How to Get Rid of Pests Naturally

Ants often appear in kitchens during the summer.

By definition, a pest is something that you don't want around Common pests include ants, flies, cockroaches, fleas, crickets, centipedes and raccoons. Pests can carry diseases, such as typhoid and rabies, and can damage your property. Consequently, it is in your interest to get rid of pests and prevent them from returning. How this is accomplished varies depending on what type of pest is giving you trouble. There are, however, several natural methods of getting rid of pests that apply to almost all of them.

Instructions

1. Improve indoor sanitation. Several pests, including flies and ants, are attracted to food. Flies, specifically, lay their eggs in food and thus removing bits of food from your home can significantly reduce the amount of pests. Start by cleaning any dishes that are in your sink, then wipe down any spills, clean up any bits of food, and take the garbage out at least two time per week.

2. Improve outdoor sanitation. Several pests, including raccoons and flies, are drawn to the smells surrounding your home. Of course, when pests are lurking around your home, the chances are greater that they will try to enter your home. To improve outdoor sanitation, invest in a solid metal trashcan, tie the lid down with a bungee cord, and place a cinder block on top of the lid. Additionally, clean up fallen fruit from fruit trees, animal feces and spilled bird food. Consider bringing bird food in at night.

3. Lay sticky traps around your home. Put sticky traps in the corners of your home along the floorboards, on the windowsills, and any other place where pests are likely to travel. Putting food on the sticky traps will lure some pests, such as ants. However, some pests, such as centipedes, are only drawn to moving bait and thus will have to walk across the sticky traps accidentally.

4. Make your home or yard uninhabitable. How you do this will differ depending on what pests you are dealing with. For example, if you are struggling with slugs in your garden, sprinkling egg shells in your yard will kill the slugs (the slugs cut themselves on the shark edges), constructing an electrical fence will keep most raccoons from entering your property, and spraying molasses and water in your yard will suffocate grasshoppers.

5. Close of entrance points. Many pests will die after being in your home for a couple of days, either because you have trapped them or because they lack food. Thus, keeping pests from entering your home is critical if you wish to get rid of pests. Keep in mind that even larger pests, such as bats, need only half an inch of space to enter your home. Check your home for cracks in the foundation and walls, and seal them with caulk. Then check the spaces around your doors and windows and seal them with weather stripping. Lastly, patch any holes in your screens and make sure your drains are covered.

References

• Get Rid of Things: How to Get Rid of Flies
• Get Rid of Things: How to Get Rid of Centipedes
• Get Rid of Things: How to Get Rid of Raccoons
• Get Rid of Things: How to Get Rid of Bats
• Nature Moms: Get Rid of Pests Naturally