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Many ingredients found in some pesticides are toxic chemicals. After all, they are made to kill bugs—so should you not question if they may be harming you or your loved ones, as well? Luckily there are non-toxic pest control methods to keep your home toxin free. Here are some ways you can mitigate pests without pesticides:
Try integrated pest management (IPM)
Integrated Pest Management is not only an effective method of pest control but an environmentally-friendly one. The main goal of IPM is to manage pests before they get out of control and cause an infestation. If it’s too late and you already have an infestation, you should consider hiring a pest control service. However, you can keep bugs at bay with simple solutions.
Make sure your home is properly sealed. Bugs can’t enter your home without a way in! A house fly may occasionally enter through an open door, but you can keep many bugs out by simply making sure they can’t enter. You can do this by repairing door/window screens, replacing rotten floorboards, caulking windows, and sealing any cracks in the kitchen or the bathroom. Fill up small holes to the outside with materials (like cement or metal) that pests can’t chew through (they can eat their way through plastic, rubber, vinyl, and wood!).
Keep your spaces clean! Put away any food that may attract pests and store food in tightly sealed containers. Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight—the residual food may attract pests like ants or other bugs! Clean eating areas regularly and make sure no crumbs have made a home on the floor. Using a lidded trashcan and taking out the trash daily can also reduce the number of pests you may attract. Make sure you also keep all garbage in bags—don’t have loose food in your outdoor bin or you could attract wild animals as well as bugs.
Cleaning your home regularly by dusting, sweeping, or vacuuming also helps. Pay special attention to corners by the floor baseboards or the ceiling where bugs like to reside. Don’t keep piles of clothes on the floor and try to keep clutter to a minimum. The fewer hiding spots for bugs the better! If you have any leaky faucets or pipes, consider fixing/replacing them. Damp places are ideal breeding grounds for many pests—so keep your home dry!
DIY bug solutions
You can use materials that you probably already have at home to make DIY pest repellents. Find out where bugs have been entering your home (usually the doors/windows) and keep them away with a DIY mixture. There are plenty of different DIY sprays and solutions you can make, so you may want to try them all and see what works best for you. You can try mixing water with dish soap, or even water and white vinegar. You can sprinkle coffee grounds on the window sill or at the doorframe. For the peskiest of pests, try a mixture of water with red chili powder, paprika, cinnamon, and peppermint leaves.
Many pests do not like the smell of certain herbs and plants. Consider diluting essential oils like lemon, eucalyptus, or peppermint in a spray bottle and spray it around the house. Be wary if you have pets because the essential oils may make them sick! You can boil garlic in water and spray the mixture around the house—the smell won’t last long, but the anti-pest effects will!
Create a DIY fruit fly catcher! Capture all those pesky fruit flies with an old bottle, a funnel, and juice! The fruit flies go down the funnel to get to the juice and then get stuck. Place one near your fruit bowl or sink for easy fruit fly management.
Call Atlus Pest Solutions
Having a pest control inspector come to your home monthly is the best way to prevent an infestation. We use the safest products and offer unparalleled service with a money-back guarantee. Call today for a free estimate!
