Natural Bug and Pest Repellents
Sep 10th, 2012 | By Carmen | Category: Misc | Print This Article
All homeowners face the battle of the pests. If you don’t see bugs in someone’s home, it’s probably because they spend a lot of money on regular pest control. This type pest control is chemical-based and can be toxic to your health and that of your pets. You may not feel the effects of the pesticide immediately; however, no one knows for certain if regular pest control causes long-term health problems.
The best way to avoid long term health complications from pesticides and save money at the same time is through natural repellents. There are many different ways to keep ants, roaches, fleas, and other pests from invading your home. Choose the ones you want to try and stop poisoning your home.
Ants
Ants seem to appear from nowhere. One day you are ant free and the next day your countertop is covered. They were probably attracted by bread crumbs or something sweet. If you have an ant problem, you can use some simple tips to keep these pesky little creatures on the other side of your wall where they belong.
- Cucumber: Ants do not like cucumbers, particularly bitter ones. You can put cucumber peels or slices around the point of entry and stop the ants from coming in your house.
- Cinnamon: Sprinkle a line of cinnamon around window sills and any openings that are entry points for the ants. They will not cross it.
- Line: Follow the ant trail back to the entry point and sprinkle any one of the following: citrus oil on a string, lemon juice, coffee grounds, or cayenne pepper.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are nasty little pests. The best way to prevent them is to keep your house and kitchen clean; however, this does not guarantee that you won’t have cockroaches. If you do see cockroaches, use these tips to help eliminate them.
- Diatomaceous Earth: This is natural sediment that is toxic to creatures with an exoskeleton (like roaches). Sprinkle it anywhere roaches congregate, such as behind appliances and cabinets. This substance is perfectly safe for humans but will kill roaches in forty-eight hours. You may actually see more roach activity for a few days as they scavenge about hunting water. However, you should be roach free in two weeks.
- Soapy Water: Keep a spray bottle of soapy water handy. Spray roaches when you see them. The soapy water will kill them.
- Deterrents: Cockroaches do not like catnip, bay leaves, cucumber, or garlic. Place these in areas known to have cockroach activity or where you know they are entering the house. Make a tea from the catnip and spray it around doorways, baseboards, windowsills, and any other entryways.
These tips should help you keep cockroaches away from your house and family. If you continue to have problems, you can buy boric acid and place it on top of your upper cabinets. Roaches like high places. They will carry the boric acid back to their nests and die.
Diatomaceous Earth Rids Your Home And Garden Of 98 Percent Of Unwanted Insects And Bugs…
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are more than pests; they can carry West Nile virus and make you and your family very sick. During mosquito season, keep window and doors closed to prevent easy access to your house. You should also make sure you keep buckets, kiddy pools, and other sources of standing water empty. Standing water is the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- Sage and Rosemary: While you are barbecuing, toss rosemary or sage on the coals to keep mosquitoes at bay.
- Neem Oil: This is an all-natural oil from the neem tree found in India. It is highly effective against mosquitoes and completely safe for humans.
- Lemon Grass Oil: This is a totally safe and effective way to repel mosquitoes when you are outside. Buy a Thai lemon grass plat and use it like you would aloe. Break one stalk off and bend it to expose the inside of the plant. Rub this between your fingers until you have a pulpy material. Rub this on your exposed skin or make a spray mixture using the pulp and alcohol.
- Garlic: Mix together one quart of garlic juice with five parts of water and store it in a spray bottle. You can spray your body with this mixture before going outside. You can also use this to keep mosquitoes away from your patio. Dip strips of cloth in the solution and hang them in the area.
- Marigolds: Plant marigolds in the flowerbeds around your house. The scent from the plants keeps mosquitoes and other flying insects away from your house.
- Bats: Bats eat mosquitoes in large quantities. One bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes in a night. Keep a bat house in your yard and avoid mosquitoes.
Finally, if you want to keep your yard mosquito free, install electronic mosquito traps. These traps have no chemicals and are not harmful to humans or pets.
Flies
Flies are like ants: they seem to appear from nowhere. If you don’t kill them, you will have many flies in a short time. You can keep flies from coming in your house with these easy to follow tips.
- Bay Leaves, Cloves, or Eucalyptus: Place any of these in a piece of cheesecloth. Tie in a knot and hang by doorways and windows. Flies do not like the scent and will avoid them.
- Mint Sachets: Flies don’t like mint. Make small sachets using crushed mint and place these throughout your house.
- Basil and Clover: If you have indoor pets, place sweet basil and clover in a small container. Leave this near open pet food to deter flies.
You can also buy fly paper and hang it; it is non-toxic and won’t harm your family or pets; however, it is unsightly and may not be what you want in your house.
Battling pests using the tips indicated here is easy and inexpensive. Additionally, these tips are completely safe. Many of the tips for one pest will prevent many other pests. For example, diatomaceous earth works to deter earwigs and ants in addition to cockroaches.
If you have pests in your home, put these tips to work for you. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars every year on pest control—simply open your spice cabinet and put nature to work for you.
©2013 Off The Grid News
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Hey, you forgot mice. I don’t have cockroaches, mosquitoes or flies, but mice certainly fit into the ‘Pest’ category.
Otherwise, thanks for a great article.
Doug, I have not had any mice since we got a cat.
Try putting a few drops of peppermint oil (not flavoring) on cotton balls wherever the mice are ” hanging out “. That seems to keep them away; just be sure to refresh it every so often. Hope this helps.
One thing you didn’t mention for fleas is good ol’ table salt. I have found that this works extremely well on carpets. I have used it for years, not only as a way to get rid of any fleas that might be there, already, but as a preventative measure as well. It not only kills the adult fleas, but dries out the eggs before they can hatch. The main thing is the cost, at 33 cents you won’t go broke.
What about SPIDERS ???? What can be used to get rid of spiders?
The good thing about spiders is they eat the other insects. So if you see them, then there is food crawling about for them. As long as they are not poisonous, leave them be. Find out what they are eating and work on that. When the food supply dries up, they will go away looking for another food source.
Just leave the spiders as they get rid of other small pests. Some spiders are really cute too… the Black jumping spider has the cutest little face and eyes!
I LOVE SPIDERS, Most of the spiders I have at home are daddy long legs and the other type that can’t recall the name but they are harmless, and they trap other bugs, I actually avoid any poison that might harm my elegant tall friends.
You missed a very effective fly deterrent. If your doors are open and closed constantly as with having children or an office, I have discovered a way to keep the flies out. Hang a clear plastic, zip-lock bag with water in it, (some add a shiny new penny in it) and hang it by or above the door. sounds crazy, I know, but it works.
I think it has something to do with the refraction of the water and all those eyes they have. Hope this helps
Aspartame is great for killing ants. I sprinkle it around the foundation of the house and no ants
It is a neurotoxin.
Diatomaceous Earth really does work with roaches. I had tried multiple times the sprays, foggers and traps with very little success. Finally got some Diatomaceous Earth and a duster (duster was primarily bought for vegy plants). My dusting was heavier than I wanted & not real attractive around the kitchen. For the 1st couple weeks I was disappointed and finally cleaned up all the dust after a month at which time I realized I no longer see any of the critters.
It also seems to work on spider mites which destroyed my tomato plants. Unfortunately, I did not take into account the need to reapply weekly due to their life cycle
I tried it too, but be careful as it will also kill your beneficial bugs, such as honeybees, lady bugs…remember, anything with an exo-skeleton. I used it outside till I learned it would kill those too.
Mint, fresh or dried, crushed along entry points also helps deter ants.
I have just discovered a product that is natural and very pleasant to use. It is cedar oil spray. It is a little expensive but it KILLS roaches, ants, everything that crawls into your home except lizards. It is not toxic and has a wonderful smell. It can be used to clean windows, counter tops, appliances or what ever surface you have in your house. It is not toxic to small children but could be irritating. It is called Cedarcide and can be ordered off of the net. This is not an ad for the product just wanted to let people know another option.
Pertaining to mice put a little peanut butter on a mouse trap and nail it down where it will be out of reach of small children. It works great for mice rats or squirrels too!
you are absolutely correct! We have fought flea infestation for three years and just this year we discovered Cedarcide! There are still some on our pets, yard still needs to be done, but we have FINALLY been able to stop the constant “flea check” on ourselves! Yes, it is pricey, but when you’re desparate, there’s no such thing as “costs too much”. I also am not affiliated with the company, but have seen how it works! Also, anyone interested in it’s story should check it out. It really is interesting.
for fleas and eggs you can use borax and also spray carpets with vinegar, if your pet has fleas use apple cider vinegar
Borax works for spiders and crickets too. Just put it where your house pets don’t get into it.
there has been no mention of a deterent for bedbugs… anyone with “natural” suggestions..?? mind you when tshtf, sources for chemical sprays and such will dry up… besides, natural fixes are better all around…
Try the Cedarcide! Bedbugs are listed as one of MANY pests that it kills. Oh, and you can use it on yourself, your dogs (cats are a little sensitive to it according to site) and there are other products for your yard…all sorts of things. It’s worked so well for us! (see above) and I’ve been so thrilled and pleased with it that we’ve stocked up on it for anything else we may need it for! We live in Florida, so you know we’ll have plenty of uses for it! Our issue was fleas! If you spray it on one, you will watch them die within about 5 seconds! Needless to say, my house has smelled like a cedar chest this summer!
Lots of luck! By the way, it attacks their breathing and they suffocate.
Bay leaves placed around the perimeter of the closet floor will deter moths and carpet beetles.
We get sticky traps for spiders as we have poisonous varieties here – black widow and hobo – plus a red one that has a ferocious bite since it eats woodbugs and pill bugs. We can’t take chances with our toddler and baby grandchildren.
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