Do-it-Yourself Pest Control Home Remedies That Work

No one likes to see pests wandering and crawling all over their homes. Just the thought of it already sends chills down my spine. Eew. Imagine seeing them while you watch your favorite romantic flick or while you enjoy your day off from work. So, what should we do when we see these pesky critters invading our personal space?

Here are some useful DIY pest control remedies:

For ants

• Cucumber

Ants have a natural aversion to cucumber. Set out peels or slices at their entry point. Pretty soon you will notice they no longer roam around your house.

• Vinegar

The pungent scent of vinegar repels ants. Spray vinegar on their entry paths and let it dry well. The classic vinegar is generally used for this, but apple cider vinegar is not less effective. Mix it with water in equal amounts and use a spray bottle.

• Table Salt

Boil water and add soil to it. Put it into a spray bottle and spread it in places where you usually see ants. It is one of the best and cheapest ways to get rid of them.

 

Mosquitoes

• Lavender Oil

Add a drop of lavender to ribbons and put them around your windows. The mosquitoes will think twice before entering your home. Lavender is loved by everyone, but these pesky creatures hate it.

• Garlic

Garlic has a strong scent. Like us, even mosquitoes abhor its smell. However, it is an effective mosquito killer. Crush a few cloves and boil it in water for some time. Then, pour this homemade repellent in a bottle and spray it around the room.

 

Spiders

• Vinegar

Combine equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle and coat cracks and opening with the mixture. Afterward, seal the cracks and close the gaps to deny the spiders access.

• Citrus Essential Oils

Spiders taste through their feet. They hate the taste of citrus which includes oranges, lemons, and limes. Purchase real citrus essential oils and spread them in affected areas. It will make them avoid these places, but it will not kill them.

• Peppermint

Put a few drops of peppermint essential oil into a spray bottle and add a small amount of liquid detergent. Then, fill it with water. You can spray the mixture on surfaces where spiders creep around.

 

Flies

• Eucalyptus Oil

Make your home fly-free by leaving a small cloth applied with eucalyptus essential oil in an area plagued by flies.

• Basil

Grow basil and put it next to your doors or windows to keep flies away from your home. You can even cut a good size and place it on your dining table. There are about a thousand varieties of basil you can choose from; all of them work equally effective.

 

Cockroaches

• Beer

Fill saucers with ½ cup of beer to repel cockroaches. Place them on the floors near their usual entry points.

• Soap and Water

A very effective killer of cockroaches is soap and water. Although it won’t eliminate the nest, it is an easy way to decrease their number. Pour a cup of water into a spray bottle then add one teaspoon of liquid soap. Spray the mixture on a roach when you see one. It clogs its pores so it won’t be able to breathe and eventually die.

• Sugar and Baking Soda

Mix sugar and baking soda powder in equal quantity. Apply it on the areas where you frequently see cockroaches. The sweet starchy smell of sugar attracts them. When they eat it, the baking soda in the mixtures combines with their stomach acids and kills them. Sprinkle the mixture to all the possible areas where they loiter to get rid of their presence.

 

Mouse

• Dry Cement Powder and Cornstarch

In a shallow dish, mix an equal amount of dry cement powder and cornstarch. Place it on paths where the rodents usually wander. After feeding on it, they will drink water. It will cause the cement powder to react quickly, killing the pest.

• Mothballs

Toxic and should not be used in non-ventilated areas or around kids and pets are mothballs. Place them on areas inhabited by mice to get rid of them.

• Peppermint Oil

Put a few drops of peppermint oil on some cotton balls and leave them where mice are living. However, the oil will dissipate quickly on the cotton balls, so you will need to replace them a couple of times a week until the area is free from the pesky rodents.

• Ammonia

The scent of ammonia repels mice. Leave small bowls filled with ammonia in places they like to frequent. The smell of the compound will drive the rodents away.

 

These DIY pest control remedies are proven to be effective. However, we suggest that you take the first and most important way to avoid having pesky critters – cleaning your house!

Do you know other DIY pest control remedies? Share it with us in the comments section below.

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