The sight of a roach in your kitchen sink, or moths hovering above the dining table isn’t really pleasant and commercially available sprays and foggers can help you get rid of them in a jiffy. But these insect-killers aren’t the only ways to control bugs and pests in your house. And they don’t just help kill bugs, they are just as harmful for people and pets who happen to be around and inhale the fumes as they are for the bugs. And what’s more, they also impact the environment in a negative way. How about we take a look at a few effective, inexpensive and safe ways to rid your home of these pesky little beings? Read on to know more.
Houseflies
A sure-shot way to keep the fly menace at bay is to keep all garbage bins tightly closed and wash them once a week. Sprinkling borax on the insides of the bins will also ensure flies don’t hang out anywhere near them.
Fleas
For households that have pets, summertime brings with it the flea menace. A natural way to control the flea population in your home, garden and on your fur-babies, is to spray your yard and the kennels with beneficial nematodes (worms). This is a great natural way of keeping the flea population under control without the need for pesticides and flea medication on your pets. It’s also a good idea to keep the weeds trimmed and the lawns mowed to keep the flea population under control. Use a natural flea shampoo on your pets and leave the shampoo on them for a few minutes before rinsing it off. On your cats you can use a flea comb instead of giving them a bath, to remove the fleas.
Your pet’s bedding will also need to be washed and vacuumed regularly to control the flea population in your house. Sprinkling diatomaceous earth on the bedding and other areas where your pets hang out and vacuuming it off, after a few hours, can significantly bring down the fleas and their eggs in those places.
Mosquitoes
To keep mosquitoes from breeding anywhere in and around your house, clear all the gutters regularly to prevent water from stagnating. Change the water in the birdbaths at least once every week. When spending time outdoors, instead of using bug sprays, invest in citronella oil lamps and candles. Also, when using repellents, choose natural ones with lemon and eucalyptus oil instead of DEET.
Bees And Wasps
Bees and wasps can seem like a nuisance to us, but they are good for the environment. It is better to leave them alone as far as possible. Instead of killing them you may want to make your home less appealing to them by using a mixture of water, dishwashing detergent, a few drops of peppermint oil, and some powdered cinnamon and cayenne. Just spraying this mixture near the places where you see them buzzing around often will help keep them away.
Ants And Weevils
Cleaning your countertops and walls in the pantry with a 1:8 solution of vinegar and water with a few drops of peppermint and orange oil, will help keep ants away. This mixture can be used as an everyday cleaning solution to deter ants and other insects.
Sprinkling the corners of your pantry along the floorboards with powdered cinnamon, cayenne pepper or diatomaceous earth will help keep ants and bugs off your dry goods. Using tightly sealed containers and putting bay leaves inside bins that contain flour, pasta, grains and cereals will also help keep all the items free from pests.
Moths
Make your own natural moth repellent by filling up dried lemon peels and cedar chips inside a stocking and tying it to a rack inside your closet.
Other Insects
Use cotton balls dipped in peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil around baseboards, bookshelves and in locations that tend to be damp, and attract insects. This will also deter centipedes, silverfish and other bugs. You can also discourage insects and other critters from gaining entry into the house by making sure that all screens are in good shape and all the holes around utility lines and plumbing are sealed.
