Bug infestations can quickly go from mildly annoying to unmanageable.
It can be embarrassing to have friends and family over when your home is overrun with stubborn pests.
Hiring an exterminator is expensive and the professionals tend to use chemical pesticides, which release toxic fumes that harm pets and humans alike.
Here are 5 natural ways to get rid of bugs.
1. Citrus
Most bugs, especially spiders, dislike citrus fruits. Spiders actually have sensitive taste buds on the tips of their legs. These sensory structures hate the taste of orange, lemon and lime.
You can make your own non-toxic repellent by adding 5 drops of essential oil and up to 5 drops of natural dish washing liquid to 1 liter (quart) of water. For a stronger pesticide, add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the mix. Pour into a spray bottle and spray walls, baseboards and windowsills to keep your home free of spider webs (1).
2. Cucumber
To keep ants away from your home, cut up cucumber slices and keep them around the cracks, baseboard and door frames and other entry points for bugs. It works just as well as poisonous ant-repellent.
3. Cedar
Cedar wood is one of the best materials to use in your wardrobe to keep prevent moths from overtaking your clothes. If you can’t afford to change your furniture, simply use cedar coat hangers or keep an open bag of mulch in your closet (2).
4. Dried Mint leaves
Hang dried peppermint leaves in your pantry and on your porch to keep black flies at bay. Plus, it’ll keep your home smelling fresh and clean!
5. Sprinkle Garlic and Pepper
Sprinkle garlic powder and ground pepper near windowsills, cupboards and door frames to keep bugs away. Sweep it up every few weeks and sprinkle new spices to ensure potency.
6. Spray Vinegar
Pour some vinegar and water into a spray bottle and spray anywhere that you notice spiders. Spray into cracks and crevices or any other area where you think spiders and other bugs may be getting inside your home.
Other Important Tips
Keep Your Yard Clean: Leaves, grass clippings, or piles of wood attract spiders and other bugs. The most important thing is to keep up with your yardwork so that these critters don’t nest on your lawn and crawl into your home for shelter in the fall.
Keep Your Home Clean: This may seem like a no-brainer, but keeping your home clean clears away potential hiding spots and food sources for bugs. Most pest also prefer a humid environment, so it may be worth investing in a dehumidifier for your cellar and attic.
sources:
[1]https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Spider-Repellent-at-Home
[2]https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/garden/28fix.html