Non-Toxic Pest & Insect Control Products

From essential oils to plant-powered sprays, natural solutions can keep bugs at bay while supporting a healthier environment. I’m sharing safe and effective pest control products to protect your home without exposing your family or pets to harmful chemicals.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Although bugs are a beneficial part of our ecosystem, spotting a bug in your home can cause a range of emotions, from surprise to fear to disgust.

Instead of using conventional pesticides that contain harmful chemicals, use a non-toxic pest-control option to protect your health and the health of your family and pets.

The long-term health effects from chronic exposure to conventional pesticides like organochlorines, organophosphates, neonicotinoids, pyrethroids, glyphosate, and paraquat include adverse health effects like Parkinson’s disease, gut health disruption, hormonal disruption, immune system suppression, respiratory issues and an increased risk of cancer.

Who’s Most at Risk?

Children and pregnant women (developing systems are more vulnerable)
Farmworkers and landscapers (chronic occupational exposure)
Pets (from lawn sprays and flea treatments)
People living near agricultural sites

Switching to non-toxic pest control methods reduces your exposure to these harmful chemicals and protects your long-term health.

What Can I Use Instead?

Plant-based ingredients like essential oils are the best ingredients if you want to avoid conventional insecticides. They target pests without polluting the air, soil, or water. They also reduce the risk of pesticide resistance and help maintain a balanced ecosystem in and around your home.

Essential oils are excellent insect deterrents because they can disrupt insect scent trails and navigation, they can overwhelm insect scent receptors and disrupt pheromone trails, making it hard for them to navigate, they can damage their nervous systems or exoskeletons, and the strong aromas signal danger to bugs, causing them to avoid treated areas.

Sticky traps are also not toxic to humans and pets (as long as they are used as directed). Flying insects like fruit flies are generally hard to capture, so I’ve linked a product below that uses UV light to attract the insects and sticky tape to trap them.

Cedarwood shavings are harmless and can be sprinkled anywhere you don’t want rodents or moths, and pouches or sachets can be used for indoor use.

Are Non-Toxic Pest Control Products Safe Around Kids And Pets?

I recommend reading the product instructions and warnings before using. Although I’ve selected products that are “non-toxic”, that does not mean kids and pets should have access to these products. Always store pest control products out of reach of children and pets. Kids and pets should not ingest any pest control products or get the product in their eyes or around their facial area.

Can Non-Toxic Pest Control Products Be Used On Pets?

I recommend reading the product instructions and warnings before using any non-toxic pest control product around pets. Wondercide makes a flea & tick collar that is safe for dogs. They also have a flea & tick shampoo that is safe for dogs and cats ages 4+ months. Their flea & tick pets + home spray can be sprayed directly on dogs and cats.

According to Outward Hound, the following essential oils are safe for dogs: Myrrh, Frankincense, Chamomile, Lavender oil, Ginger and Rosemary. Essential oils that are safe for cats are: Frankincense, Lavender oil and Chamomile.

Beyond non-toxic pest control, support your non-toxic lifestyle with non-toxic weed killer, safer bug spray and natural mosquito control for your backyard. I’ve rounded up the best non-toxic pest control products to help you tackle pests with peace of mind for you and your family.

Wondercide

Wondercide Lawn delivers effective, plant-powered pest control solutions designed for your outdoor spaces, protecting yards, patios, and garden areas from insects without toxic chemicals. These USA-made, lab‑tested formulas use natural essential oils (like cedarwood, lemongrass, and sesame) to achieve “Spray & Play™” convenience—no dry time needed, so pets and family can enjoy the yard immediately after application.

Star product | Wondercide Outdoor Pest Control
Use it on | mosquitoes, ants, ticks, fleas, crickets, Japanese beetles, gnats and other bothersome bugs.
Why it works | Cedarwood oil interferes with insects’ sense of smell by disrupting their pheromone receptors. Many pests rely on these chemical signals to navigate, mate, and find food. When disrupted, they become disoriented and avoid the treated area. It can also dry out an insects exoskeleton and it acts as a natural deterrent for many bugs.
For outdoor use | Spray around your patio, fence lines, deck edges, foundation perimeter (near windows, doors, etc.), around pet areas and under decks or porches
Are Wondercide products safe to use around kids and pets? Yes, they are safe, but when you are spraying, remove pets and kids to ensure no one gets directly sprayed by accident. Once your application is complete, there is no drying time needed before the kids and pets can come back in the yard and play. Both Wondercide Flea & Tick Pets + Home and Flea & Tick Yard + Garden are safe when used as directed, but neither was designed or tested for use on horses or other livestock.
Specifically for pets | flea & tick collar, flea & tick shampoo, flea & tick pets + home spray
Other pest control products from Wondercide

Earth’s Ally

Formulated with safe ingredients, Earth’s Ally makes sprays that protect your home from bugs without harsh chemicals.
Star product | Earth’s Ally Bug Barrier
Use it on | soft-bodied insects like aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. Kills ants, roaches, and spiders on contact.
Why it works | Formulated with encapsulated essential oils, it delivers long-lasting insect repellency for up to 90 days after application.
For indoor use | spray around window and door frames, in basements, and near sinks and appliances.
Is Earth’s Ally safe to use around pets and children? Yes! It is safe for kids and pets when used as directed.

Sunday

Sunday Lawn & Pest offers a straightforward, eco‑friendly approach to yard care and pest control tailored to your home’s needs. Sunday empowers homeowners to nurture a vibrant, healthy lawn and manage pests without toxic chemicals or costly professional contracts.
Star product | Sunday Bug Doom
Use it on | A wide range of indoor pests, including ants (excluding fire ants, harvester ants, Pharaoh ants, and carpenter ants), bed bugs, beetles, boxelder bugs, carpet beetles, centipedes, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, flies, moths, silverfish, spiders (excluding black widow, brown recluse, and hobo spiders), and stink bugs.
Why it works | Pyrethrin, which is naturally derived from chrysanthemums, acts as an insect neurotoxin.
For indoor use | Spray directly onto pests, on thoroughly infested areas, and places where pests crawl and hide. Spray around doors, windows, and basement areas, anywhere where pests commonly enter the home. Some floors may be slippery after spraying!
Are Sunday pest control products safe to use around pets and children? Keep children and pets away from treated areas until the spray has dried.
Other pest-control products from Sunday

Cedarcide

Made from 100% natural cedarwood shavings, which are known to control a wide range of unwanted bugs.
Star product: Cedarcide Insect Repelling Cedar Granules
Use it on | third-party testing for fleas, ants, mosquitoes, mites, and chiggers.
Why it works | cedar granules naturally repel bugs by interfering with their pheromones, chemicals they use to navigate, mate, search for food, and regulate bodily functions.
For outdoor use | Spread on your lawn, around your gardens, planters, around patios and decks, and along fences, foundations, garages and outbuildings.
For indoor use | Fill a sachet or stocking with the granules and hang in closets, or use them in indoor houseplant pots.
Are Cedarcide granules safe to use around pets and children? Yes! The granules are made from 100% natural cedar shavings and are sourced from trees never touched by synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

EarthKind

If your issue is more mice, moths, spiders or ants sneaking into your home,EarthKind® offers a line of plant-based, EPA-registered pest prevention products designed to protect your home without toxic chemicals. Their botanical pouches use blends of essential oils (like balsam fir, lemongrass, peppermint, and cedar) and plant fibers to repel rodents, ants, spiders, moths, and mosquitoes, rather than kill them
Star product | Stay Away Pouch Line
Use it on | mice, moths, spiders or ants
Why it works | Rodents avoid strong botanical scents like peppermint and balsam fir that can overwhelm their olfactory system. Ants rely heavily on pheromone trails to communicate and navigate, and oils like lemongrass, peppermint, and tea tree disrupt pheromone signals, throwing off their ability to find food and follow trails. Spiders don’t like strong odors, particularly peppermint and cedarwood, which affect their sensitive chemoreceptors and interfere with their ability to hunt or detect prey. Moths are deterred by lavender, cedar, and clove.
For indoor use | use in drawers, closets, attics, and pantries
Are Earthkind pest control products safe to use around pets and children? Yes, they are safe to use around kids and pets when used as directed.
Pest control products from Earthkind

Mighty Mint

Mighty Mint Pest Control is a natural, plant-based spray made with powerful peppermint oil to repel a wide range of pests, including ants, spiders, roaches, and more. It’s non-toxic, eco-friendly, and safe to use around children and pets when used as directed. Ideal for both indoor and outdoor use, it provides a fresh, minty alternative to harsh chemical pesticides.
Star product | Mighty Mint Insect & Pest Control
Use it on | common bugs like ants, spiders, mosquitos, fleas and flies
Why it works | Peppermint oil deters insects through a combination of strong scent, chemical irritation, and disruption of their natural behaviors.
For indoor use | spray around window and door frames, in basements, and near sinks and appliances.
For outdoor use | Spray around your patio, fence lines, deck edges, foundation perimeter (near windows, doors, etc.), around pet areas and under decks or porches
Is Mighty Mint safe to use around pets and children? Yes! It is safe for kids and pets when used as directed.
Pest Control Products From Mighty Mint

Zevo

Zevo offers effective, plant-powered pest control solutions that are safe for indoor use around people and pets (when used as directed)
Star product | Zevo Flying Insect Trap
Use it on | flying insects like fruit flies
Why it works | the blue‑UV light lures flies, gnats, and other flying insects to fly into the adhesive cartridges.
For indoor use | plug into any electrical outlet
Are Zevo pest control products safe to use around pets and children? Yes, but if you have a curious pet or child, plug it into an outlet that they can’t reach.

DIY Pest Control Spray

You can make your own pest control spray with essential oils to keep bugs at bay. Here’s a simple recipe that is safe to use around pets and kids.

2 oz distilled or boiled water
1.5 oz witch hazel or vodka
15 drops citronella
15 drops lavender
10 drops lemongrass or geranium (optional)
Optional: 1 tsp jojoba oil if using on skin for hydration

Fill a 4 oz amber spray bottle with 2 oz of water and add 1.5 oz of witch hazel or vodka. Add about 50 to 75 total drops of essential oils and shake well. Spray onto exposed skin and/or clothing, avoiding eyes and mucous membranes. Reapply every 2 hours, or as needed. Store away from heat or sunlight. This version is safe for both kids and pets (not to be ingested or sprayed on face).

Find supply links here:

Essential oils that work to deter mosquitos: citronella, eucalyptus, lemon eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, peppermint, catnip, basil, clove, thyme, lemongrass, geranium

Essential oils that work to deter ants: cinnamon, peppermint, tea tree, lemon or orange citrus oil, clove, eucalyptus

Essential oils that work to deter fleas: citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree oil, cedarwood, lemongrass, lavender, orange, pine,

Essential oils that work to deter ticks: rose geranium, oregano, juniper, grapefruit, rosewood, thyme