Off The Grid Living: Get Rid of Household Bugs Naturally

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Get Rid of Household Bugs Naturally

Written by: Tricia Drevets How-To

Image source: patriotpestfl
The moist, warmer temperatures of spring lead to buds on our trees and flowers in our gardens, but they can also lead to some not-so-pleasant visitors in our homes.
No matter how good we are at housekeeping or how vigilant we are in keeping our doors and windows closed, insects and bugs seem to find new and ingenious ways to infiltrate our houses this time of year.
If you have a bug problem but cringe at the idea of spraying insecticides in your living space, there are a wide variety of natural options for you to consider. Some of these ideas use foods or other ingredients you already have on hand and are surprisingly easy and effective. Others involve a little preparation, but are safer alternatives to toxic store-bought sprays.
Flies
I don’t know about you, but a pesky fly buzzing around my home drives me nuts. Did you know that flies hate the smell of basil and mint? They do, and you can keep flies at bay by strategically placing pots of basil or mint near windows and doors or in your eating area. If you lack sunlight or space for a live plant in those locations, you can try placing small pouches of the herbs in areas where flies gather, such as near pet food bowls, for example. Another natural fly repellent is eucalyptus oil. Try placing a few drops on a cotton ball and leaving it in a small bowl on a windowsill.
Moths
You may already know about the effectiveness of cedar in deterring moths. A bag of cedar chips or drops of cedar oil on an absorbent cloth will repel the winged creatures.
Use this as a potting medium, insecticide, or even a household substance…without dangerous chemicals!
Another option you may not have heard of is to use dried lemon peels for moth control. Wrap dried lemon peel in cheesecloth and hang the pouch in your closet or anywhere moths are a problem.
Spiders
You can mix together an effective spider spray with water and unsweetened lemon or lime juice. Spray the solution on doorways and windowsills to deter spiders. Another option is to dab some orange oil around doors or windows. Spiders hate it.
Ants

Image source: kitchenstewardship
If you have an annoying ant invasion here are a couple of natural remedies:
Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water in a spray bottle to wipe down ant surfaces where you have spotted ants. The vinegar destroys the scent the ants use to find their way into your home.
Ants have an aversion to cucumber. Place cucumber peels or slices where you have seen them.
Try leaving mint leaves or mint teabags where ants have appeared.
Sprinkle whole cloves inside or under cabinets where you have seen ants.
Leave a few fresh cloves of garlic in a dish where you have noticed ants. Replace daily.
Roaches
Your cat may love it, but roaches hate catnip. You can either leave small cloth bags filled with catnip in areas where roaches are a problem or you can create a solution to spray around your baseboards or in cabinets by boiling some catnip in a cup of water. Catnip (nepeta cataria) is a short-lived perennial that resembles mint in appearance. Outdoors, it blooms from late spring through autumn and will attract butterflies – and cats — to your garden…..more here

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