Pest Control using PF Harris
- , by Trudy Chuoke Trudy Chuoke
I have sold Harris Roach Tablets for years, but I never used them much because I use a pyrethrin pest control product, like Clobber and VS102. Sprays are easy and can get into tight places. But things have changed at my house, and I need to play it safe. And Boric Acid is very safe. And after looking up some info on their website, I want to share their history with you.
In 1920, P.F. Harris was an entomologist. He had a personal war with roaches. He decided to attract the roaches with their smell, which is their best protection. From there, he created Roach Chow in a one-pound box. Roach Chow included sugar, flour, a special lure, and boric acid. His formula was strong enough to kill pests, but benign enough to be safe for people. Two years after founding his product, he was asked to alleviate a huge problem at the White House. He was so successful that they used Roach Chow in other government buildings, which gave him notoriety, and he appeared on the front page of the Washington Post. Fast forward 100 years, and this company, founded in such a small niche, has now expanded globally and formulates many safe ways to clean, kill weeds, and kill pests. Interesting right?
Here’s how I am using this product line at my house right now. I worked inside the house using the Roach Tablets. I placed them behind appliances like my stove and refrigerator. I literally just dropped them down the back of the appliances, including the washer and dryer. I slipped them under my dishwasher, and then I placed them under my sinks in small plastic containers. You can pull out the bottom drawer in your cabinets and place them in the empty space called a drawer well. They are perfect for tight places; they are clean and so economical. One box that retails for just over $8.00 has 145 tablets and can treat a whole house. They also kill water bugs and silverfish. They just don’t kill one bug; they will take the boric acid back to the nest, and it will kill the whole colony. The only warning on the back of the box is not to use more than 12 tablets in a room. Otherwise, it’s safe.
But pest control isn’t the only thing P.F. Harris excels at. You know those weeds that pop up in the cracks in the driveway and between pavers. You can kill them without using a synthetic. Using P.F. Harris Sea Salt spray, you can get rid of weeds that are pet-safe. It sells for around $23.00. They also make a 30% vinegar solution that works for weeds and cleaning. Also safe around pets and people.
So if you need to be a little safer with your pest control, weed control, and cleaners... this 100-year-old company is where to start.
Now to the email…..
Question: During a party at my house, some glasses were left around on the furniture, and when I was picking up, I noticed white rings left on the furniture. So I tried using my normal polish to remove the stains, but it didn’t work. What do you think will work?
Answer: The reason that a polish will not work is that it works on the surface. A product called White Ring Remover will remove the ring. These stains come from moisture trapped beneath the finish’s surface, which reflects light and creates the white ring. The solvents in White Ring Remover penetrate beneath the varnish surface and remove the stain. I am glad you found the ring while it's still white; if it turns dark, you'll need to refinish the piece. Good Luck!