Keeping bugs away from your home and yard during the warm summer months might at first seem like a monumental task. Luckily, you have some DIY remedies at your disposal. These hacks are some easy ways to keep pests out of your yard and home.
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1) Use Borax to Get Rid of Cockroaches
Cockroaches are known as hardy creatures, but they are no match for borax. To kill cockroaches, boil six eggs and get rid of the whites. Mash up the yolks and add 2.5 ounces of borax to the mixture. Then add half a cup to a full cup of white sugar or enough sugar until it is no longer crumbly. Your mixture should have a dough-like consistency. Leave little balls of the dough around your home for the cockroaches to eat.
2) Use a Lemon-Scented Spray to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
Gnats and fruit flies don’t like the smell of lemon and so will avoid it at all costs. For best results, mix 2 cups of hot water and 10-15 drops of lemongrass oil in a clean spray bottle. Then spray onto your kitchen surfaces. To keep the critters from gnawing on your plants, mix 4 cups of water and 2 cups of lemon scented dish soap, then spray your infested plants.
3) Put Your Food in Containers
Bugs love to go after our yummy food. So, you’ll want to put all your food and beverages in well-sealed coolers and containers when not in use. If possible, try to serve your food and beverage inside and use outdoor spaces for eating and entertaining.
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4) Use Onions to Deter Pests
No one likes the smell of onions, including bugs. Try slicing some up and putting them in a bowl of water to keep bugs away. You can also plant onions in your yard.
5) Seal and Isolate Your Garbage Cans
Toss garbage in tightly sealed garbage cans. Be sure to place the garbage cans away from guests. Bugs tend to hang out near garbage cans, so you want to keep your guests separate from the bugs.
6) Use Diatomaceous Earth to Get Rid of Ants
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is fossilized marine phytoplankton remains that are powdered. It’s sharp edges cut through the exoskeletons of ants and dry them out, killing them. You can sprinkle it where ants enter and hang out in your home like windowsills, under the refrigerator and cabinets, near the garbage and other areas. Leave a thin layer once a day until they are gone.
7) Clean Up Messes Promptly
Don’t get it later, get it now. If someone spills something or you see a pile of crumbs, make sure you clean it up ASAP. If not, you’ll find some new unwanted insect guests at your BBQ.
8) Plan Your Outdoor Activities to Account for Pests
Mosquitoes like to come out at dusk and dawn. So you’ll want to plan your outdoor cooking accordingly. Citronella is known to keep them away, as is garlic, and lemon eucalyptus oil. Check out the following video to find out how to make your own citronella candles.
9) Avoid Wearing Scents Outdoors
Some bugs, like yellow jackets, are attracted to floral and fruity fragrances. So, you want to keep things like scented shampoos, perfumes, and scented candles to a minimum when you’re outside. Otherwise, you’re pretty much just asking winged creatures to join you.
10) Use Clear Plates and Cups
If possible, use clear plates or cups. This will make it easier to see any bugs that are invading your food or drink. What’s even better is those clear plastic tumblers with tops that you can get from the dollar store.
11) Use Cinnamon to Deter Pests
Cinnamon not only tastes good but it will keep the bugs away. Sprinkle a line of cinnamon where bugs are invading. They won’t cross it. You can even use this to keep bugs out of the sandbox.
12) Place Dryer Sheets in Your Pockets
You might want to hand out dryer sheets at your next BBQ. Some say that putting these in your pockets will repel bugs. Learn how to make your own at Wellness Mama.
13) Rinse Food and Drink Garbage Before Throwing it Away
All empty food and drink containers should be rinsed before they are disposed of. This will keep pests from smelling the food and flocking to it.
14) Avoid Wearing Dark Colors
Most of us wear light-colored clothing in the summer to stay cool. But this can also help keep bugs at bay. Insects are said to be attracted to darker colors.
15) Build a Bat House
Consider building a bat house. Bats are known to eat 1,000 to 3,000 mosquitoes in one night. You can learn how to make one in the following tutorial but make sure you research all the facts on this and figure out the best place to put one on your property.
16) Remove Standing water
Mosquitoes love to breed in pools of standing water. So make sure you drain and get rid of stagnant pools of water in your yard. If you have a birdbath or pond make sure you change the water regularly or add an agitator or aerator.
17) Use Borax to Get Rid of Fleas
Borax kills fleas and their eggs for up to a year. Dust and vacuum up as much dirt as you can. Sprinkle some borax on your carpet, the creases in your furniture, closet, and places your pet hangs out. Brush it into your carpet with a small hand broom. Vacuum up anywhere you still find visible borax. Let the borax sit for 36 hours and then vacuum it up to get rid of the dead fleas.
18) Use Borax to Get Rid of Ants
Since worker ants eat liquids and the queen and her babies eat solids, you have to mix up two remedies to end your ant infestation. For solid ant bait, combine one part borax and three parts powdered sugar. Sprinkle this mixture onto flat surfaces for the worker ants to take to the queen. For a liquid bait, combine 1/4 cup of borax and 3/4 cup of honey or maple syrup. Drop globs of this onto an ant trail or anywhere you see ants coming in.
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Anything that has food on it or touched food should be covered. In addition, they should be brought inside immediately after they are no longer in use. This includes dishware, serving forks and spoons, and grill tongs.
20) Use Vinegar to Get Rid of Ants
Get a spray bottle and pour in equal parts of water and distilled vinegar along with a few drops of lemon essential oil. Shake it up and spray in places where ants accumulate and enter your home. They hate the smell of vinegar and will avoid it.
21) Use Cinnamon to Get Rid of Ants
Take a half of a teaspoon of cinnamon essential oil and mix it in with a cup of water. Wet a cotton ball with the mixture and swab areas where you’ve seen ants every day. Ants can’t stand the smell of it and will avoid it. You can also place cinnamon cloves in areas, like windows and doors, to prevent the ants from coming into your home.
22) Use Peppermint to Get Rid of Ants
Ants also hate peppermint because it prevents them from being able to smell other smells. Pour 10 drops of peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle filled with a cup of water. Spray this mixture twice daily to repel ants. Another alternative is sprinkling dried peppermint around your home, garbage areas, doors, entryways, or in your garden.
23) Use Baby Powder to Get Rid of Ants
Baby powder is a great way to eliminate your ant problem. More importantly, it’s very safe and humane. Many of the ant-killing products you find in the stores contain borax, which can be a harmful chemical, especially if you own pets. Sprinkle a bit of baby powder wherever you have ants. It’s a bit messy, but your ant problem will immediately disappear. Then, vacuum the area afterward to clean up the mess.
24) Plant a Citronella Plant to Repel Mosquitoes
Citronella oil is a common ingredient in most bug repellents. It has a strong odor which masks mosquito attractants. You can plant citronella in large pots. They typically grow up to 5 to 6 feet tall, so make sure you have ample space in your yard. For more details on how to grow citronella, please click here.
25) Plant a Basil plant to Deter Mosquitoes
Basil is a great herb for cooking, especially with pasta, but it turns out, basil is a great mosquito repellent. Basil is one of the most pungent herbs, and it gives off a scent that mosquitoes really dislike. Therefore, planting basil is a win-win. Not only do you get a great mosquito repellent, but you also get a natural herb to use for cooking. For more details on how to grow basil, please click here.
26) Keep a Peppermint Plant Nearby to Keep Away Mosquitoes
Peppermint is more than just a flavor of gum or body wash. It’s got a great scent, and it is also a natural insecticide. If you see mosquitoes in your home or backyard, crush a few peppermint leaves to release the scent and scare them away. For more details on how to grow peppermint, please click here.
27) Use a Lemon Balm Plant to Deter Mosquitoes
While lemon balm is typically known for its healing properties, it’s great for attracting known pollinators such as bees and butterflies – pollinators are must for any garden! – and for repelling mosquitoes. To quickly scare away mosquitoes, crush a lemon balm in your hand and rub it on your exposed skin. Mosquitoes will leave you alone. Be sure to grow lemon balm in an easy-to-reach location. That way, you can grab a leaf to use whenever you need it. To learn how to grow lemon balm, please click here.
28) Plant a Lavender Plant to Keep Away Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes absolutely hate lavender. The scent has the added benefit of promoting a calm, soothing sensation while it keeps those pesky mosquitoes away from your home. You can repel mosquitoes by planting lavender around the home, or you can crush the leaves and rub the oil on your exposed skin. Either work! To learn how to grow lavender, please click here.
29) Use Catnip to Keep Mosquitoes at Bay
Catnip is a welcome addition to any garden – your cats will thank you for it. It’s widely considered as one of the best natural insect repellents. Catnip contains a chemical known as nepetalactone. The best part: catnip is relatively easy to grow. To learn how to grow catnip, please click here.
30) Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
Apple cider vinegar really is a miracle remedy. Gnats and fruit flies are already attracted to the stuff but heat up 1/2 a cup and they won’t be able to resist it! Add a few drops of dish soap to make the liquid heavier, and therefore harder to escape.
31) Use Red Wine to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
Combine 1/2 cup red wine with 1 1/2 cups water and pour into a jar. Cover the top of the jar with plastic wrap, poke some holes in it, and place the jar where you see fruit flies congregating the most. You may have to empty the jar a few times and create a new solution, depending on the severity of your problem.
32) Use a Mixture of Milk, Pepper, and Sugar to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
If you have extra dairy on hand, heat up two cups of milk, and then add 8 tablespoons of sugar and 4 tablespoons of ground pepper. Then just leave the mixture in a shallow dish near the problem area. The pests will flight right in, but because the mixture is heavy, they won’t be able to get out.
33) Use Overripe Food in Your Trap to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
What better way to attract gnats and fruit flies to your trap than by putting what they love most at the bottom of it: fruits and veggies! You may need a larger jar for this solution to work, but the concept is the same: smash up the fruit gone or leave it whole, and set out where fruit flies tend to congregate in your home.
34) Repair Any Holes in Screens
One of the main ways bugs slip in our home is through screen holes. So, you’ll want to check all the screens in your homes for holes. If you find one, make sure you repair it right away as demonstrated in the following video.
35) Use a Bag of Water With Pennies Inside to Deter Flies
To make this ingenious fly deterrent, fill a heavy-duty freezer bag with water, table salt, lime juice, and add a few pennies. Hang the bag above a door or anywhere you have a fly problem. Make sure the bag is hanging in a place where it can reflect light. When the water and the coins reflect back into the flies eyes, it causes an unpleasant sight and causes them to have a hard time focusing on where they are flying. The flies eventually learn to avoid the area.
36) Use Citrus to Repel Spiders
To keep spiders away from your living space, mix water and unsweetened lemon juice in a spray bottle. Next, wipe your counters, and spray your doorways and windowsills to keep them outside. In the garden, spread lemon, lime, or orange peels to deter spiders.
37) Use a Fake Wasp Nest to Drive Away Wasps
You can use a fake wasp nest, sold at many retail and home improvement stores, to keep these territorial insects out of your yard. Put one in the front and back yard to ensure that wasps stay away.
38) Use Salt to Get Rid of Fleas
If you have fleas, sprinkle a little salt on your carpeting and allow it to sit overnight. The salt dries them up, killing them. The next day, vacuum your carpet to remove the salt and the now dead fleas.
39) Use Mint Leaves to Repel Moths
To repel moths, place a handful of dried mint leaves in a sachet and place it among your clothing. You can also place loose leaves in your clothing for the same effect.
40) Place Sliced Cucumber to get Rid of Ants and Flies
Sliced cucumber is a great deterrent for both flies and ants. Just leave the slices in areas that these two pests like to frequent in your home to keep them far away.
41) Hang air curtains
Another great way to keep mosquitos and other flying nuisances from bothering you is to hang air curtains. They’re super easy to install as well as maintain. Hanging these at entrances or outdoor hang-out areas will ensure your space is bug-free.
42) Make bug repellent luminaries
Make amazing scented luminaries for your backyard or patio with this simple recipe. Not only will they keep pesky insects away but they smell absolutely incredible too. Check out the ingredients below and instructions here – so easy!
43) Crush garlic
“You can repel mosquitoes naturally with minced or crushed garlic. The naturally occurring sulfur in the garlic will send not only mosquitoes, but ticks, stink bugs, fleas, and black flies away. It repels mosquitoes well,” says Tips Bulletin. Make a homemade mosquito spray by mixing mineral oil, 4 cloves of garlic, 1 tsp. of dish soap, and some water.
44) Get a fire pit
The smoke from fires is a great way to repel mosquitos and other insects. Invest in or create a fire pit in your yard to have your very own campfire during the evenings. Perfect for family gatherings while staying bite-free.
45) Vanilla extract on cotton balls
Instead of using stinky things like garlic or onions to deter pests, try some vanilla extract as an alternative. Place vanilla extract on some cotton balls and put them in window sills or cupboards.
46) Cool off and relax
Did you know that bugs are attracted to certain hormones and pheromones we release? It’s true! But these chemicals are only released when we’re stressed out or hot. So, keep cool by wearing proper clothing and staying hydrated. As for stressing out? Keep it indoors?
47) Use turmeric to deter spiders
“Turmeric is something you should use when cooking frequently as it offers a wealth of health benefits, but it’s also great for driving spiders away. To use it, combine 2 tablespoons of the powder with water to make a fine paste, and then apply the paste to cotton balls and place them in areas of your home that are prone to spiders. Whatever you do, don’t apply the paste directly to your furnishings, walls, floors, etc., as turmeric stains are extremely difficult to remove,” says Natural Living Ideas.
48) Bay leaf sachets
Bay leaf is an often underestimated and overlooked herb in both cooking and practical uses. It has a bitter taste and pungent fragrance, you can use it to deter insects like moths, roaches, earwigs, and mosquitos. Just crunch up some bay leaves and place in a cheesecloth, then tie with string or ribbon. Hang or hide them wherever you see insects.
49) Wear coconut oil
Coconut oil is an absolutely incredible ingredient for so many things when it comes to cooking, beauty, and health – as well as repelling insects! Use coconut oil as a natural bug repellent for the skin. Plus? It smells great and is super hydrating.
50) Plant marigolds
Plant marigolds in your garden and hang or display them wherever you like to sit and relax outside. This gorgeous flower isn’t just pretty look at, but it also will ward off mosquitos! Not to mention, they keep your garden healthy by preventing spider mites, aphids, and other veggie pests.
51) Clean your gutters
“Mosquitoes can breed in even tiny amounts of water. To prevent your yard from becoming Club Med for these itch-inducing pests, drill holes in the bottom of recycling and trash containers and clear roof gutters regularly to prevent standing water. Change out the water in birdbaths at least once weekly to clear out mosquito eggs,” says Prevention.
52) Shower after being outdoors
It’s been shown that people who showered within a couple of hours from being in the yard had a drastically lower risk of developing Lyme disease. This is because a shower can knock a tick off the skin before it has time to burrow into the skin. Of course, you don’t have to shower every single time you go outside, only when you’re tick-prone areas like high grass, woodpiles, and brush.
53) Hang rosemary to repel wasps
Wasps are so annoying (and scary!) when you’re trying to enjoy a nice meal outside (they love meat by the way). Deter them by hanging sprigs of rosemary around your backyard and patio. It smells great, looks pretty, and works like a charm!
54) Always check your armpits
If you’re in a high-tick area, you’ll want to make sure you always thoroughly check for this nasty bug every time you’re walking around in brush or tall grass. Be sure to make your armpits a regular check-up area as well. It’s a commonly overlooked place.
55) Fix leaks to keep silverfish away
“Silverfish thrive in moist, humid environments, so if you see them in your home, you’ve likely got a moisture problem. Fix water leaks, increase ventilation, and seal openings around pipes and gaps in the walls. Finally, vacuum the infested area—including the floor and furniture—to make sure there are no eggs left behind,” says Prevention.
Bugs are literally a pain in the neck and other areas during the summer. They invade your home and backyard gatherings, seemingly without mercy. Fortunately, keeping pests away from you and your family is as easy as using these home remedies.
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