How to Kill Bugs in Your House

Ants often come inside homes looking for food and water.

Many types of bugs wander inside homes. Although preventative measures may be taken, bugs still find a way inside. Once there, they either make a home for themselves or search for food.

Things You'll Need

• Fly swatter
• Paper towel
• Cleaning spray
• 2-liter soda bottle
• Scissors
• Tape
• Sugar
• Water
• Dish soap
• Garlic
• Onion
• Cayenne pepper
• Clean plastic spray bottle
• Borax
• Powdered sugar

Instructions

Fly Swatter Method

1. Isolate the bug on a hard surface. Flying bugs, such as mosquitoes, flies and wasps need to land on an actual surface.

2. Using the fly swatter, give the bug a quick, solid smack. Repeat, if necessary.

3. Remove bug using fly swatter or paper towel. Dispose of in trash.

4. Clean the area and fly swatter with cleaning spray. This method works well with the occasional bug. Pest infestations require additional methods.

Bug Trap

1. Cut the top off of a 2-liter soda bottle to create a funnel.

2. Invert the funnel, placing it in the bottle so that it leads to the bottom.

3. Tape the seam.

4. Add 2 inches of sugar-water mixed with a drop of dish soap. Bugs will crawl into the bottom to get to the sugar-water, but will be unable to crawl out and drown.

5. Throw the bug trap away when there are several dead bugs inside.

Homemade Bug Killer

1. Mix in a clean plastic spray bottle 1 chopped garlic bulb, 1 qt. water, 1 small chopped onion and 1 tbsp. cayenne pepper. Add 1 tbsp. dish soap and stir gently to avoid making bubbles.

2. Store in refrigerator. The Happy Slob's Guide to Housecleaning indicates that this solution keeps up to one month.

3. Use to kill bugs on contact.

4. Spray in areas that bugs frequent as a deterrent.

Borax vs. Roaches

1. Mix borax and powdered sugar in equal parts.

2. Apply the powdered solution to baseboards, under cabinets and sinks, along walls and other places that roaches frequent.

3. Reapply as needed until the roaches are all gone.

Tips & Warnings

• If homemade and commercially purchased pest control solutions do not work, it may be time to call in the professionals. Pest exterminators can tailor a killing plan for virtually any type of infestation.

• Insecticides provide an efficient means of killing bugs. However, they present dangerous situations for humans. Read all warning labels thoroughly. Always follow directions. Keep insecticides and other chemicals in a child-proof location.

• Borax should be kept away from children and pets.

References

• Get Rid of Things: How to Get Rid of Bugs
• The Happy Slob's Guide to Housecleaning: Homemade Bug Killer Spray

Resources

• Pest Products: Pest Index
• Planet Natural: Natural Born Pest Killers