Whether it’s mosquitoes, ants, or mice, every household faces unwanted pests at one time or the other. And these pests can put a damper on the joy you get from your garden or home.
But you don’t have to go shopping for the harshest chemical around whenever you see a pest lurking around. You can combine a few household products to make a safer-to-use homemade pest solution.
This post provides you with the best at-home remedies to keep your home and garden free of annoying guests. Feel free to jump ahead!
Six natural pest control remedies
We researched and identified some of the safest and easy to acquire ingredients to make homemade pest control solutions.
Here are 6 of the best homemade pest control solutions for you:
1. Combat mosquitoes with lavender, basil, and catnip
Did you know that a mosquito is the deadliest animal in the world? Yes, you heard that right. Mosquitoes carry bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc., which they can quickly transfer from one person to the other through bites.
Common deadly diseases caused by mosquito bites include; Chikungunya, Zika, dengue, West Nile, Yellow Fever, and malaria. These mosquito-borne diseases are responsible for many deaths. It is estimated that mosquitoes are responsible for more than 1 million deaths each year. Even worse, mosquitoes can be a nuisance when you’re trying to enjoy the ambiance of your garden or yard.
Luckily, certain plants naturally keep the mosquitoes away. They include lavender, citronella, catnip, and basil. You can plant them around your patio to repel these unwanted, annoying guests. Although this method is not as effective as getting a pest control firm to do the job for you, it supports a long-term plan to combat mosquitoes in your home.
2. Drive mice and rats away with Peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, and cloves
Mice and rats can cause extensive damage to your property and clothes. Moreover, mice and other rodents are believed to carry more than 35 different diseases. Although you can use mechanical traps and poison to control the rodents, it would be more humane if you prevented them from entering your house in the first place.
Most rodents hate the smell of peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, and cloves. Soak cotton in these oils and leave them in places where the rodents use to enter your house. You may also place the clove on the rodents’ pathway.
3. Scare away squirrels with taste repellents and plastic owls
Yes, squirrels look cuddly and cute, but they can cause damage to your property and garden. Even worse, they can spread diseases. That’s why you should eliminate them from your garden for good. Like mice, you can get rid of the squirrels using poison and traps. But, it’s more humane when you use homemade solutions to keep them away from your home.
To keep the squirrels away, you can use a taste repellant – composed of garlic, vinegar, and water. You can also scare them from your attic using plastic or a well-carved owl.
4. Repel garden pests such as ants and stink bugs using garlic brew
Garlic brew is regarded as one of the most effective solutions to keep pests away from your home or garden. Although primarily focused on gardens and crops, the recipe is safe and valuable for any place outside your home.
Chop half of a cup of garlic and blend it with ¾ liters of water. Then, leave it for 24 hours. The result is a potent brew that can repel ants, aphids, stink bugs, etc.
Garlic is easy to acquire and has no history of causing allergies to humans or pets. You can use a pump sprayer or a spray bottle to spread the garlic brew on the outside of your home and around windows and doorways.
5. Avoid ants with vinegar and dish soap
Although ants aren’t directly harmful to individuals, they are known to be among the most annoying insects – and for a reason. They can destroy structures, cause allergic reactions and spread bacteria.
The harmless and easy-to-find vinegar and dish soap can save the day when you have an ant infestation. Apply the two solutions to the surfaces you’ve spotted ants. You can repeat this procedure several times a day for the best results.
6. Fight moths with pest solution and plants
Like ants, moths can be a nuisance in a home. They can ruin food, clothes, and other household items. Fortunately, you can keep them from your home by using several homemade pest solutions and plants, including:
- Lavender solution
- Mint
- Cedar
- Thyme
- Rosemary
These are some of the plants you can use to repel the moths away from your home. A pest control firm can help with more safe pest control measures.
The bottom line
Are you tired and sick of seeing pests in your home or yard? Or finding it hard to keep them from eating your books and food? The chances are that you might not be using the correct method or pest control firm to control the pests. This post highlights 6 of the best home remedies to control pests in your home safely. Ants Plus is also a call away if you’d like to partner with experts and the best pest control firm in Maine for even better results.