
Dealing with pests is a daunting task for anyone. Everytime you seem to eliminate the problem, they come back with the usual familiarity and begin their systematic destruction. Insecticides cost a fortune, but here are some home-made ways to combat these tiny intruders.
Ants
- Vinegar Use a mixture of vinegar and water to deter ant infestations. Use the mixture to wash countertops, cabinets, and floors.
- Flour and Borax Mix one-cup flour and two cups of borax in a quart jar and punch holes on the lid. Sprinkle it around the house. Keep it away from children and pets.
- Use powdered charcoal or lemon Set up barriers where ants are entering. They will generally not cross lines of bone meal or powdered charcoal. If ants enter your house through a hole, squeeze the juice of a lemon in the hole or crack. Then slice the lemon and put the peeling all around the entrance.
- Grow Spearmint, Southernwood, and Tansy around the border of your home. These plants will deter ants and the aphids they carry.
Fleas
- After vacuuming, remove the bag, seal it, and dispose it immediately outside your home.
- Add Vinegar to a quart of water. It helps to keep your pets free of fleas and ticks.
- Spread leaves or shavings of Fennel, Rosemary, Red Ceder Shavings, Sassafras, Eucalyptus, or Penny Royal under and around the pet's bed.
Flies
Prevention: Keep kitchen garbage tightly closed. Sprinkle dry soap or borax into garbage cans after they've been washed and allowed to dry; it acts as a repellent.
- Scratch the skin of an orange and leave it out; the citrus acts as a repellent.
- Hang clusters of cloves in cupboards to repel flies.
- Plant Mint around the house. Or a pot of basil set on the windowsill or table helps to repel fleas. Keep basil well-watered from the bottom so that it produces a stronger scent
- Make your own fly paper by boiling sugar, corn syrup, and water together. Place the mixture on a brown paper bag and hang or set out.
Mosquitoes
Prevention: Encourage natural predators such as dragonflies or praying mantises to cohabit in your house.
- Eliminate pools of stagnant water around your neighbourhood. Avoid wearing perfume, bright colours, flowery prints and bright jewellery as these items attract mosquitoes.
- Burn Citronella candles to repel insects.
- Plant tansy or basil around the patio and house to repel mosquitoes.
Moths
Prevention:
Store items in a clean condition; moth larvae especially like areas soiled with food stains.- Mix a little of Rosemary and Mint with Thyme and Ginseng (optional) and two tablespoon of Cloves. Mix and put in cheesecloth bags and place in closets or drawers.
- Make sachets of dried Lavender or equal portions of Rosemary and Mint. Place in closets, drawers, or closed containers.
- Mix handfuls of Rosemary, Sage and Mint. Add a little Lemon peel and a pinch of Cinnamon. Place in muslin bags.
- To trap moths, mix 1 part of Molasses with 2 parts of Vinegar and place in a yellow container to attract moths.
- Place your unused clothes in the sun to kill the larvae.
Roaches
Prevention: Close all gaps around pipes, drains and electric lines inside the house. Seal food tightly and rinse dishes that have leftovers overnight. Do not leave pet food out at night.
- Cut hedge apples in half and place them in the places where roaches frequent.
- Mix two tablespoons flour, four tablespoons borax, and a tablespoon cocoa. Set the mixture in dishes. Take care to keep your kids and pets away from this mixture
- Mix cup borax and cup flour and fill a glass jar. Punch small holes in the jar lid and sprinkle it where roaches frequent.
- Mix equal parts of Oatmeal, Flour, and Plaster of Paris and set in dishes. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
- Mix equal parts of Baking Soda and Powdered Sugar and spread around infested area.
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