Keep Bugs Away the Natural Way
Ants, mosquitos, moths, flies… depending on where you live and what sort of climate is found there, you may encounter any or all of these pesky insects. And while you certainly want to keep them away, you don’t want to do so at the expense of contaminating your home with chemicals and toxins. The solution is to use natural insect killers and repellants.
Try These 6 Natural Solutions
You aren’t the first person to deal with insects inside your home. In fact, we all encounter insects from time to time. The difference is that some people know how to deal with them quickly and efficiently, while others do a shoddy job and unintentionally encourage insects to return over and over again.
If you want to avoid the latter scenario, here are a few natural solutions you may consider using.
1. Plant Herbs on Your Windowsill
Did you know that herbs like garlic, mint, and rosemary will keep bugs away? They also make for tasty spices when cooking. For best results, plant these herbs near exterior doors and windows. ( A windowsill planter is a great idea.)
2. Citronella: Use the Real Thing
“While citronella candles are often laden with chemicals, the citronella plant (officially known as the citrosum plant and often referred to as the mosquito plant) can be grown in your garden for mosquito control,” Natural Living Ideas explains.
Citronella plants are perennials and generally grow five to six feet in height. They can be planted directly in the ground or kept in large pots and conveniently situated near outdoor sitting areas.
3. Shop for Natural Products
If you are going to purchase a product to kill and/or deter bugs, make sure you only shop for natural products. This means reading the labels on products and checking online reviews.
For example, natural moth killers use moth pheromones to attract and then trap moths – as opposed to transmitting chemicals. Natural roach killers actually come with food-grade formulas that pierce the exoskeleton and are safe to use around children and pets. There are similar products available for ants, flies, and virtually any other household insect.
4. Use Unscented Toiletries
“Stay away from wearing heavily-scented shampoos, body sprays, perfumes, or deodorants while outdoors. The fragrances can attract bugs and the stings that follow,” Reader’s Digest explains.
If you know you’ll be spending time outdoors, do your best to use unscented toiletries and hygiene products. If nothing else, this will help you be more comfortable.
5. Clean Up After Yourself
If you’re serious about keeping your house free of insects, you need to clean up after yourself. Not once a month or once a week, but every single day. Washing dishes, vacuuming, and storing food in airtight containers will help cut down on the presence of insects. It’s also important to not leave standing water in bathtubs, showers, or sinks, as this can attract roaches and flies.
6. Use Baby Powder
Did you know that baby powder will keep insects at bay? Lightly sprinkle some around windows and doors, and you’ll find that wasps, mosquitoes, and bees are less likely to frequent your home. By no means is this a permanent solution, but it can help on pleasant days where you want to leave windows and doors open.
Putting It All Together
Having insects in the home is annoying, embarrassing, unclean, and, in many cases, unsafe. Unfortunately, so is killing these insects with most of the products you find on supermarket shelves. If you want to keep your house safe and protect the health of your family, use these natural solutions to kill insects the right way.