Are Your Products Safe Around Children And Pets?

If you call around to pest control companies in Cleveland, OH many of them will tell you that their service is safe. One local company will tell you that they use plant-based pesticides. The most commonly used pesticides are synthetic compounds derived from the painted daisy (pyrethroids), and tobacco (neonicotinoids). These two classes of pesticides are nerve toxins. Even though they can be considered “botanical”, this should not infer that they are safe. Our accreditation with the Better Business Bureau, and our NPMA Quality Pro Certification, does not allow us to advertise that any pesticide is “safe”. We apply every pesticide according to Label directions.

Many of the products that we use inside of homes are mineral based dusts that are applied into the cracks and crevices in which pests hide. This minimizes the possibility that anyone will come into contact with our control products. The dusts that we use contain amorphous silica gel, borates, or diatomaceous earth combined with an EPA Reduced Risk neonicotinoid. Crack and crevice dust applications have an extremely long lasting effect against bugs. Once applied it may remain active for multiple years. By using these low toxicity dusts, we are able to reduce the need to spray pesticides in exposed areas.

When controlling ants and cockroaches, baits are contained in bait stations or are placed in inaccessible crevices. Baits are great because a very small amount of pesticide can be applied to wipe out an entire infestation. Baiting can eliminate the use of sprays, keeping pesticide use to a minimum.

If liquid treatments are necessary inside the living space we will use low toxicity products:

Micro-encapsulated products do not give off fumes. In cases of accidental exposure the possibility that it would be absorbed into a person’s skin is reduced. We use micro-encapsulated products for spiders, centipedes, and carpet beetles.

We use three different products for bed bugs. The silica gel dust is a Tier 3 toxicity product that pulls the oils out of insects’ exoskeletons. Two sprays are used. One is cedar wood oil. The other is a suspended solid. This product is unique due to the fact that it does not have a signal word (caution, danger, warning) on the Label. Due to its unique formulation, it cannot be absorbed into our skin.

For indoor ants and cockroaches most infestations can be controlled with mineral based dusts and bait. If a spray is required then we will use EPA Reduced Risk adulticides. We also apply Insect Growth Regulators. They target only the hormones of insects. Since mammals do not have these hormones, IGR’s pose minimal health risk and are considered “green”.

Another pesticide that we utilize in and around the home contains the active ingredient Indoxicarb. Mammals are not effected. It requires bio-activation by an insect’s digestive enzymes to break it down into a toxic compound.

For households with pregnant women or infants, pyrethroids are not applied indoors.