Reading Time: 6 minutes Get Rid Of Pests Quickly Without Harsh Chemicals
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No one wants pests in their house. We’re here to help you deal with how to get rid of pests. Best of all our tips are easy and do not includbede harsh chemicals.
We walk you through simple ways to exterminate organically and naturally.
These uninvited guests can negatively affect your house or even carry diseases. While one spider hidden in a dusty room may not harm anyone, bed bugs infestation will surely leave their mark.
Fortunately, there are tips you can use to easily and quickly eliminate household pests.
Instead of using harsh chemicals to get rid of pests, try these safer alternatives instead:
Related: 18+ DIY Household Products You Can Make at Home
Table of Contents
Eliminate And Prevent Ants
Besides contaminating food through their feces and dirt, ants pose a risk to your property. For instance, carpenter ants can tunnel through wood, leading to structural damage in your house.
I have these labeled as “steps” but trying each one by itself for a few days may make more sense.
Step 1: Dilute Lemon Juice or Vinegar
The first step is to dilute 1 part fresh lemon juice or vinegar with 1 part water in a spray bottle. Then spray it liberally over the affected area to destroy the ant’s scent trails.
This will help disrupt their communication system and make it harder for them to find food sources in your garden.
As parents of 3 little kids, Force of Nature is our go-to all purpose cleaner. It's nontoxic but is EPA approved for use against Covid-19.
We love vinegar, but we use Force of Nature every day.
Be careful spraying vinegar or lemon juice on plants. They are actually a great weed killer too!
People Are Also Reading:
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Step 2: Smear Vaseline
The next step is to smear Vaseline along the trunk of your rose bush or pepper plant. This will create an invisible barrier that will make it difficult for the ants to climb up the plant’s stem or branches.
It’s important that you reapply Vaseline every few days for it to be effective against ants.
Step 3: Use Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is another great way of getting rid of ants without using harsh chemicals or pesticides.
Simply sprinkle some around your plants, which will help repel, but not injure, the ants. You should reapply diatomaceous earth every few days in order for it be effective against ants.
Here’s a link to Diatomaceous earth on Amazon (we’ll make a few pennies if you buy through this link)
Step 4: Try Cinnamon or Cayenne Pepper
Cinnamon or cayenne pepper are great natural alternatives for repelling ants from your garden without harming any other beneficial insects or animals.
Just sprinkle some around your plants and watch as they avoid it!
Expert Tips on Preventing Ants From Returning
- Keep all areas around your plants clean by removing debris such as leaves, twigs, etc., which could attract ants looking for food sources.
- If possible, try planting certain herbs such as mint or basil near your rose bushes or pepper plants as these have been known to repel ants away from gardens due their strong scent naturally.
- Check for any new colonies of ants forming near your plants so you can take action quickly before they become a problem again!
- Watering regularly helps keep soil moist, discouraging ant activity, so don’t let your soil dry out too much between watering sessions!
Natural Ways To Eradicate Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are familiar and unwelcome bugs you find in the bedroom. Although they don’t transmit diseases, bed bugs feed on human blood. The worst thing is that their bites leave itchy marks on your skin.
Use a hairdryer or steam clean as high temperatures kill bed bugs and their eggs.
Furthermore, you can use baking soda as it absorbs the bed bug’s moisture, leading to instant death.
The best way to get rid of bed bugs is to follow our steps on How To Clean A Mattress.
How To Control Fleas
Creating the perfect home requires controlling various household pests, such as fleas. For organic removal, you can start with an herbal flea spray.
Begin by vacuuming the entire house and cleaning everything in the hottest washing setting.
Afterward, mix 2 cups of water, 4 cups of vinegar, 2 oz of witch hazel, and 4 oz of lemon juice in a two-liter spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the pet beds, carpets, and fittings. Rosemary and lemon spray also work fine.
Getting Rid Of Cockroaches
As a landlord, I’ve received numerous calls from tenants complaining about roach infestations. Whenever they would call, I’d always ask them if they leave food out or have dog food that isn’t covered.
I would then explain the importance of proper food storage and maintaining a clean environment to prevent attracting these unwelcome pests.
By taking simple steps like covering their pet food and not leaving food out, many of my tenants were able to significantly reduce or even eliminate their cockroach problems.
Getting rid of cockroaches using household products can be an efficient and cost-effective way to deal with these unwanted pests.
Here’s several ways to eliminate cockroaches using items you probably already have at home, as well as some steps to prevent them from returning.
Baking soda and sugar
Mix equal parts of baking soda and sugar, and place the mixture in small containers or bottle caps. Place these containers in areas where you’ve seen cockroach activity.
The sugar will attract the roaches, while the baking soda will react with their stomach acid and eventually kill them.
Borax and sugar
Similar to the baking soda and sugar method, mix equal parts of borax and sugar and place it in areas frequented by cockroaches.
The sugar attracts the roaches, and the borax acts as a poison that kills them over time.
Diatomaceous earth
Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth around areas where you’ve seen cockroach activity. This natural, non-toxic powder causes the exoskeletons of the roaches to dry out, eventually leading to their death.
Soap and water
Mix a solution of dish soap and water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture directly onto any visible cockroaches. The soap will clog their breathing pores, causing them to suffocate.
Essential oils
Some essential oils, like peppermint and eucalyptus, can act as a natural repellent for cockroaches. Mix a few drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle and apply it to areas where you’ve seen roach activity.
How To Prevent Cockroaches
To prevent cockroaches from returning, follow these steps:
- Keep your living space clean and clutter-free. Regularly clean countertops, floors, and other surfaces.
- Store food in airtight containers and avoid leaving food out, especially overnight.
- Seal any cracks or crevices in your home’s walls, floors, and ceilings to prevent entry points for cockroaches.
- Regularly take out the trash and keep trash cans clean and tightly sealed.
- Fix any water leaks or damp areas, as cockroaches are attracted to moisture.
Eliminating Spiders
Spiders are other common household bugs you need to exterminate. Numerous species of spiders exist globally, and some types of spiders are more likely to infest your home than others.
The common species you may encounter include daddy long legs, domestic house spider, black widow spider, and the American house spider. Spiders can be venomous or harmless, based on the species.
The quickest way to get rid of spiders entails the use of citrus. Try rubbing a citrus peel on bookshelves, baseboards, and window sills to repel spiders.
Homemade Pesticide For Houseplant Pests
The best way to avoid houseplant pests is to ensure your plants are healthy and well-maintained.
Unfortunately, even the toughest plants can still succumb to pests such as aphids, spider mites, thrips, and scale.
Here is an easy solution that you can prepare and use at home:
- 1 part: 70% isopropyl alcohol
- 4 parts: water
This mixture will work excellent on scale, mealybugs, and spider mites if applied once a week. But you’ll most likely need to use a systemic pesticide for thrips.
How To Eliminate Household Pests Permanently
Eradicating household pests permanently necessitates comprehensive inspections, multiple treatments, and patience.
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Erin is the mother of identical twin girls and their slightly older brother. She is a domestic engineer, and previously had a career leading customer service teams for a major HVAC company. Cleaning without harsh chemicals, and cooking easy and usually healthy meals are part of Erin's daily life. She volunteers with youth leaders, and genuinely wants to help others win. Erin has a degree in Communications, with a focus on Broadcast Journalism.