Commercial Products

There are products on the market which use less-toxic or non-toxic active ingredients. When choosing a product, make sure that you carefully read the label to make sure that they do not also contain non-active ingredients that are toxic, or non-disclosed inert ingredients.

Boric acid (borax and boron-containing salts)

Borax is a low-toxicity mineral with insecticidal, fungicidal, and herbicidal properties. It does not evaporate or volatilize into the air or pose the considerable health concerns associated with synthetic pesticides; however it can still pose health hazards and should be used with care. As with any pesticide, keep boric acid pesticide products out of reach of children and only use it in locations where it will not come in contact with people or animals, such as in cracks and crevices, behind counters, and in baseboards.

Fatty Acid Soaps/ Insecticidal Soaps

Soaps, sodium or potassium hydroxide on a fat combined with vegetable oil, contain fatty acids which can act as an insecticide or a herbicide. These soaps are virtually nontoxic to humans or mammals unless ingested.

Essential Oils

Pesticides made with essential oils are derived from plants that are known to have insecticidal properties. It is important to remember that just because a pesticide is derived from a plant does not mean that it is safe for humans and other mammals or that it cannot kill a wide variety of other life. Many pesticides made with essential oils are formulated with synergists. These have no insecticidal effect of their own, but serve to enhance the insecticidal effect of the botanicals. Carefully read the labels on all products before use to make sure that they do not also contain toxic pesticides. Some botanical pesticides can be quite toxic to humans and should not be used. Neem oil, garlic oil, and sabadilla are some of the least-toxic botanical pesticides. Others that can also be used as a last resort are citrus oils, mint oil, pine oil, pepper extracts, tree oils and herbal extracts.

The above information is taken from Beyond Pesticides' Safety Source for Pest Management. To read more go to the Beyond Pesticides website and click on "Info Services - Safety Source".

View the 2002 Directory of Least-Toxic Pest Control Products (pdf) (from the Bio-Integral Resource Center)