Managing Pests Without Chemicals
If you want to save time and money on pest control, you’re in luck. We’ll be taking a look at the following ten natural pest control tips that you can take advantage of. Before we cover them, we’ll discuss the harmful effects that it can have on the environment and your health overall.
Even professional pest control services are using chemical treatments that are considered safe and eco-friendly. This wasn’t the case years before. Pest control can be a challenge, but these tips will be great to use if you don’t want to deal with any harmful chemicals or expensive pest control services.
Pesticides and its impact on the environment
Pesticides can be harmful to plants, soil, and wildlife residing in an area affected by pests. Also affected by pesticides is the water supply where humans and animals drink from. These are a couple of reasons why pesticides should not be used and a more eco-friendly solution should be better used.
What are the health risks associated with pesticides?
There are short-term and long-term health risks that are tied to pesticide use. You can also be exposed to them for lengthy periods of time before experiencing some symptoms (and long-term effects). These include but are not limited:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Limb numbness
- Allergic reactions
- Respiratory issues including asthma
- High risk of cancer
Top 10 Natural Pest Control Tips
1. Keep your home clean
It’s true. A clean home will be the least favorite place for many pests to hang out. It’s as simple as vacuuming your floors, washing your dishes, discarding food scraps into the rubbish bin, and more. Pests like roaches and fruit flies won’t be invading your home any time soon.
2. Proper fruit and veggie storage
Any fruits and vegetables left out in the open will be a place where pests will congregate. For that reason, you want to put them in the fridge. This is another place where roaches and fruit flies will swarm (and they certainly love the sweet stuff).
3. Remove standing water
Whether it’s underneath the sink or anyplace outdoors, standing water will be ground zero for mosquito infestations. Get rid of any standing water that exists and fix those pipes if they appear to be the source for standing water underneath your sink.
4. Use cornmeal to kill ants
Ants don’t have the digestive system to handle cornmeal. If they eat it, they’ll basically starve themselves to death after a few days. It’s the perfect ant killer without having to use harmful chemicals.
5. They’ll wake up and smell the coffee
To humans, the smell of coffee is pleasant. To pests, it’s one of the worst smells ever encountered. You can use your discarded coffee filters with the grounds intact and place them in areas where pests may enter. They’ll turn away at the first encounter.
6. Mint tea bags work too
Another scent that is unpleasant for pests is mint. It’s fresh and tasty for humans. But it’s an effective pest control method if you want to ward off any pests such as ants, roaches, and more.
7. Come for the beer, stay forever
If you have some beer containers that aren’t open, use this to your advantage. Open a can and apply petroleum jelly on the outer rim. Not only will the smell of beer attract pests closer, they’ll try to get in only to be stuck by the jelly barrier.
8. Apple cider vinegar & plastic = The best trap
If you are looking for a great trap for fruit flies, you’ll need a small dish, apple cider vinegar, and plastic. Fill the small bowl with apple cider vinegar and wrap it with plastic. Punch a few holes and watch it go to work.
The fruit flies will enter the bowl and never get out. It’s one of the tried and true ways to get rid of fruit flies without spending extra cash.
9. Lavender is the perfect pest repellant
Lavender is another sweet smelling scent that pests hate. You can include dried lavender or spray lavender oil in areas where pests may enter. They dare not want to go to the other side after one whiff of it.
10. Other herbs work good as well
Whether it’s sage, rosemary, or something that smells nice, it’s a pest’s worst nightmare. If you want to put these to good use, put them in an oil and spray it in areas where pests might want to set up shop.
Conclusion
These top ten pest control tips will save you time and money. Plus, you get to have a little fun getting rid of these unwanted critters. You won’t have to deal with expensive services or harmful chemicals.
However, professional services may be needed in case an infestation gets out of control. For the best protection against pest, these tips listed above will be your best option.