Discover natural methods for removing 6 common insects from your home.
Are moths, ants or buzzing insects invading your home? If the thought of using poisons and harsh chemicals makes you shudder as much as spotting an eight-legged creepy crawlie, we've put together some natural solutions that can keep the bugs at bay – and keep your family safe, too.
Tip: Decorate the outside of the bottle or spice jar with a scrap of fabric, chalkboard paint or patterned card stock.
Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth, black pepper or ground cloves along the ants’ path. (Diatomaceous earth is finely ground sedimentary rock. Find it at your local home improvement store or nursery.) After the ants have gone, use a Swiffer sweeper to sweep away loose particles.
You can also spray ants directly with white vinegar and then wipe away with a paper towel – the vinegar scent will also help prevent future ant problems.
Tip: Try either of these methods on earwigs, silverfish, cockroaches and centipedes, too.
Store dry goods in covered containers, and add a bay leaf to each one.
Hang decorative sachets filled with dried mint, lavender, cloves, thyme or rosemary around your home.
Plant mint or lavender, leave citrus peels outside, and spray doorways with white vinegar mixed with chili pepper oil to deter spiders from entering your home.
Plant rose geraniums in the yard or dip your pet’s collar in rose geranium oil to prevent ticks from coming inside.