Pests. Nobody likes them, but they are a fact of life. However, they don’t have to be a fact of life inside your home! Keep reading for some natural ways to keep insects out of your home!
Citrus Peels
Spiders hate citrus, so keep them out of your home by using tons of citrus! Leaving citrus fruits around your kitchen is a great way to keep spiders out! You can also use leftover citrus peels to rub down areas where spiders frequent, like cabinets, windowsills and doorways to keep them out.
Vinegar
Chances are, you probably have vinegar in your kitchen right now! It’s perfectly natural and contains no harmful chemicals. Simply put some vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz it around your kitchen to repel all sorts of small insects. You can also spray around the entrances to your home to keep bugs from coming in at all!
Cornmeal
If you have a lot of ants in your home, you can sabotage them with cornmeal! Simply leave a little bit out where ants can easily access it, and your work is done! You see, ants can’t resist the sweet taste of cornmeal, but their stomachs also can’t digest it properly. They will grab the cornmeal, carry it home to their ant friends, and they will all eat it, and meet their demise. Fun fact? The same thing works for grits too!
Be Dust Free
It doesn’t sound very fun or fancy, but one of the best ways to keep spiders out of your home is to keep your house clean and free of dust and cobwebs. Spiders are known to frequent dusty areas with lots of cobwebs, so keep your home clean and tidy and these pests will not feel welcome!
Mint
Fun fact: Most bugs, including ants and spiders, hate peppermint! All you have to do is use peppermint essential oil and water to make a spray, and spray it all over your house. Added bonus: your home will smell minty fresh! You can also plant mint near your entry ways and exits of your home to keep bugs from coming around.
Diatomaceous Earth
If you don’t know much about this one, don’t feel bad, most people don’t. Diatomaceous Earth is a white powder that is nontoxic and odorless. What’s it made of, you ask? The ground up shells of microscopic sea creatures called diatoms. You can sprinkle it around the areas where you notice bugs like to crawl, and the DE will work it’s magic and get rid of them.
Simple Soap and Sugar
Easy peasy way to get rid of bugs? Place a shallow dish of sugar water and a couple of drops of dish liquid inside. Bugs will rush to the dish, and quickly drown. This is a great option for keeping bees, wasps and ants under control.
Keep Things Pruned
Another great and simple way to keep bugs from ever getting near your home in the first place is to watch your landscaping. Keep your yard trimmed and free of debris, and rake up any dead leaves or brush. Keep weeds trimmed and bushes pruned back. Keeping things neat and tidy will be a great first step in keeping pests away.
Go Scent Free
It’s common knowledge that bugs are attracted to strong, sweet smells. This is especially true for mosquitoes and bees. Switch to scent free perfumes, shampoos, hairsprays and other toiletries to keep the bugs away! If you can’t switch to completely unscented products, try to at least avoid fruity or sweet scents.
Herbs
There are a ton of herbs that bugs absolutely hate, so by planting them around your home, you will keep insects from ever wanting to enter in the first place! You can plant these in patio planters, in your garden, or even in a windowsill planter inside your kitchen! Basil, garlic, catnip, mint and bay leaves are all great options, and the best part is, you can use them in cooking too!
Draw A Line
Did you know there are a ton of things that ants won’t cross? It sounds weird, but it’s true! You can make a line in your doorway with chalk, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, baby powder, charcoal,salt and more. Experts say it’s because the ants don’t like the particles sticking to their feet, but whatever it is, it works!
Cucumbers
While your making your fresh summer salad, throw some of those cucumber slices on the windowsill. Bugs, especially ants absolutely hate the taste of cucumbers, especially bitter ones. Leave a few of those laying around as much as possible and you won’t be seeing many ants.
Cedar It
Cedar is an age old remedy for getting rid of bugs in the home and keeping them out. Placing a few cedar blocks or scraps around the house will get rid of moths, as well as other bugs! Plus, it gives off a very fresh, woody scent! Moths can wreak havoc on clothing and other linens, so make sure to keep them far, far away!
