The bugs are back in full force in these warmer months! Instead of using chemical repellents to keep these pests outside and away while you relax on your porch or patio, try some of these natural remedies for your critter problems.
Vinegar – A simple way to keep ants away is using vinegar. Put some in a spray bottle and spritz it through your kitchen or at the entrances to your home.
Baby powder – Even with no kids, keep this around to sprinkle in the corners of your home. It can help keep wasps, bees, and mosquitoes away.
Citrus Peels – These are incredibly useful for warding off many bugs. To get rid of spiders, try rubbing the peels from citrus fruit on surfaces near spider hotspots. And as an extra perk from using citrus peels, rubbing them on wooden surfaces can be a natural polish. In warding off spiders, you could give your bookshelf a fresh new look! Pouring boiling water over citrus slices can also be used to rid your dog of fleas. Simply let the mixture sit overnight and wash your dog in the cooled mixture.
Candles – Placing citronella or soy candles in outdoor spaces can help ward off mosquitoes so long as there is little to no breeze to disperse the scent.
Catnip – If you don’t have a cat, you can easily use catnip to dissuade nasty cockroaches from becoming your neighbors.
Cucumbers – The bitterness of cucumbers is repulsive to ants and cockroaches, which is amazing for us! Place or rub cucumber slices near problematic areas to deter pests.
Herbs and plants – If you don’t have an herb garden, go for it! Many herbs such as tansy, garlic, lavender, mint, rosemary, and others help keep away flies, mosquitoes, moths, and ants due to their scent. Grow these near your house, sprinkle some around the house, or rub a little on your skin to ward off bugs. As a bonus, many of these herbs and plants smell great to humans!
As a final tip: keeping your house clean as a whole will always help keep bugs away. With these simple solutions, you could enjoy your summer in a bug-free house! And until next time, happy cleaning!
Kelly’s Kleaning, LLC is a full-service cleaning company. We specialize in residential, commercial, apartment move out, new construction and new home cleaning. We offer our cleaning services to individuals and businesses in and around the Reading area.
