In a world filled with endless options, from the food we eat to the products we use everyday in our homes, it’s easy to focus on convenience without pausing to ask a simple yet powerful question: What’s in it? The ingredients we choose to use on and around ourselves and loved ones can have a big impact on health and wellbeing. And once you know, you can make better choices that align with your values and help you protect what matters most.
Be curious and look at ingredients
When it comes to pest control products, understanding ingredients becomes even more critical, as these are items designed to safeguard your pets, loved ones, and property while tackling unwanted invaders. So it might come as a surprise that some commonly-recommended products including conventional flea-and-tick control contain ingredients that can pose health risks.
Our best advice: Read labels and if you see an ingredient that you don’t know, do a little research to better understand. You might not like what you find. Another thing to check is if all of the ingredients are listed on the label. It’s common that conventional pest control products will only list active ingredients and then a percentage of “other ingredients” which are also known as inert ingredients. By law, manufacturers of registered conventional products are not required to share these ingredients because they’re considered proprietary business information. You could try to ask the company to disclose these other ingredients, but chances are they won’t do it. So how comfortable do you feel using a product if you don’t know everything that’s in it?
Why is Wondercide so passionate about ingredients?
Wondercide was built on the promise of creating effective pest protection to keep pets and people safe from bugs and the ingredients we know can pose an issue. It all started because Wondercide’s founder, Stephanie Boone, fell victim to an all-to-common problem for pet parents. Her dog Luna, became gravely ill. Luna suffered from seizures and liver and kidney failure, and was declining quickly. Stephanie was told this was the tragic end for Luna and there was nothing anyone could do. But a mom never gives up.
Stephanie started to think about everything Luna was exposed to, everything she ingested or came in contact with. She wondered if there could be something in the flea-and-tick spot on she had recently put on Luna or in the pest control sprays that were done inside the house and in the yard. She went home and looked into what was in these products and was horrified to find that some ingredients were known as systemic neurotoxins that could cause a build up of toxins in the bloodstream which the liver and kidneys can’t fully filter out. Stephanie took Luna to another vet who shared her suspicion that the products Luna had been exposed to led to the health issues. Luna went on a holistic protocol and Stephanie stopped using the questionable products. Luna began to heal.
Stephanie started a blog to share her experience and learned from thousands of other pet parents that the suffering she and Luna went through was not unique. Stephanie knew there had to be a better way and she felt called to step up and solve the huge unmet need of safe pest protection. That was the beginning of the Wondercide journey.
What makes Wondercide ingredients safe and effective when used as directed?
Almost 20 million pets and families have used Wondercide over conventional pesticides because of our dedication to safety and effectiveness. Ingredients we use come from the FIFRA 25b list. FIFRA, also known as the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, says that if companies use only active and other ingredients from a narrow list provided in section 25b, that those products are exempt from federal registration. That’s because the ingredients are known to be minimal risk to health and the environment.
Wondercide is choosy about the ingredients we use from this list too. Our ethos is simple: choose the safest ingredients we can that also ensure the products we offer do what they’re supposed to do. We’re transparent about the source of all of our ingredients and publish the full list. And you can have peace of mind knowing exactly what you’re using around your family because every Wondercide product page and label lists all active and “other” ingredients. Full transparency.
You’ll see that Wondercide uses ingredients derived from nature like trees, seeds, and herbs. Most Wondercide products are made with steam-distilled natural essential oils, sourced directly from plants including rosemary, lemongrass, peppermint leaves and the bark and branches of cedarwood trees. We choose the specific varietal of each essential oil that is known to be safe for dogs, cats, and people when properly diluted and used as directed. These essential oils contribute to the pleasant scent of Wondercide, but instead of that unfortunate “chemical” smell from many conventional products.
The ingredients we use are just as crucial as the ingredients we refuse to include in our products. Wondercide avoids any essential oil with phenols due to the danger they can pose to cats who don’t have the enzyme in their livers to process these compounds. So you won’t find clove oil in Wondercide. You also won’t find any artificial colors, dyes, or fragrances.
Wondercide has something for everyone – Indoor Pest Control for the home, yard sprays, a Flea & Tick lineup for pets that includes sprays, collars, and spot-ons, and Insect Repellent for people. All are cruelty-free and proven to work by independent 3rd party labs. In fact, Wondercide products meet the same effectiveness standards as conventional pest control. So you don’t have to compromise. Wondercide works and it’s safe when used as directed. Win. win.
Wondercide’s environmental impact
In addition to the lives of our pets and human friends, Wondercide prioritizes the environment. Our company is a Green America gold-certified business for high standards in social and environmental impact.
Wondercide yard sprays are safe to use around pollinators such as bees and butterflies. And since these extraordinary bugs benefit us in so many ways, it’s important we all do our part to keep them happy and healthy.
Wondercide sources ingredients from local U.S. suppliers whenever possible to reduce our carbon footprint and support the community. And almost all of our packaging outside is recyclable! On every product page on Wondercide.com you can learn more about how to recycle and make an impact. We’re working hard to meet the needs of our generation without compromising the next.
Knowing the ingredients in products you use is about making informed decisions that align with your values and priorities. By choosing products made with care, transparency, and integrity, you’re not just protecting your family, you’re making a statement about the kind of world you want to live in. It’s a powerful way to ensure that what you use every day truly works for you, not against you.
