Pesticides in the Home

You can use integrated pest management (IPM) in your home to prevent pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. To find advice about reducing pesticide use in your home and preventing pests with IPM, visit the National Pesticide Information Center.

Steps to Prevent Pests in Your Home:

• Work to eliminate whatever is giving pests access to your home and making your home a habitat for pests (food, water, shelter, entryways).
• Use caulk, screens, door sweeps and other barriers to keep pests out.
• Remove clutter under sinks, in garages and other places where pests like to hide.
• Clean up food spills, crumbs, and dirty dishes, and use trash cans with a lid.
• Clean under appliances and store pet food and human food in tight plastic containers.

If You Use Pesticides, Follow These Tips:

• Read the label first. Follow the directions as they are written on the label before using the product.
• Crawl around on your hands and knees to see any potential contact with the pesticide from your child’s viewpoint.
• Use child-resistant packaging correctly by tightly sealing the container after every use.
• Install safety latches on cabinets.
• Re-close a pesticide package if ever interrupted during application (e.g., phone call, doorbell, etc.). Make sure the container is completely out of children’s reach while you’re absent.
• Teach children that “pesticides are poisons” and not to be touched.
• Lock up all pesticides and harmful products in a cabinet, out of a child’s reach.

For additional information about pesticides, visit our Healthy Communities: Pesticides page.