MAINTAIN A HEALTHY HOME

• Keep your home dry and well ventilated. Increase air circulation by opening windows and doors regularly, and by using fans. Reduce moisture in your home’s basement with a dehumidifier.
• Seal and/or caulk openings and cracks in your home’s basement, floors, walls, pipes, drains, sumps, and ducts.
• Annually inspect and repair your home.
• Use nontoxic methods of pest control. Chemical treatments (pesticides) are only a temporary solution to a permanent problem.

PREVENT THE INITIAL PEST INVASION

• Store garbage in dry containers.
• Prevent indoor plants from harvesting pests.
• Use airtight containers for storing nonrefrigerated food items.
• Keep counters and cupboards clean.

USE PESTICIDES SAFELY (If you must use them!)

• Check the label for the EPA registration number, health effect signal words (i.e. DANGER, CAUTION, or WARNING), and instructions. Do not use restricted-use pesticides.
• Choose site-specific and pest-specific formulations.
• Use least toxic pesticides, and the minimum amount required for the task at hand.
• Avoid contaminating other areas. Use only on the intended site.
• Wear protective clothing. Do not bring contaminated work equipment or clothing, including boots and shoes, indoors. Prerinse and wash separately from other clothing.
• Keep pesticides out of reach of children and pets. Store in their original containers away from heat, medical supplies, and food. Do not reuse old containers.
• Do not spray pesticides around children.
• Do not use pesticides outdoors on a windy day, or near drinking water supplies. Also, close your home’s windows before applying pesticides outdoors. Pesticides can travel long distances from where they were first used.
• Clean up spills promptly. Dispose of pesticides according to the label.
• Wash hands and face thoroughly with soap and water before resuming other activities.
• Consult a licensed pest control company for pest problems that you are unable to manage on your own. Ask about alternative nonchemical methods.
• Receive more detailed information on the pesticide that you are using from the product’s distributor, your state pesticide agency, or your regional EPA office.

START WITH THIS LIST (It is not designed to be all-inclusive.)

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