How to Use Natural Pest Repellents

Most of us are trying to lighten the load of our carbon footprint. However, it’s not just what the chemicals we use have done to the earth. They are making us sick, as well. Somehow, we have come to believe the only way to get rid of pests is to use the “strong” stuff. Of course, those chemical repellents stay in our environment as well as go out into the world with the pests that leave our home. You can get the job done just as well with green pest repellents as with commercial pesticides.

Instructions

1. The answer for ridding your home of ants can be as close as your kitchen cupboard. Ants don’t like bay leaves, cayenne pepper, cinnamon or baby powder. Sprinkle any of these where you see ants in your home, such as baseboards, windowsills or ledges. If you want to hurry the tiny pests along, fill a spray bottle full of soapy water and spray them. They won’t like it and will move a bit quicker to leave the premises.

2. Sending pesky cockroaches to cockroach heaven wouldn’t upset too many people. Somehow we have it in our heads that short of covering our homes in a balloon full of chemicals, there is no way to rid ourselves of them. Try this “green” formula. Mix together equal parts of confectioners sugar and baking soda. Sprinkle it in your problem areas and your cockroach problem will eventually disappear. Catnip is also a natural repellent to cockroaches. However, after they ingest the catnip, it will dehydrate them and they will be out looking for water. So, you may see them more often for a while, when you are actually getting rid of them.

3. Move those mosquitoes away from your deck and yard by mixing a couple of teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. Place several around your deck or patio so you can enjoy your outdoor areas once again. A dab of lavender on your wrists and inside of your elbows smells heavenly, but the mosquitoes don’t like it.

4. Repel rodents from your home with peppermint or spearmint oil. Just saturate cotton from the drugstore with the oil and place it near the suspected entry. Sonic sound devices really do work. You will have to be patient and make sure you have enough devices for the square footage you are covering. If there is one “green” device to rid your home of mice, this is it. It emits a sonic sound wave of 32 to 62 kHz. The sound hurts their ears and they leave. Yet, your dog or cat is not affected by the sound.

5. Flies fleeing our kitchen is a lovely sight. Plant some potted sweet basil on your kitchen windowsill. The flies hate it and fresh basil is great in spaghetti sauce. Flies also hate mint. Scoot the basil plant over and add a mint pot. It’s great in summer ice tea. As the mint grows, cut and dry some. Crumble it, make some small sachets and place them around your home. Smells great and you’ve eliminated the fly problem.

Tips & Warnings

• Try your local health food store for the peppermint or spearmint oils.

• If you live in a rural area and have problems with rabbits or deer in your garden, try making a spray of hot peppers and water. Spray your plants to keep them away.

Resources

• Eartheasy Natural Pest Repellents
• Outdoor Pest Repellents