Pests in your home are never a welcome sight. But when most common solutions to getting rid of these pests involve harsh chemicals, how can you safely control pests and bugs? I prefer natural solutions to household pests. Here are a few natural solutions you can use to rid your home of different pests.
Natural Solutions To Household Pests
Ants
Ants don’t like the smell of mint. Plant mint around your home to keep them from entering. Use peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball to wipe down areas already infested by ants.
Vinegar is another ant deterrent. Use a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar on doorways and window sills. Other natural ways to deter ants include:
- Cinnamon
- Lemon juice
- Cayenne pepper
Spiders
Get rid of spiders by spraying a 50/50 vinegar to water solution directly on them. Oils such as peppermint, eucalyptus, and rose are also effective against spiders.
Spiders don’t like the smell of baking soda, so try sprinkling a little baking soda on your carpet near any spiderwebs. Yeast paste is another effective spider solution because spiders don’t like the scent.
Termites
Borax powder can kill termites. Mix it with water and spray it into infected areas. Combining the juice from two lemons with a half cup of vinegar kills termites, too.
Another substance deadly to termites is d-limonene, which is found in orange oil. Spray it around your home to prevent termites from visiting. If you already have termites, orange oil will kill them off by dissolving their exoskeletons.
Silverfish
There are a few effective natural solutions to use against silverfish. Food-grade diatomaceous earth has tiny sharp edges that feel like shattered glass to silverfish, so sprinkling earth in your storage areas can help. Cedar blocks placed on the floor work because silverfish don’t like the cedar scent. You can also put boric acid, which kills silverfish after they ingest it, on floor edges.
Cockroaches
A mixture of sugar and baking soda is effective against cockroaches. Mix the two items with water, place them in a bowl, and sprinkle the mixture in the area where you see pests. Next, create a solution that’s two parts water and three parts fabric softener. Spray it on roaches as you see them. The solution will suffocate them because roaches breathe through the skin.
Fleas
Putting baking soda on your carpets prior to vacuuming helps ensure that you’re removing fleas properly. Salt can also be used because it dehydrates fleas. Sprinkle the salt on all your carpeted areas and leave it there for a couple of days. Then vacuum it all up and place the contents in an outside trash bin.
Lemon spray works against fleas as well. Slice up a lemon into thin strips and bring the slices to a boil in a pint of water. Empty the solution into a spray bottle after it’s had the chance to sit overnight. Then spray the solution on all infected areas, such as pet bedding, couches, and chairs.
Ready to call in the professionals?
DIY pest solutions are great, but some infestations, such as termites, are just too troublesome to handle on your own. The good news is that plenty of termite control companies use cutting-edge technology and environmentally friendly solutions to handle these issues. So connect with them and get rid of all the termites.
Modern technology makes it a piece of cake to find local pest control companies that use eco-friendly products. All it takes is a quick Google search for something like “San Diego pest control,” and you’ll have a list of reputable companies that you can sort through based on community reviews. Use these companies to remove pests from your home for good.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.
Chemical control is often harmful to the environment numerous homeowners need to turn to more secure and eco-friendly techniques to keep pests away from thier home.The better method to dispose annoying pests is by using natural products that are safe, inexpensive, and non-toxic. Thanks for sharing this great article with us.