When it comes to controlling pests, many homeowners spend large
amounts of money hiring exterminators. Worse still, some choose to buy
foul smelling and toxic sprays and chemicals to poison the insects
invading their homes. What many homeowners fail to realize is, there is
no need to go to such extremes.There are a myriad of organic pest control remedies you can use to eliminate bugs in your home. These methods will not only subdue and deter those pesky critters; they will also keep you and you family safe from exposure to toxic chemicals at the same time. Many of these remedies were utilized and perfected by our ancestors and have been passed down for generations.
Furthermore, you will be delighted to know that many of these useful ingredients can commonly be found in the typical suburban home. Below are several safe, organic processes you can use to effectively kill bugs in your home. Here are some tips from Pesky Possum Pest Control in Brisbane, Australia on how to keep your family safe without using dangerous chemicals.
Vinegar and Fruit Flies
Vinegar is natural and also a brilliant household item with a plethora of uses. In addition to helping make your salads taste better, you can also use vinegar for getting rid of insects. For example, if you ever bring back a host of fruit flies along with your purchase of fruits and vegetables from the markets, you can easily make a trap for them utilizing vinegar.
To get rid of fruit flies get a small jar, glass, or container and fill with a few centimeters of apple cider vinegar. Add a couple of drops of dish-washing liquid to the mixture. This will cause the flies to become trapped in the liquid when they come into contact with it. Place the mixture near your fruit bowl, rubbish bin, or any other problem areas. Leave overnight and in the morning you will find the liquid will be full of dead flies. If you do not have any apple cider vinegar at home, wine can be used as a substitute.
Getting Rid of Cockroaches
Cockroaches are a common feature in homes and apartments that have been left unclean, or have open windows or crevices that make it easy for them to gain entry. If you do not have children or pets, applying borax all over the home is a perfect and ideal way to get rid of cockroaches. Borax is toxic to cockroaches but only very mildly irritating to some human so it is safe to sprinkle around where cockroaches will consumer it. This recipe can be made even more effective by mixing some sugar in with the borax mixture to entice the roaches to consume more of the mixture.
If children and/or pets are present in your home, instead of borax you can apply diatomaceous earth to all of your rooms including on all of your rugs and carpets. You should leave it there for at least 48 hours before vacuuming it. Exposure to diatomaceous earth is completely safe for humans and pets, but is fatal to any bugs or insect that come into contact with it. Please ensure however that you only purchase food grade diatomaceous earth as other forms may have unwanted or toxic additives.
Another huge deterrent to cockroaches is catnip spray. This can be made cheaply and easily in the home by boiling some catnip in water for 15 minutes. Afterwards, take the mixture and spray it all around the home, especially near holes in walls or crevices you think might serve as cockroach entry points. Catnip spray is safe for humans however if you do have cats as pets it is probably best to use a different method, as catnip, while completely safe for them, can cause cats to act strangely due to its hallucinogenic effects.
Dog and Cat Food
Should you have a dog or a cat, I’m sure you have noticed how old food can act as bait for cockroaches and ants. Leaving food out in the open for more than a day and you may find your home being invaded by unwanted dinner guests. To make these nuisance intruders disappear try applying a strip of baking soda around the perimeter of the food bowls.
Baking soda will not bother your pets and you need not concern yourself if they lap a bit up with their meal. It will however stop insects from getting access to those piles of leftover pet food!
Controlling Flies
Flies are bothersome and can be really agitating as they buzz around spreading their germs on you and your food. They are especially prominent during the warmer months, after their breeding season. Flies are one of the most common household pests, but fortunately there are many safe control methods you can utilize to curb the invasion.
For starters, you can leave out citrus skins; skins derived from oranges, lemons and grapefruit etc. The odor from these peels act as a repellant for flies. You can also purchase non-toxic citrus sprays from your local store. Mint can also be utilized in a similar way. Crush up some leaves and it will act as a natural deterrent to flies and other insects. Should you have a major problem with flies a very effective way to control their populations is to build or purchase fly traps that attract them in but then won’t allow them to escape again. For instructions on how to make your own fly trap cheap and easily, click here.
Other Natural Pest Control Methods
The above are just some of the many ways you can use simple and safe, home pest control methods to manage insects in your home. It’s not often necessary to resort to toxins and chemical filled sprays, to keep your home free of ants and insects. You can also find more information online about many other organic pest control methods to keep your family safe this season. In the event that you have a pest issue too problematic to control yourself, enlist the help of a qualified pest controller who is conscious of the environment and uses chemicals only when absolutely necessary.
