If you are worried about bugs and rodents, either in your home or garden, and you would prefer to take a non-chemical approach to pest control, you will be happy to hear that there are several homemade pest solutions that you can try.
Discover five tried and tested DIY pest control remedies below, plus find out what to do if a pest infestation gets out of control in your home.
- Garlic & Mint
Ideal for use in the garden, simply take a handful of mint leaves and a few garlic cloves and blend them together in a food processor. Next, add a tsp of cayenne pepper and a drop of dishwashing liquid. Bring the mixture to a boil and leave overnight to steep. Strain, add to a bottle, and then spray your plants to keep them free from pesky pests.
- Dishwasher soap & vinegar
Although killing wasps is no easy task considering how dangerous they can be, a homemade remedy will effectively kill these stinging insects. Create a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar in a bottle and add a small amount of dish soap that is designed to degrease. Then, spray both the wasps and their nests.
It is worth mentioning that if you have a significant wasp or other pest problem, you are better off soliciting the services of a reputable pest control company with 10+ years experience that will ensure that your infestation is quickly and effectively dealt with before it becomes too problematic for you and your home.
- Coffee grounds
If you have an ant problem, all you need to do is sprinkle some recycled coffee grounds in areas of your home where you think the ants are emerging. Coffee grounds are fatal for ants, so you should see an immediate improvement in your situation.
Coffee grounds also can repel mosquitos, fruit flies, and beetles. Simply place them in bowls or sprinkle them around outdoor seating areas.
- Essential oils
Most people have at least one or two bottles of essential oils lying around their home, and you will be delighted to know that these can be effective at repelling dust mites. For optimum results, create a spray using a mixture of either clove, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, or rosemary and water, and then spray liberally on your bedsheets.
If you have a problem with fleas and/or lice, a combination of basil and lemongrass is your best bet.
- Peanut butter & boric acid
If you have a rodent problem on your property or you suspect that you may have one or two mice or rats scurrying around after dark, then this is the DIY pest control remedy for you.
All you need to do is mix one cup of peanut butter with half a cup of boric acid and then mold it into small balls. Place these balls in areas where you think the rodents are likely to move about, ensuring no kids or pets in these locations.
