Nobody wants bugs in their home. Not only does it give you the creepy crawlies, but it also makes you self-conscious about the cleanliness of your house. The best way to deal with the issue is to kill them using safe and natural methods.ย
4 – Tips for Safely Eradicating Bugs
Bugs typically come in waves. Youโll go months without seeing any cockroaches in the house and then you suddenly see them every time you turn on a light. Or youโll go years without seeing ants in the kitchen โ only to wake up and find a stream of thousands traversing across your countertops. This is the frustrating reality of home ownership.
Regardless of whether you see them or not, your home has insects. According to BobVila.com, the most common household bugs are dust mites, weevils, carpet beetles, centipedes, fruit flies, stinkbugs, ants, cockroaches, drain flies, and silverfish. You may also find spiders, moths, or wasps.
The question is, how do you get rid of bugs when theyโre already present in the home? And how can you prevent more from entering your house without using harsh chemicals and dangerous toxins?
1. Use Natural Products
Walk into any home improvement store or supermarket and youโll find a dizzying array of insect repellants and bug killers. There are sprays and powders. Pre-mixed solutions and concentrates. Products that have been around for centuries and new products that have just hit shelves. It feels a bit like playing a Vegas slot machine โ which product is the right combination?
The key is to read the ingredient label and avoid products that contain lots of chemicals, toxins, and unknown ingredients. Instead, you should opt for ones that use natural ingredients. Here are a couple of examples:
- For ants, try Ant Killer Syrup Bait. According to Maggieโs Farm, the productโs manufacturer, this ant killer is a green, mineral-based product with all-natural active ingredients.
- For fruit flies, feel free to make your own product using dish soap and vinegar. Place it in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and poke some holes in the top. This traps and kills the flies.
There are products or homemade solutions for almost any common household bugs. All it takes is a little bit of research to find natural alternatives to the chemically-laced products found on most store shelves.
2. Use Traps and Fake Nests
Did you know that wasps are incredibly territorially creatures who wonโt build a nest within 20 yards of another one? You can ward off wasps by putting up fake nests. (Theyโre like scarecrows for wasps!) Hang one on each side of your home and youโre good to go.
3. Spray Problem Areas with Neem Oil
Neem oil โ which is a derivative of the Neem tree โ is an incredible substance that has the ability to kill over 200 species of insects. At the same time, itโs completely safe for humans and wildlife. Spray it on indoor plants and in other problem areas to help control the presence/spread of bugs. (On a related note, Neem oil can be used in an outdoor garden to prevent bugs from eating crops and plants.)
4. Avoid Standing Water
According to Prevention.com, โMosquitoes can breed in even tiny amounts of water. To prevent your yard from becoming Club Med drill holes in the bottom of recycling and trash containers and clear roof gutters regularly to prevent standing water.โ
The same goes for moisture inside of the home. You can kill off bug-friendly environments by eliminating standing water in drains, fixing leaks, and using dehumidifiers to pull excess moisture from the air.
Reclaim Your Home
Unless you plan on charging roaches rent and asking ants to take on household chores, insects have no place in your house. While of there are plenty of strategies and lots of products on the market, make sure you use discernment in selecting which ones to implement and use. Your familyโs health and safety is the chief concern.
Take your time to select options that benefit your family across the board. Hopefully this article provides you with a nice place to start.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
