Child and Pet Safe Pest Control: Tips from Colonial Lawn & Garden Experts

Are ants swarming your child's picnic? Do you have powderpost beetles chewing on your wood structures? Are fleas attaching themselves to your beautiful pup's fur? If you have ever experienced these problems, you are not alone. Pest problems like these are common in Washington State, but that doesn't mean you have to suffer through them. With proper pest control management, you can minimize or eliminate your pest issues all throughout the year. However, as a parent of children or pets, you are likely concerned with how pest control could affect the health and well-being of your family. Fortunately, by taking advantage of child and pet safe pest control products and strategies, your family can remain secure while you snuff out your pest problem.

Common Washington State Lawn Pests

Unlike other states throughout the USA, our pests are far tamer. However, that doesn't mean they can't pose a significant risk to our families, especially children and pests. The Washington State Department of Health reports that, here in Washington, you can expect to see bed bugs, stinging insects, flies, fleas, Japanese beetles, lice, mosquitos, rodents, spiders, moths, and ticks. These troublesome pests can sting and bite humans as well as carry potentially deadly diseases. Fortunately, the majority of them can be stopped with child and pet safe pest control.

How to Identify Child and Pet Safe Pest Control Products

The health and safety of your family, children, and pets is the ultimate priority. Therefore, it is vital to take an active stance to ensure safe pest control products. Before spraying an unknown product all over your property, you want to take the time to read the label, which should detail the ingredients, warnings, and instructions.

You will want to avidly check for safe ingredients and fully understand the implementation process to ensure it is safe for children and pets. Products such as these come with strict measurements, application procedures, and storage recommendations. So, if you don't understand the content, make sure to ask a professional for further explanation.

Safety Tips for Applying Pest Control Treatments with Kids and Pets

Even when using child and pet safe pest control products, it is vital to take safety measures with those products to ensure your family's safety.

Store the Product Safely

Even when pest control products are "safe," that doesn't mean they can be stored just anywhere. Just like a cleaning product, you want to keep them stored and out of reach from curious children and pets. Most commonly, we see homeowners store these in garages or sheds on high shelves. However, be sure to check the storage recommendations, such as room temperature, to know where the best storage option would be.

Secure Toys and Food

Before any pest control implementation, removing and securing toys and foods from the area is vital. You certainly don't want a condensed dose of the product to accidentally end up being played with or eaten. We recommend removing all toys and food products from the implementation area and not setting them back out until the product has had time to fully dry.

If you have stationary items that cannot be moved, such as a swing set, you may need to clean it afterward. We suggest consulting a professional to get accurate advice for your specific situation.

Keep a Timed Distance

Most safe pest control products still need time to dry before children and pets can be let loose. You certainly don't want to let them back outside just to end up with chemicals on their feet or paws. We suggest checking the label for drying times and always adhering to those rules. During that timeframe, you will want to keep all children and pets inside with windows and doors shut firmly. Please keep in mind that wet outside conditions may affect this timeline, so read the label carefully and ask a professional if you have further questions.

DIY Pest Control Methods

To take full precautions against pest problems, homeowners can combine traditional pest control solutions with DIY natural pest control alternatives. These solutions can safely be utilized in the home or outside in a vegetable garden without fear of children or pets getting sick from the chemicals. The Peace Corps provides an array of natural solutions, with our favorites being:

• Hot pepper against caterpillars, cabbage worms, ants, aphids, beetles, and cutworms
• Onion brew against ants, aphids, and caterpillars
• Mint against aphids, cabbage pests, and flea beetles
• Wood ash against slugs and snails

Of course, as with any pest control solution, you must understand the ingredients and instructions before using them!

For help with your own yard, call the Yakima office at (509) 966-1655 or the Tri-Cities office at (509) 371-1655.