet. Another chemical commonly found in flea control products is carbaryl (Sevin), which is also toxic to the central nervous system.

As soon as you notice the flea invasion, everything must be vacuumed, and if possible, washed in very hot water. It is especially important to vacuum underneath the couch and cushions, rugs, drapes and your pet’s bedding. Even your pet must be bathed in water as hot as he or she can stand. Then begin the task of grooming your pet with a comb, accompanied by a bowl of hot soapy water. As you comb out the nits (eggs) and fleas, frequently dip the comb in the water, so that the fleas and eggs get immersed and drown. When your pet is combed and most of the fleas are removed, the task of making your dog or cat unappealing to fleas is the next step. Start by feeding your furry friend one clove of garlic per day, and add a dash of white vinegar to their water dish. Both of these common foods give your pet’s flesh an undesirable flavor, and will deter fleas. (Most cats will turn their whiskers up at the sight of a clove of garlic, so try chopping the clove into very small pieces and mixing it with wet food.) Some people will use a light bulb above a small bowl of water set upon the ground as a homemade flea trap. Fleas are attracted to the light and hop toward it to their watery deaths. Once most of the fleas are gone, an occasional good combing will serve your pets well.


If you suspect termites have infested your home, have a licensed inspector come and check for you. In some areas, heating or freezing treatment techniques ensure that the creatures will be destroyed without the harmful effects of chemicals such as Tal-Star or Permethrins. In rural areas there are no such methods available. Some termite companies are aware of a borax treatment with an active ingredient of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, commonly known by the trade name Timbor. When consulting a pest control company, ask them if they use disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, or Timbor. The chemical is a borax derivative and is poisonous if ingested orally. It is not toxic to the nervous and the immune systems, as Pyrethrins and Permethrins are known to be.


Some people find weeds in the lawn or growing up in cracks in cement to be particularly irritating. If you are so plagued by these persistent plants, think twice before using Roundup, because it has harmful effects the label will not tell you about. For weeds in the lawn or growing between cracks in the driveway, pour boiling water on them. A generous splash (1 cup or so) of undiluted white vinegar works, as well.


These are just a few of the alternatives for dealing with household and garden pests. For more information and references, contact Californians for Alternatives to Toxics at www.catoxics.org, or call 707-445-5100.