As the weather starts to warm up again, we start to see new life everywhere - even in places where we’d rather nothing live (think under the sink or in the walls of your home). That’s right, we’re talking about pests. Bugs and rodents alike will start popping up as the weather gets nicer.
We’ve joined with an advocate for the environment, BioLogiQ, manufacturers of eco-friendly plastic resin pellets, to bring you this list of natural and environmentally friendly pest controls to use around your home.
Ants
Ants are a common problem during the spring and summer. They are everywhere! As it starts warming up, use some of these tips to prevent ants from getting into your home.
- Cucumber Peels. Spread cucumber peels around the outside of your home where ants might gain entrance. Just be sure to keep them outside your home so they don’t start rotting inside your home.
- Coffee grounds. These are fatal to ants. So recycle those used coffee grounds by spreading them outside your home around potential ant entrances.
- Borax and corn syrup. This is a good solution when you find ants in your home. Mix equal parts borax and corn syrup and spread the mixture on a small piece of paper (preferably out of the reach of pets and children). The ants will be attracted to the sugar and carry the poison back to their nest.
If you do find these pests sneaking into your home despite your efforts, try a professional pest control company near you that uses eco-friendly methods.
Dust Mites
If you find, or feel, dust mites in your bed, try this aromatic fix.
Mix Clove, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Rosemary, or Lavender oil with water in a spray bottle. Mist your bed lightly and allow it to air dry. Mites don’t like the scents of these oils and will stay away.
Fleas and Lice
Oils are a great solution for fleas and lice too. Try mixing Basil and Lemongrass oils to repel fleas and lice, as well as dust mites.
Cockroaches
If you find that you have a roach infestation, give this method a try.
Mix baking soda and powdered sugar, and then spread it over problem areas. The sugar attracts the bug and the baking soda will kill them.
Fruit Flies
Especially as the weather gets warmer (and you’re bringing home more fresh fruit), these pests can become a real problem. Try some of these natural fruit fly repellants:
- Apple Cider Vinegar. You can use the remaining part of an apple cider vinegar bottle, or pour some apple cider vinegar into a plastic water bottle. Remove the cap, place plastic wrap over the opening, and seal the plastic to the top of the bottle with a rubber band. Poke small holes into the plastic with a needle. The fruit flies will be attracted to the vinegar and won’t be able to get out once they’ve entered.
- Dish Soap and Vinegar. Add a couple drops of dish soap to an open bowl of vinegar. The flies will land on the vinegar, sink and drown.
General Insect Repellants
Here are a few more natural methods you can try for repelling the general insect population.
- Mint. Plant peppermint and spearmint plants around your home (inside or out) to deter insects from entering.
- Natural Sprays. There are tons of natural sprays you can mix together to spray on your indoor and outdoor plants to repel insects. Some include mixing water with isopropyl alcohol, salt, elder leaves, or garlic oil.
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