A method for reducing pests in an object or area by applying to the object or area a pest reducing effective amount of halogen substituted ethanol (e.g., 2-iodoethanol, 2-bromoethanol, or mixtures thereof). The pests may be, for example, fungi, insects, nematodes, bacteria, weeds, or mixtures thereof. The object or area may be, for example, soil, structures, agricultural commodities, plants, or mixtures thereof.