There’s nothing fun about ants in your pants. It’s even less fun when you walk into your kitchen and see them crawling all over your counter tops. It doesn’t matter how clean you keep your kitchen, ants and other bugs can come out of nowhere. Something as simple as a glass of water left out on the counter can send an entire army of bugs swarming into your kitchen. But what is the best way to handle the general pest control of your home?
Ants
There are so many things that bugs find delicious, it’s surprising to learn just how many things they will go out of their way to avoid. For instance, coffee. How often do you see an ant on a cup of coffee? Unless the cup is filled to the brim with sugar, you won’t. For some reason, ants just do not enjoy coffee or coffee grounds. They also despise mint tea or mint in general. By sprinkling mint, old coffee, and even cinnamon or cayenne pepper in cracks ants typically access your house, they will tend to avoid those areas.
If you really want to put an end to your ant problem, mix ½ cup of sugar with a cup of warm water, mix it until the sugar has dissolved, then add 2 TBS of Borax. Pour the mixture on an old cloth or on a pile of cotton balls and set it outside for the ants. The ants will gobble it up and take it back to their nest. Come the next day, they’ll think twice before returning for seconds.
Mosquitoes
It’s the end of a long day and you’ve just settled down into your favorite seat to watch TV. What’s this… buzzing? There’s a mosquito somewhere around the room and you just know your arm is its next target. That instant feeling of dread fills your mind with anxiety. Where will he bite me? How big will the bite be? Does it carry West Nile Virus? Will I get sick? No matter what television program you were watching, it suddenly takes a backseat to your anxiety, and that pesky mosquito.
One simple way to keep mosquitoes from buzzing around the house is by spraying a mixture of vanilla, lavender and lemon water around the areas they like to congregate. Another way is by hanging sashes of garlic or sage around the room. If you’re willing to put in a bit more effort, and you have a green thumb, you can also try growing marigold flowers or mint near openings, like windows or your front door which, is where a mosquito may sneak in.
Cockroaches
Ants and Mosquitoes might not be the only creatures driving you crazy. What about those nasty little pests who get into everything? The lovely pests you find at two in the morning playing poker on the kitchen floor, using your breakfast cereal as betting chips. COCKROACHES! They’re disgusting bugs with attitudes. And when you have one, you have thousands. Keeping a clean home helps discourage them from invading, but not always. Like their friends, they too have their weaknesses.
As you might have suspected, cockroaches hate cucumbers as well as bay leaves. And continuing the trend of the #1 pest deterrent… garlic. Cockroaches, like just about every other pest, can’t stand the odious smell of garlic. They also aren’t fond of catnip, unlike our friendly feline companions, and they tend to avoid any areas where it is present.
Spiders
Lastly, the most troublesome are spiders. They pop up out of nowhere. You could be indulging in a luxurious, steamy shower when out of thin air a spider drops down and ruins your relaxation time. They’re rude little creatures, showing up unannounced and frightening the heck out of anyone who happens to be in their path. If you so happen to meet up against a few local species of arachnids, the encounter can prove deadly.
For spiders, the best solution is to destroy their homes before they destroy yours. Use a solution of water and soap at least once a month to clean the eaves of your home or any place where spiders feel safe. Check bushes and under windows frequently as well as sheds or where firewood or other outdoor supplies are stored. If you do find Black, Brown Widows, Recluse spiders or their egg sacks, call a professional exterminator immediately and don’t attempt to remove them yourself.
If your insect problem is driving you nuts and these simple solutions aren’t cutting it, then it’s time to contact a pest management. The professionals at AIPM are trained in handling various insect and pest issues. They can eliminate the threats to your property while setting up a custom plan to ensure that you never have to face the same type of infestation again.
Sources:
- https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/pests-be-gone-10-natural-ways-to-make-your-home-critter-free-44356/diy-mosquito-repellant
- https://lifehacker.com/keep-your-home-bug-free-with-these-diy-pest-control-met-1631181023
- https://www.huffingtonpost.com/hometalk/8-homemade-pest-control-s_b_5667174.html
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