Natural Ways to Keep Out the Most Common Household Pests

Yes, you can try to keep your home spic and span to ward away the insects and mice, but for most people, this advice just isn’t practical. After all, you live in your home, and if you have kids, it’s basically impossible to keep all the crumbs off the floor. But for you, chemical-laden pesticides aren’t an option (see the aforementioned kids). The good news is, there are several natural remedies you can implement to keep away the annoying and unwanted critters without having to worry about harming your family or your pets.

1. For Fruit Flies: Apple Cider Vinegar Trap

As the name implies, fruit flies love fruit, so the best way to eliminate them is to use this to your advantage. To do this, you will need a container with a shaker top or funnel-shaped top—like a two-liter soda bottle. Pour some apple cider vinegar in the bottom, and the flies will be attracted to it, but they won’t be able to get out. As an alternative, you can use regular white vinegar with chopped apple chunks inside of it.

2. For Mice: Onions

If mice are wreaking havoc on your home, the secret to keep them away can be found in onions. Mice cannot stand the smell of this pungent vegetable, so as soon as they smell it, they will go running in the opposite direction. All you have to do is put an onion at any potential entry point. However, there are two caveats to be aware of when using onions to repel mice. First, they can be toxic to dogs or cats, so make sure you place them out of the reach of any pets you have. Second, they rot quickly, so make sure to replace them every other day.

3. For Ants: Cinnamon

If you have an ant problem, cinnamon is your friend—and it makes your home smell good too. Cinnamon slowly suffocates ants, so if you notice an infestation, all you have to do is pour cinnamon around the colony. It does not kill them instantly, but if you have a little patience (up to 24 hours) you will be amazed at just how effective cinnamon can be. Just make sure to sweep it up when you are done because the fine powder can remain in vacuums for what seems like forever.

4. For Spiders: Peppermint Spray

Peppermint essential oil is a great homemade remedy for many issues—one of which is spiders. Spiders stay away from the smell of peppermint, so all you have to do is make sure peppermint graces the entryway of all of your doors. To use this remedy, all you need to do is combine water and several drops of peppermint oil in a small squirt bottle. Then, just add a few drops of dish soap to prevent the pump from getting clogged up, and you are done. By spraying this on all of your entryways, you can be sure no spider will cross the threshold.

5. For Cockroaches: Catnip

Cockroaches can be a challenging pest to get rid of, but there is a natural remedy that works: catnip. It isn’t toxic to pets or humans, but cockroaches will stay far away from it. To use this, you can simply leave catnip sachets in the areas where you see cockroaches, or you can create a catnip tea (catnip simmered in water) to spray underneath counters and on baseboards. Just skip this one if you actually have cats, for obvious reasons.

This is just a small look at the many natural pest control remedies that are available. With a little bit of effort, you can keep your home safe from pesticides and from pests.

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