- Keep Firewood and Mulch Away from Your Home: Wood and mulch can attract termites, ants, and other pests. Store firewood at least 20 feet from your house and avoid placing mulch directly against the foundation. Consider using rocks or gravel in garden beds near your home’s exterior to discourage pests from nesting close to the walls.
- Properly Store Pet Food: Pests like rodents and insects are attracted to pet food. Store your pet’s food in sealed containers and avoid leaving bowls of food out overnight. Regularly clean food and water dishes to prevent attracting pests.
- Vacuum Regularly: Pests such as bed bugs, fleas, and dust mites can thrive in carpets and rugs. Regular vacuuming, especially in hard-to-reach areas like under furniture, can help remove these pests before they multiply. Be sure to empty the vacuum bag or canister outside your home to prevent pests from escaping back into your living space.
- Use Diatomaceous Earth: This natural, non-toxic powder can be sprinkled around your home to combat pests like ants, roaches, and bed bugs. Diatomaceous earth dehydrates pests by damaging their exoskeletons, but it’s safe for humans and pets. Apply it in crevices, along baseboards, and in areas where pests are commonly seen.
- Install Door Sweeps and Window Screens: Gaps under doors and unscreened windows provide easy entry for pests. Install door sweeps to block these gaps and add or repair window screens to prevent insects like mosquitoes, flies, and spiders from entering. This is a simple yet effective barrier against pests.
- Use Vinegar as a Natural Ant Repellent: Ants follow scent trails to find food sources, but vinegar disrupts these trails. Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and use it to wipe down surfaces where ants are present, such as countertops or floors. This will help prevent ants from returning to the same areas.
- Rotate Your Storage: Items stored in garages, attics, or basements can become havens for pests like mice, spiders, and moths. Regularly move, rotate, or clean your storage areas to prevent pests from settling in undisturbed spaces. Use plastic bins with tight-fitting lids instead of cardboard boxes to store items, as pests can easily chew through cardboard.
- Use Boric Acid for Roaches: Boric acid is a highly effective, low-cost method to kill cockroaches. Sprinkle it lightly in cracks, behind appliances, and under sinks where roaches tend to hide. It’s a natural insecticide, but be cautious—although it’s generally safe, it should still be kept out of reach of children and pets.
- Practice Good Yard Waste Management: Dead leaves, grass clippings, and other yard debris can create ideal hiding spots for pests. Regularly clear away any debris and compost it far from your home. This will help reduce areas where pests can breed and find shelter.
- Set Up a Barrier of Crushed Eggshells: Crushed eggshells can be used as a natural barrier around your plants or garden beds to deter pests like slugs, snails, and some crawling insects. The sharp edges make it difficult for these pests to cross, keeping them away from your plants.
- Use Coffee Grounds as a Natural Repellent: Coffee grounds can deter a variety of pests, including ants, mosquitoes, and slugs. Sprinkle used coffee grounds around garden beds, windowsills, or other areas where pests are likely to enter. The smell masks attractants for pests, while the texture deters crawling insects.
- Keep Outdoor Lights to a Minimum: Outdoor lighting attracts flying insects like moths, flies, and mosquitoes. Opt for yellow “bug lights” that are less attractive to insects, or use motion-sensor lights to reduce the time lights are on. Keeping lights further from doors can also help prevent insects from finding their way inside.
- Plant Pest-Repelling Herbs: Planting herbs such as basil, mint, lavender, and rosemary around your home or in window boxes can repel mosquitoes, flies, and other pests. These herbs give off scents that naturally deter insects, and you can use them for cooking as a bonus!
- Use Sticky Traps Indoors: For pests like flies, cockroaches, and spiders, sticky traps are an effective and non-toxic way to monitor and reduce their numbers. Place these traps near windows, doors, and other areas where pests are active, but keep them away from areas where children or pets can reach.
- Create a Baking Soda and Sugar Trap for Roaches: Mix equal parts baking soda and sugar to create a homemade bait for cockroaches. The sugar attracts them, and the baking soda reacts with their digestive system, which is fatal to roaches. Place this mixture in shallow dishes in areas where you’ve seen roach activity.
- Use Eucalyptus or Tea Tree Oil for Spiders: Spiders tend to avoid strong scents like eucalyptus and tea tree oil. Place a few drops of essential oil on cotton balls and tuck them in corners, closets, or other places where spiders are commonly seen. Refresh the cotton balls every couple of weeks for ongoing protection.
- Install a Chimney Cap: If you have a fireplace, consider installing a chimney cap to keep out birds, rodents, and other pests that might seek shelter there. A chimney cap also prevents debris from entering, reducing the chances of pests nesting or getting trapped inside your chimney.
- Put Screens on Air Vents: Air vents are a common entryway for small pests like insects, rodents, and birds. By covering vents with fine mesh screens, you can prevent pests from entering while still allowing air circulation. Regularly inspect and repair any holes in screens to maintain their effectiveness.
- Create Citrus Peels Deterrents: Citrus peels, such as from oranges, lemons, or limes, can repel ants, cockroaches, and spiders. Place peels around areas where pests are a problem, such as window sills or under sinks. You can also rub peels along baseboards to release their natural oils, which pests dislike.
- Use Hot Pepper Spray for Gardens: A homemade hot pepper spray can protect outdoor plants from insects like aphids and caterpillars. Blend a few hot peppers with water and a drop of dish soap, then strain and spray it on your plants. The capsaicin in peppers deters pests without harming the plants.
- Reduce Clutter Indoors: Cluttered spaces provide hiding spots for pests like spiders, rodents, and cockroaches. Organize storage areas, closets, and garages to eliminate places where pests can nest. Use clear containers for storage, making it easier to spot any early signs of pests.
- Clean Pet Areas Regularly: Pet areas, including food bowls, bedding, and litter boxes, can attract pests if not regularly cleaned. Wash pet bedding frequently, store food in sealed containers, and keep feeding areas clean to reduce the chances of pests being attracted to pet-related items.
