How To Repel Bugs Naturally
Oh, how bugs bug! They ruin the atmosphere with flickering wings and beady little eyes. They move in and make themselves right at home. You know the story: a fly rubs his skinny legs together and lands on your morning casserole. Or a sneaky spider spins his web down your new lampshade. These bugs always seem to be around, don't they? Who can forget that one infuriating mosquito that ruined your party? What about the swarm of ants that appear like little soldiers in a procession line on your kitchen counter? They are plenty bugs you don't want living in your home.
It can seem like an unbeatable battle with these unrelenting bugs. Until now! It turns out there are plenty of ways to repel these pests naturally. Of course, there are also traditional lotions and sprays available. However, these often come packed with toxic chemicals. But first things first: Ortho reports that a home should always be clean and wiped down to avoid attracting bugs in the first place. That means we should put away the takeout and ensure there aren't any crumbs on the counters. Sealing up cracks and openings is also essential in the fight against pests. Just like us, bugs look for water, food, and shelter. Now, let's take a closer look at how to evict these buggers.
Mosquitos don't appreciate lavender
Mosquitos are like little demons with a penchant for sucking blood. Where did these buzzing mini-vampires come from anyway? However, there is hope beyond applying harsh chemicals to the body to keep them at bay. You can find a solution in a few different places. First off, according to KTVB on YouTube, these buggers don't like rosemary or basil. You can grow these herbs in your garden and watch their dominion diminish. Plus, the herbs will add a lovely touch to your yard.
Mosquitos also don't like lavender. According to Livspace, lighting a lavender candle will keep these buzzing pests away. Additionally, they repel from sliced lemons with cloves. So, leave some of these around the home and watch the mosquitos buzz away. They seemingly just don't like fragrances! Candles, oils, and incense are all enemies of mosquitos. They may hate the smell, but this is lucky for us since refreshing aromas are lovely. Get out the lemon, laurel, rosemary, basil, citronella, and lavender scents to evict these I-can't-stop-itching-my-skin bugs.
Flies hate cayenne pepper
Are you tired of batting the fly swapper all around the house? You can maintain a calm composure as you mix a formula that attracts them but results in their demise. It's like being a fly-killing mixologist! According to the Farmers' Almanac, a host of ingredients repel flies but let's hone in on one that they can't resist. Get some apple-scented liquid soap and put three tablespoons into a container without a lid. Then add a few inches of water. Flies love this mixture and will fall in it and drown.
There are other options if you'd rather not have dead flies in your home. Cayenne pepper helps keep flies out of your abode (via Healthline). Just get some cayenne pepper and mix it with water. Then spray the mixture throughout the home to prevent the flies from entering. Prefer not to use pepper spray in your house? Don't worry. There are always classic citronella candles that do the job as well. Light a few of them, and the flies will spend their month-long lifespan elsewhere.
Moths destroy our couture
Oh, moths. Not only do moths love to hide out in silk and cashmere, but they also ruin our favorite clothes. Have you ever taken out that beloved sweater from last season just to discover little holes are now decorating the arms? Did you know that the moth's eggs create those unsightly holes? Yes, they do! However, we can keep them away.
Moth Prevention reports that moths don't like cedar. They also don't appreciate lovely dried lavender in the closet. Make some dried lavender sachets and hang them inside your closet. You can do the same with cedar as well. Both will help repel moths and keep your clothes smelling fresh. Then there are pantry moths. Disgusting! First, ensure you don't have these gross moths taking over your pantry. Secondly, rub your pantry shelves with peppermint oil to keep them away. Most importantly, rest assured that peppermint oil is safe to use around food.
Roaches stay far away from spices
This one is a biggie! You know that roach crawling around at night you notice while sneaking downstairs for a midnight snack? Well, it's filthy and a priority to keep out of the house. There are quite a few DIY concoctions to repel these nasty insects. According to Bug House Pest Control, you can get an onion, cut up about a handful, and sprinkle baking soda on them. The onions attract the roaches, and the baking soda eliminates them. A win-win!
If you prefer not to have sliced onions decorating the home, you can make a concoction of tea tree and water instead. Simply mix ¾ of the tea tree with two cups of water. Then spray away. There's also the spice rack option of combining onion powder, cayenne, and garlic. Simply mix the spices and sprinkle them wherever cockroaches invade. They detest the smell and will stay far away from these spices.
Ants stay clear of vinegar, water, and lemon sprays
Ants. We have to hand it to them because they know how to stick together. They are determined little critters that will come out in earnest if one little speck of food is in the kitchen. They will pounce on sweet food items. They are also tiny enough to get into any openings. That's why you must cover up all of their entrances. Check for cracks in the walls and holes. If they're still forming colonies in your home, there are natural repellents to help manage them.
The Manual reports you can put out items that are natural ant deterrents found in most homes. Eliminate them with cinnamon, pepper, salt, curry powder, or chalk. Or, if you prefer a spray, try filling a spray bottle with the same amount of warm water, vinegar, and lemon juice. Shake up the ant-killing concoction and spray countertops, corners, floors, and other areas where they've created a trail.
It turns out lemons come in handy in other ways as well. Lemon or orange rinds in the soil of houseplants can help prevent an infestation (via Healthline). If you notice ants congregating around a plant, toss it out. It most likely has a swarm of them underneath the dirt.
Spiders run from essential oils
Spiders are creepy crawlies that make us cringe. We have to give credit where credit is due. Spiders help eliminate other bugs since they feast on mosquitos, flies, moths, and sometimes other spiders. Given there are pests we want to keep out of our home, we would do well to extend an appreciative nod to these eight-legged creatures. However, since we probably don't want them spinning webs in our homes, let's review how to keep spiders out of the picture.
Grove Collaborative reports that spiders dislike a host of essential oils, including rose, tea tree, lavender, rose, eucalyptus, cinnamon, and peppermint. You can plant mint around the outside of the home to help keep them away. You can also choose from these essential oils by putting 20 drops of oil into the water in a handy spray bottle. Then simply spray the mixture around the home wherever you spot a spider. There's also the oh-so-traditional vinegar and water spray concoction. Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spritzer and spray where you see spiders.
Another option to eliminate spiders is to put cedar blocks, balls, or chips wherever spiders hang out in your home. Finally, there's the garlic solution. For this concoction, you'll just need to mash up a few garlic cloves and let them marinate inside a spray bottle with water for a day. Then spritz it on the baseboards and corners of the home. Adios spiders!
Silverfish hate cucumber peels
Ever noticed a silverfish in the bathtub? It often makes its debut with skinny legs crawling around the bathtub as you gawk in terror. It turns out spiders eat them, but considering most of us don't want to wait for nature to perform its miracles, we can get rid of these critters naturally. Summit Environmental Solutions reports that you can peel a cucumber and put the cucumber peels wherever you spot silverfish. Just ensure you change out the peels until the critters are gone for good. Another option for eliminating silverfish is to put one whole clove wherever they congregate. It turns out cloves contain Eugenol, commonly utilized as an insecticide to eliminate bugs like silverfish.
Finally, you can surely get rid of silverfish by using cinnamon. Put cinnamon sticks in areas popular with silverfish, or make cinnamon sachets and place them in the same areas. Remember to put them inside drawers and cabinets. A bonus is they smell festive!