Guest post by Jaclyn Crawford

Pesticides are some of the most toxic chemicals to be found around the home — and unfortunately, they are found around the home all too often. Consider the risks. According to the National Cancer Institute, childhood cancer has increased nearly 30 percent since pesticides became commonly used household products. In addition to the cancer link, chemicals found in pesticides have been associated with allergies, birth defects, and even psychological disorders.

High concentrations of toxic pesticides are especially dangerous for not only children, but also infants, toddlers, the chronically ill and the elderly. These groups tend to spend a lot of time in the home, have limited mobility and in some cases, have compromised immune systems.

Adding all of this up, it becomes clear that commercial pesticides are simply too dangerous to be used in and around the home.

Fortunately, there are natural and safe alternatives to these chemically unsafe pesticides. This should come as no surprise: humans have been fighting insects and other pests long before the 1950s, when science began bombarding us with chemical after chemical to “improve” the effectiveness of pest control products.

The infographic below, Stop Bugging Me — Safe and Natural Pest Control Remedies, is great reading for anyone who wants to enhance their health and the health of their family and friends. These 10 natural pest control solutions are simple, safe and not terribly expensive, either. Most of the remedies involve common household products, many of which you may already have on hand. These natural pest control products work their magic on bugs but make the house and yard much safer environments for humans, flowers, plants and trees.

When you look at the infographic and realize how easy it is to make natural pest remedies, you might wonder why more people don’t avail themselves of these safe and healthy options. One reason, no doubt, is lack of awareness. Commercial pesticides have become so prevalent on store shelves and so aggressively marketed that people can easily assume they are safe: “Hey, everybody must be using this stuff, so it must be OK.” Another possible reason for toxic pesticides in the house is convenience. DIY chemical mixing involves a little work (not very much, as you will see in the infographic), but it’s hard to beat grabbing a ready-to-go spray bottle of pesticide off the hardware store shelf. We, however, would argue, and think you will agree, that in the case of pesticides, a little extra work has a gigantic payoff in health and safety for the people you love most. For detailed suggestions on how to really make the effort pay off, keep reading below.

Excited to share her love of home design and décor with readers, Jaclyn Crawford started with ImproveNet in 2016. As a staff writer, she enjoys chronicling the latest trends and ways you can make your home the loveliest it can be. You may also find her in ImproveNet videos, sharing tips and trends for your home.