Consult Annie Berthold Bond's book, Clean and Green , and Debra Lynn Dadd's, The Non-Toxic Home and Office , for recipes. Their use also creates unhealthy indoor air in homes, offices, schools, etc. which can cause illness. For ants, try a 50-50 mix of borax powder and sugar. Line cabinets, cracks, and crevices where ants have been noticed. Try flea prevention.
Comb pets regularly with good metal flea comb, comb daily if they have fleas.
Bathe pets with Dr. Bronner's peppermint or eucalyptus castile soap. Vacuum at least once per week. Limit amount of grass and instead use other ground cover like ivy. Plant more native shrubs and trees. Pesticides, whether used properly or improperly, are designed to kill living organisms.