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DIY Home Pest Control to Stay Bug Free

Having disgusting little critters in your home is no one’s idea of a great time. But it happens to be the reality for many homeowners and renters.

Dealing with bugs and rodents is sometimes overwhelming, especially when you’re not sure how to get rid of them and prevent their return.

The key to exceptional home pest control is a mix of offense and defense. So get your pen and paper and take notes while reading this guide!

Let’s begin with the defense.

Keep Your Kitchen Tidy

The number one room in the home pests love to attack is the kitchen. And why shouldn’t they? It’s where they can find all sorts of treats.

Just imagine, a little crumb to you is a large feast for an ant. So if you’re leaving small messes around your kitchen, then you can expect ants, roaches, and even mice to come around.

Your best bet is to sweep the entire kitchen and wipe all the counters/tables after each meal. Make sure all food containers and boxes are sealed. Then place whatever’s unsealed into the refrigerator.

It’s a good idea to invest in containers you can seal tightly, so no food goes to waste.

Dry Up All Water

Whether the water comes from spills, leaks or showers, make sure to dry it all up. Not doing so can breed all sorts of insects and cause them to multiply. Bugs love moist environments, like bathrooms, basements and beneath the kitchen sink.

Wipe the floors thoroughly after taking a bath or shower and mopping. If you have a leaky faucet or shower head, seek to replace it as soon as possible.

Another option is to use epoxy, clamps or waterproof tape to secure the leak until then.

Seal Up for the Best Home Pest Control

Insects are very clever in finding ways to enter into your home. While it may be impossible to find every entrance, there are some obvious ones you can take care of right away.

If you see any cracks or holes visible to the eye, then this is large enough for insects to come through. You can seal these areas with a weatherproof silicon caulking or flexible patching compound.

Focus on both interior and exterior fissures. You may notice many of them around the windows, doorways, roof, ceiling and where the wall meets the floor. Light switches may also have cracks requiring sealing.

Declutter Your Home

Everyone has a little pack rat in them sometimes. This is why spring cleaning is so crucial. All year, we gather items, which leads to clutter throughout the home. And if you’re like most people, you end up tossing much of this junk inside of drawers, closets, the basement or attic.

But all you’re really doing is creating clutter that’ll attract all sorts of pests. So to avoid this, you should make it a habit to throw out items you no longer need. Then everything else, pack away neatly into tightly sealed containers.

Avoid using boxes to store possessions because they too attract insects and rodents.

Now, that you have some idea of what to do on the defense for your home pest control, it’s time for some offense.

Concoct a Garlic-Mint Insect Spray

There are natural remedies you can try to keep pests at bay. You can give this a try until you receive Go-Forth Pest Control service near Matthews, NC.

It’s perfect for outdoor locations, like your porch or deck. All you need are some garlic cloves and mint leaves. Blend them up using your food processor, then sprinkle in a little cayenne pepper and dishwashing liquid.

Boil it all together, then allow it to sit overnight. The next morning, strain it and put it into a spray bottle. Now, it’s ready for use.

Give Coffee Grounds a Try

This is another item you will likely find in your home. It’s the perfect pest repellent for ants. To them, coffee grounds are deadly. So if you have an ugly ant problem, sprinkle this around doors, windows and other entry points.

Borax and Sugar, Another Ant Killer

Here’s another interesting, yet surprising ant killer. It seems the sugar attracts the ants, then the borax kills them.

All you need is one cup of warm water, two tablespoons of Borax and 1/2 cup of sugar. Set it inside of a Petri dish type bowl and watch your pest problem dwindle.

Get Rid of Dust Mites with Oil

Dust mites are a common problem and there’s an easy and natural way to deal with it. You can create a repellent spray mixed with eucalyptus, clove, lavender, rosemary and peppermint oils. Place them in a spray bottle of water and mist it onto your bed every night.

Do so lightly, then allow it to air dry. These scents are detestable to dust mites but delightful to you!

Bring On the Spice with Hot Pepper Spray

Even insects have a hard time taking down spicy foods. You can use this to your advantage by creating a hot pepper spray. This is easily made at home using a gallon of water, three tablespoons of hot pepper flakes and 10 peppers chopped up finely.

Simmer this all together for 15 minutes, then allow it to sit for 24 hours. Then strain the leftovers and add a few drops of dish detergent. Now, you can spray the plants in your home garden.

Say Bye to Fruit Flies with Apple Cider Vinegar

There’s nothing worse than having to swat away flies as you’re enjoying a delicious slice of melon. Thankfully, you can get rid of these annoying critters with a bottle of apple cider vinegar.

What you need is a bottle or container with either a funnel or shaker shaped top. Fill the bottom with apple cider vinegar or plain vinegar, along with chopped apple pieces.

Something about this combination fruit flies simply can’t stand!

Learn More Life Hacks

At Thrifty Momma Ramblings, we have plenty of tips, tricks, and advice on all sorts of life hacks. So if you’re looking for more ways to amp up your home pest control or want to learn more about frugal living, then stop by our blog.

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