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There are many methods of pest control, some of which focus on preventing pests, some on repelling them, and some on eliminating them. Prevention is always key to maintaining a pest free home – but if they do manage to get by your defenses, check out these DIY natural remedies for tackling the tiny critters.
Homemade Mosquito Repellent
Mosquitoes are known to have several scents they greatly dislike. By whipping together this easy homemade mosquito repellent, you can keep them at bay without the use of harsh chemicals.
Supplies
- 50 mL of apple cider vinegar
- 50 mL of water
- 10-12 drops of essential oil (clove, citronella or eucalyptus oil)
- Spray bottle
Directions
- Mix apple cider vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio.
- Add about 10-12 drops of an essential oil or combination of your choice and mix well.
- Store this solution in a spray bottle.
How to Use
Spray the solution on yourself before spending time outdoors.
DIY Ant Bait
Ants are the number one nuisance pest. They are social insects, so when you see one indoors, you can guess there are others nearby! Use this easy homemade ant bait to reduce the ant population in your home.
Supplies
- 1L of water
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 tsp of Borax
- Cotton balls
- Small plastic container
Directions
- Mix water, sugar and Borax together
- Soak cotton balls in the mixture until saturated
- Place soaked cotton balls into a small plastic container with holes punched in the lid.
How to Use
Place the container with cotton balls in an indoor location where you have seen ant activity. They will enter through the holes, taking the bait and returning it to their colony. This solution will eventually eliminate the colony. Make sure to keep out of reach of pets and children.
Make Your Own Fruit Fly Trap
Fruit flies can be an unbearable nuisance when they congregate in your home. They are small and hard to repel, so the best method is to draw them in instead of repelling them. Follow these instructions for a quick and easy DIY fruit fly trap!
Supplies
- ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp of liquid dish soap
- A jar
- Plastic wrap
Directions
- Pour apple cider vinegar into the jar, covering the bottom
- Add dish soap to the vinegar; this will break the surface tension keeping the flies from escaping the liquid
- Cover the jar with plastic wrap and poke several small holes in the top
How to Use
Place the trap near where you are seeing fruit fly activity. They will be drawn to the sweetness of the vinegar and won’t be able to escape once they enter the small holes in the plastic wrap.
DIY Mouse Repellent
Mice, like many other animals, have an aversion to certain scents. You can use this to your advantage by creating a solution that will help keep them from spending time in your home.
Supplies
- 1 cup water or rubbing alcohol
- 10-12 drops of peppermint essential oil
- Spray bottle
- Cotton balls
Directions
- Pour water or rubbing alcohol into empty spray bottle
- Add about 10-12 drops of peppermint essential oil into the bottle
- Shake well until mixture is blended, shake before each use
How to Use
Spray the solution in areas where there is evidence of mouse activity. Respray every week to renew the scent. You can also spray cotton balls with the solution and place in hard to reach areas. Replace cotton balls with freshly sprayed ones on a weekly basis.
Other DIY Pest Control Methods
- Cedar chips in a cheesecloth square, or cedar oil in an absorbent cloth will repel moths. Make sure to use ‘aromatic cedar’, also referred to as juniper.
- Planting marigolds around your yard works as a natural bug repellent because the flowers give off a fragrance bugs and flying insects don’t like.
- A spray bottle full of soapy water can be used to spray directly on ants and roaches.
- Plant aromatic herbs like spearmint, thyme, citronella, and eucalyptus around your patio and outdoor sitting areas to repel wasps and other flying insects.
- Sprinkle used coffee grounds around garden beds to repel snails, slugs and ants. This may also help to repel mammals, including cats, rabbits and deer
If you have tried natural methods of pest control and are still experiencing issues, it may be time to call in the professionals at Richland Pest & Bee Control. Our tried and true techniques have been proven successful over the last 45 years in business. Give us a call at 1-800-308-9126 for a free quote, or contact us online.
