Insect infestations in your house can cause a variety of annoying problems. Most people cringe at the thought of bugs crawling on them, in their food, or through their clothing, but how can you get rid of annoying pests? These helpful tips offer some simple ways to rid your home of insects.
Fruit Flies
The easiest way to get rid of fruit flies is to pour half a cup of apple cider vinegar into a glass jar. Next, create a funnel out of a sheet of paper and place it in the mouth of the jar. The fruit flies, attracted to the apple cider vinegar, crawl into the jar but cannot get out and will drown.
Flies
To rid your home of flies, place a small sponge saturated with lavender in a glass jar. The lavender should drive the flies away. You can also mix 30 drops of lavender with water in a spray bottle. Just spray the lavender where you see flies to drive them away.
Carpenter Bees
While essential to the environment, carpenter bees can damage to your home. You can drive away the bees without harming them by spraying the holes in which they live with citrus oil. An easy way to make citrus oil is to boil citrus fruit rinds in water for 15 minutes and pour it into a spray bottle.
Spiders
While not technically an insect, spiders can become a pest in your home in high numbers. An easy way to remove spiders is to create a mixture of 1/2 -cup of water, 1/2-cup of vinegar, and a few drops of tea tree oil and then spray it in the corners and other places in your home where spiders like to live.
Stink Bugs
Garlic spray works best when removing stink bugs. To make this potent stink bug deterrent, mix 2 cups of water with 4 tablespoons of garlic powder. Make sure to shake well before spraying around the plants and windows surrounding your home.
Silverfish
Short of making sure that silverfish have nowhere to breed, the easiest way to get rid of them in your house is to clean up any food crumbs and to spray the places where they live with cedar oil. You should also deal with any moisture problems promptly because this tends to attract the pest.
Bedbugs
Eucalyptus oil mixed with water is a great deterrent for bedbugs. Just spray your mattress and bedding to drive them away. Also, when traveling, carry a small bottle of the eucalyptus with you and wipe down the mattress in the hotel room. Keep all luggage closed to prevent these nasty bugs from going home with you.
Wasps
An easy way to get rid of wasps is to mix two tablespoons of dish soap with water in a spray bottle. Then spray the mixture directly on the nest. Just make sure to do so in the evening hours when the wasps are not as active. The spray is supposed to kill them instantly, according to experts.
Ants
To rid your home of ants, mix a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol, a teaspoon of dish soap, and a cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake it until it’s mixed well. Spray any areas where you see ant trails. The alcohol in the mixture should keep them away.
Mosquitoes
To get rid of pesky mosquitoes around your house, invest in citronella candles or use a diffuser with citronella and lemongrass essential oils. When working with undiluted essential oils, avoid skin contact. Alternately, invest in plants, such as lemon and citronella grass, to keep mosquitoes away.
Cockroaches
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Cockroaches, while tenacious, are easily killed by trapping them in an empty, plastic soft drink bottle. Cut the top half of the bottle off, fill the bottom of the bottle about a third of the way up, and then insert the top of the bottle upside down (about halfway down) into the bottom to create a funnel. Seal the rim with tape and set out where the roaches live.
While keeping your home clean and dry is the best way to keep away pests, you can also use the methods if an insect problem pops up.
