Bugs, lizards, mosquitos, and rodents are unwelcome guests that wreak havoc in our homes. In an attempt to get rid of them we end up bringing toxic chemicals into our households. Synthetic pesticides are chemicals that are poisonous to all living things.
They might not be fatal to us initially but over a period of time they end up messing with our health. From causing eye and skin allergies to asthma and chronic cough, they are downright toxic for humans. However, being exposed to pest and insects is also extremely unsafe for health. Sucha a scenario calls for insect repellants that are both effective and natural. That’s where essential oils like peppermint oil come to play!1
Why Is Peppermint An Excellent Pest Repellent?
Peppermint oil derived from the leaves of Mentha piperita that’s a hybrid of spearmint and watermint. Its essential oil has many uses like relieving inflammatory, digestive and respiratory diseases. In addition to being very beneficial for human consumption, it also acts as a natural pest repellant.
Scientific research has found that peppermint contains a lot of monoterpenes that have the characteristic ability to prevent herbivores and insects from attacking the plant. This ability makes peppermint oil a natural and safe pesticide.2
How To Use Peppermint To Keep Your Home Pest Free?
There are 3 simple ways you can use peppermint and its essential oil to keep the creepies and crawlies away from your home.
1. Grow Peppermint At Home
Rats, mice, bugs, and cockroaches often use the corners of your rooms for entering. You can stop these irritating pests from entering into your living spaces by placing potted peppermint plants in the corner. If you have enough space for gardening, growing peppermint plants is a good alternative to prevent entry of pests.
2. Spray Your Home With A Simple Peppermint Spray
Pest love to breed and hide in the moist and dark regions of your house. Spraying peppermint spray in these areas can easily get rid of them. If you are using peppermint oil, mix equal parts of oil and water in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture on all those surfaces you have spotted pests. Don’t miss the nooks of doors and cupboards. Make a new mixture every week and stop spraying only if you haven’t spotted pests for at least a month.
3. Keep Cotton Balls Soaked In Peppermint Oil
If you think you wouldn’t be able to spray regularly, leaving peppermint oil infused cotton balls is the best remedy. Take 10-15 cotton balls and add 5 drops of peppermint oil in each one of them. Leave them in all those areas you suspect an infestation. Make sure to spread the balls evenly across the house. Replace them with a fresh batch of infused cotton after 2 weeks only.
Natural pest repellents like peppermint were used for centuries together in traditional medicine, however, with the advent of chemical ones, we seem to have overlooked them. It’s important to remember that their action against pests will take time. You have to reapply them periodically to see the desired results. Nonetheless, their safety profile is much better than their chemical counterparts.3
The next time you are looking for a way to eradicate pests from your home, choose the aromatic and versatile peppermint to get the job done for you. Not only will your house be pest free, it will also smell fresh all day long.
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