Green Pest Solutions

Green pest control

The greenest thing you can do

Make your home less attractive to pests. Our link to the left on pest prevention is all about non chemical, long term control measures you can take that not only help the environment, especially your environment, but they will also save you money, potentially thousands over the life of your home. Should you need to have pest control performed, these measures will allow less pesticide to be applied AND they will increase the effectiveness of any pest control program.

IPM

The next greenest thing you can do

If you cannot live with having a few ants running around your home, and vacuuming them up is not working for you... Try IPM. IPM stands for integrated Pest Management and it is the idea that pesticides are only one aspect of pest control. They may even be the control method of last choice. We believe in IPM and have offer both single services and periodic pest control programs that focus on pest prevention, inspection, physical control, and the judicious use of pesticides only when and where they are deemed necessary.

Safe pesticides

Understand that there is an inherent contradiction at work here. Pesticides by nature need to be toxic enough to either repel or kill an insect. Even if it is natural or so mild it is listed as non toxic or 'exempt' it is still designed to kill or harm a living organism and should therefore be applied with care and according to it's label. Consider who is applying your pesticide and their understanding of your concerns and preferences.

Non-toxic pesticides

It should be understood that just because something is natural does not mean that it is completely non-toxic, that it is without any application hazard, or that it works well enough to solve your pest problem. Even if the label says non-toxic - it only means that the product meets a legal definition. If it is being used to kill insects, it is some way, to some degree, toxic.

Natural Pesticides

There are natural pesticides on the market today. Some of them actually do work quite well - for some pest, in some instances - especially when coupled with sound IPM principles (pest prevention)

When considering natural pesticides understand that the materials you choose are very important. Many manufacturers will use a natural main ingredient but then mix that ingredient with many more toxic non-natural ingredients that make the natural material more effective.

Most natural spray pesticides have a high degree of odor - think very heavy perfume. They have very little to no residual and may need to be applied repeatedly to solve a particular pest problem.

Natural dust materials work very well but have some very real limitations about how and where they should be applied.

We regularly use EcoPCO / EcoEXEMPT Products and Mother Earth products.

To discuss any of these, or other natural materials - just give us a call.

Natural Pest Control

Going natural does usually mean paying more. Just like in the grocery store. Natural materials are more expensive and need to be reapplied more often. The concept of going natural involves more inspections to find infestations earlier - by you or a pest professional, typically more applications if a problem is found, more time - on your part and our part, and a commitment to pest prevention. But the process is well worth it - if it meets your environmental ideals.

Organic Pest Control

Effective control

For most of our customers there is a balance somewhere between effectiveness and safety. If you are also concerned with getting rid of your pests quickly, we might recommend using organic or otherwise green control materials on the interior of your living area, if needed, and ultra low toxicity control materials on the exterior. If your pest(s) can be controlled without an application to your indoor living area of any kind of control material - natural or otherwise, then that is an option well worth pursuing.

Exempt pesticides

Most professional pesticide materials are synthetic. To some people the fact that they are man made and not natural is a draw back. However, most of these synthetic materials contain active ingredients that are anywhere from 10 to 40 times less toxic than caffeine. They have no odor and no fume. There is also a trend by many manufacturers to offer chemicals that are exempt. Not only is the active ingredient ultra low in toxicity - but so are the other ingredients that make up the concentrate.

Know Your Grower!

Giant food companies have lobbied hard to reduce the standards of 'Organic'. In some instances, food which can be as little as 95% pure can still meet Organic standards.

A finish gallon of ready to be applied pesticide in almost all instances is over 99% pure water... so just what is in your organic food that is up to 5% NOT organic???

Buy from local Organic farmers that you can meet in person, farms you can tour, and growers who believe in your idea of organic.

A link to the Washington Toxics Coalition.. really?

While it might seem strange, most of the people who are concerned about pesticide use, are the people who are most likely to use pest prevention. When they do need a pest control company that understands their concerns and is willing to use the most natural / effective materials available - they have turned to Safeguard.

Multiple chemical sensitivity

Concern over chemicals, being environmentally minded, - all good. We are too.

The problem with being allergic to pesticides is that pesticides are chemicals, just like you are chemicals, just like everything that exists that is tangible - is made of chemicals. If you feel that you are allergic to chemicals, just because they are specifically pesticides, regardless of the ingredients, or if you believe that you are allergic to any number of other chemicals, we will be happy to give you resources and to consult with you, and we are sympathetic, but we do not want to apply any chemicals for you.

Pest prevention, vacuum cleaners, and natural materials that you purchase and use yourself - may be your only good alternative.