Many pest products work by spreading a pesticide where people live. In one study, bug bombs left kitchen residues 85 times higher without cutting roach numbers. Mothballs are a solid pesticide that slowly turns to vapor in your closet, EPA bars the bigger dichlorvos bug strips from living spaces, and rodent poison ranks among the top pet toxins. These swaps keep the dose contained or skip it: enclosed bait stations, natural cedar for closets, sticky traps for flies, and snap traps for mice. Baits are still insecticides, so read and follow the label and keep them where children and pets can’t reach. Each swap links to the studies and agency guidance behind it.
