All around the world the change of seasons brings forth a flurry of activity from unwanted guests – pests. Pests have cycles and every season sees a wave of pests that come out of their corners and attack your homes. Pests are adaptable and find ways to survive in extreme situations too. The easiest way for them to thrive and survive is to find dark corners in your home. When you know you need to guard your house against pests, what are some of the easier ways to get rid of insects? Let us take a quick look at what you can do.
- Close all gaps – Identify where the insects are coming from and shut off their access by filling gaps and holes you may find in the house.
- Guard the windows and doors – If you enjoy leaving your windows open, then ensure you put up nets to deal with the onslaught of mosquitoes and other insects.
- Enough ventilation – Insects usually prefer cold and dark places to breed. Ensure you are cleaning out such spaces in your house regularly. Ventilation and exposure to sunlight are important parts of keeping the insects at bay.
- Stagnant water – Accumulated water is an invitation for mosquitoes to breed and attack. Clear out any stagnant water and ensure you are covering your pool or fountain when not in use.
- Remove catalysts – Insects like fruit flies are attracted to any veggies and fruits left in the open. Remove trash daily from your house. If you cannot dispose of it daily, then it should be covered and closed in a garbage bag to avoid attracting pests. Keep your kitchen clean and do not leave any food lying around. Ants and cockroaches are most attracted to these things.
Insect repellents you can use at home
If you have tried all the above methods and are still facing a problem, here are some ways you can get your home insect-free.
- Oils – Oils with a strong smell like peppermint oil, eucalyptus, or spearmint oil can be mixed with some water and sprayed on areas to control bugs and dust mites. This is a great way to cover larger areas like beds, sofas, and carpets. Essential oils can be found at your local stores and this is a natural insect repellent.
- Spices – Yes, that is quite right! Insects hate the smell of spices like cinnamon or pepper. Cinnamon is especially effective against ants. If you have closed all the holes and are still experiencing a parade of insects then sprinkle these powders in the areas where insects are commonly seen. Weevils are often seen in grains and seeds. To protect your foods against them, add a bay leaf or a few cloves to the mix.
- Fly traps – Fly traps are essentially sticky sheets of paper that lure houseflies with a particular smell. They stick to the trap and reduce the number of houseflies buzzing around the house. This is a great method for when you cannot use chemicals or pesticides to arrest the problem.
- Natural repellents – If you have a child or a pet, you need to be extra careful about what you are spraying in the house lest they fall sick. To avoid this situation, pick repellents that have natural ingredients. There are a number of options available in the market especially herbal ant repellent or herbal mosquito repellent. These smell better and have no side effects. Most herbal repellents also have no effect on the surface you are spraying it on and are easy to clean from surfaces as well.
- Salt – Salt is a natural irritant for insects. When you want to get rid of insects over a large area, you can make a concentrated solution of salt, to begin with. Spray this in corners and areas where insects are observed most frequently. Keep spraying it in the same place till that area becomes pest-free. If you want to ensure insects do not get transferred from your fruits and veggies to your other items in the house, you can also use salt water to wash your veggies. This causes the bugs to get irritated and come out of their hiding spots.
- Lemon – You would be surprised to know that lemon juice is extremely useful for keeping spiders away from your house. They cannot tolerate anything with citrus content. Spray lemon juice mixed with water in corners where you have commonly observed spider webs. DO not make the solution too watery and retain the citrusy nature of lemons.
- Camphor – Camphor is a remedy that has been used to purify the air and keep mosquitoes and fruit flies at bay. The smell of camphor drives them away. The best way to use camphor is to heat it up without burning it. You can use electric plates which are made especially for dispensing the smell of camphor.
Try these simple ways that will ensure your home is free of insects and your family is safe.
