Effective and Safe Pest Control Solutions
Pests are more than just an annoyance; they can pose serious problems in your home and garden.
Ants, for example, can damage wood by tunneling into it, while pests like cockroaches and rodents carry diseases and contaminate food with their feces, urine, bacteria, and viruses. In the garden, pests can destroy your crops.
Using powerful chemicals to deter or kill pests isn’t always safe or feasible, as these deterrents carry risks for humans and pets.
However, you don’t have to live alongside these unwelcome creatures. There are safe ways to deter pests using items from the grocery store.
– Aluminum Foil: Reflective light scares birds and rodents. Hang strips from fruit trees or place foil under sinks to deter mice.
– Alum Powder: Sprinkle around windowsills and door jambs to keep ants out by disrupting their trails.
– Baking Powder: Sprinkle in areas with ants and cockroaches; they avoid crossing it.
– Basil: This pungent herb repels mosquitoes, flies, and other pests. Grow it in your kitchen or garden.
– Bay Leaves: Place in containers of dry goods to repel weevils and moths with their pungent aroma.
– Bone Meal: Deters cats and dogs from digging in flower beds and gardens.
– Boric Acid: Effective against ants and cockroaches; use only where pets and humans can’t access.
– Catnip: Repels ants, cockroaches, and mosquitoes. Grow it or make a spray solution with catnip leaves and water.
– Cayenne Pepper: Sprinkle around cracks, doorways, and windows to keep out ants and cockroaches.
– Cedarwood: Use cedar blocks or chips to keep ants, fleas, and moths out of dressers and closets.
– Chalk: Draw chalk lines to keep ants away; they dislike the texture.
– Cinnamon Sticks: Place on pantry shelves and in drawers to repel moths, ants, and weevils.
– Citronella Oil: Commonly used to repel mosquitoes. Dab on a cloth and hang in windows and doors.
– Citrus Peels: Chop and use as mulch to deter ants, aphids, and slugs.
– Cloves: Place whole cloves in pantries or make sachets to deter cockroaches.
– Coffee Ground: Sprinkle around plants and entryways to keep ants, slugs, and snails out.
– Cornmeal: Effective in killing ants.
– Cucumber Slices: Repel ants, cockroaches, and silverfish.
– Diatomaceous Earth: Food-grade DE deters pests and can be used in dry food containers, around windows, and on carpets.
– Dish Soap: A few drops in water can be sprayed on pests like aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies.
– Eucalyptus Oil: Repels various insects. Mix with water and spray around entry points.
– Fish Emulsion: Deters deer and rabbits with its strong odor.
– Garlic: Repels mosquitoes, ants, and aphids. Make a garlic spray by steeping crushed garlic in water.
– Human Hair: Deters deer, rabbits, and rodents when placed around your garden.
– Lavender Sachets: Repel moths and other pests. Hang in closets or pantries.
– Lemon Juice: Citric acid repels ants, flies, and spiders. Mix with water and spray areas with pests.
– Mothballs: Use in drawers and pantries to deter cockroaches, moths, and silverfish.
– Onion: Place sliced onions around entryways to repel pests. Keep out of reach of dogs.
– Oregano Oil: Repels aphids, beetles, and mites. Mix with water and spray on plants.
– Peppermint Oil: Effective against ants, spiders, and rodents. Apply drops to windowsills and doorways.
– Pine Sol: Mix with water and spray around doors and windows to deter pests.
– Powdered Milk: Deters rabbits and deer in the garden.
– Rosemary: Repels ants, cockroaches, and moths. Make a rosemary tea and spray entry points.
– Sage: Repels ants, flies, and moths. Place leaves in pantries or burn sage.
– Salt: Deters slugs and snails; sprinkle directly on them to kill.
– Saltwater: Spray on pests to kill or deter them.
– Steel Wool: Stuff around pipes and holes to keep rodents out.
– Vinegar: Repels fruit flies, house flies, and mosquitoes. Spray on counters and screens.
– Vodka Spray: Mix with water to deter and kill aphids and mites on plants.
– Wormwood: Repels moths, flies, and fleas. Use as incense or make sachets.
By incorporating these natural and safe methods from Prep2Survive.com, you can effectively manage pests without exposing your home and garden to harmful chemicals.
