Pest control can be eco-friendly. There, I said it. No lightning struck me. That statement is not a contradiction in terms. In the old days Grandma would grab a can of liquid toxicity and chase pests around the house squirting with abandon. If we did that now, the EPA or Greenpeace or someone would come knocking.

Eco-friendly pest control is not like the old days. You actually have to think. You’re OK with that, right? Well here’s how it goes. Look all the way around the outside of your home. Walk slowly, paying attention to every detail. Look for any crack and crevice, even the tiny ones. A mouse can fit through a very small hole and termites can enter through a tiny crack.

Now that you’ve been around the house, you know where the problems are. Your mission is to caulk up every last opening. Yes, ever single one. Any opening you leave will be an invitation to one pest or another to set up housekeeping. Before you know it their kids, friends and relatives are visiting and you have a serious problem. You can prevent it, though. Caulk up every little opening.

For larger openings use the expanding foam stuff sold at the hardware and big box stores. Window screens need to be repaired or replaced. Look at the weather stripping around doors and replace it if needed. Install a door sweep if there’s a gap under the door. Check out the trees and shrubs near the house. Cut them back if they’re getting close. They could easily become a bug highway.

Grab your favorite cool refreshment and take a break. Then start on the inside of the house. Why? For the same reason the oil tankers have two hulls. In case one is breached the other will hold. Repeat as above. Caulk every little crack and crevice again in every room, from ceiling to floor. When you’re done you should feel pretty smug – “No bugs getting’ in this house, no sir.” Now walk over to your calendar and make a date with yourself to inspect the house and re-caulk as needed again in 6 months. Get in the habit. Every 6 months.

The initial caulking and inspection is the worst. The re-inspection and touch up are easy. This should be the foundation of your pest control efforts. If every homeowner followed suit, pest control problems would be cut in half. Most industry professionals know about this practice. The good companies either follow this practice or require you to do it. If pests can’t enter your home, you’ll simply have no pest problems.

What if pests were already in the house when it was sealed up? Good question. Now is the time to deal with those critters. It’s time to clean house thoroughly. You’ll want to remove anything that they could use for food, water and shelter. When they get nice and hungry we’ll offer some baits. Vacuum thoroughly everywhere you can think of. Like under the bed, in between the sofa cushions and inside all the cabinets. Remember those cobwebs? Get rid of them. If you have any leaks in the bathroom and kitchen, now is the time to fix them.

What was the last pest you saw or felt in your home? Roaches, fleas and ants are the most common. But it might have been a different pest. No matter what it was, look them up online or in a library. To eliminate them you’ll need to know their lifecycle and their habits. Eco- friendly pest control uses something more powerful than pesticides – knowledge.

If you have followed along and will follow the above steps, you’ll take an enormous step toward eliminating pests in your home without using any pesticides at all. But this is just a beginning, Eco-friendly pest control is a huge topic and one article can’t cover it. Future articles will include how ancient people dealt with pests before pesticides existed, pest ID, baits and much more.

Would you love to design your home in an eco- friendly manner but are afraid that this will remove the luxurious feel you love so much? Stop worrying and start planning. Many eco- conscious designers have introduced lines of eco- friendly decorating products that give you as much luxury as any other. Thanks to these products and a few helpful tips you can turn your house into the super luxurious, super eco- friendly home you dream of, while saving money.

To create a truly eco- friendly home with a luxurious feel you will base your design not just on the luxury you want, but also on very special items. Many companies now produce items that are labeled as green or eco-friendly. These items include many pieces of furniture and home dcor accessories. Most of these items are made of natural or recycled materials and are manufactured to be identical to the less eco- friendly versions more commonly found. By utilizing these objects you take the first step towards a green home.

A great way to go eco-friendly is by switching to hardwood floors. It’s not really as expensive as you may think, and so many of the products are made from recycled wood that it’s a great way to make your home eco-friendly and luxurious. Simply get a hold of a contractor and see if they can help you get some wood floors made from the recycled wood of an older home that has been torn down. It will save them money too, and most of them will help you out in a heartbeat.

Another addition for your home that can save you money while making your home luxuriously green is the use of an area rug. Area rugs protect the investment you have made in your floor and furnishings. Area rugs also help to keep a room warmer. Walking on a cold wooden floor in the winter time can send a chill straight to your bones, but not with an area rug. No carpeting can compare to a hardwood floor with an area rug when it comes to ease in cleaning, either. Area rugs do not require electricity to clean, they will come clean simply by being hung over the clothesline and beaten. Once this is finished sweep your floor before laying the area rug back in place.

Consider adding in some skylights to your home, this will help you to use natural light. This will cut down on the electricity that you use. Everyone loves to save money, and buy putting in either skylights or even new windows you can pull in more natural light, thus cutting those bills down.

This new eco- friendly home can be easily achieved by using recycled goods as well as newly manufactured eco- friendly products. Choosing the right products will also make your home look and feel luxurious. Save money and have the home you want by using the tips above. You’ll be glad you did.