When an ant, cockroach, or flea decides to make an appearance at a barbecue or dinner party, it’s enough to ruin the entire event. These types of pests can be easily controlled with pesticides, but the chemicals contained in these products can be harmful to the health of you, your children, or your pets. With such risks involved, many people find themselves looking for other methods such as natural pest control and prevention.
One of the most common problems in the summer season are ants. They climb on tables and decks, and frequent the closets of the house. To prevent ants from entering the house, try to find where the ants enter. Once you’ve located this spot, create a barrier by sprinkling cayenne pepper, citrus oil, or coffee grounds over the area. Ants will not walk over these items. If ants are already in the house, try placing cucumber peels, garlic cloves, or spearmint leaves in cabinets. These products are known to repel ants and drive them out of your home. Once the ants are under control in the home, you can focus on infestations that are outdoors. Sprinkle cornmeal in and around the entrance of the anthill. The ants will bring the cornmeal home and share it with the colony. The ants cannot digest the cornmeal and the colony will die within a week.
Cockroaches are one of the most repulsive pests out there, but there is natural pest control for them too. Catnip will repel roaches, so place it in areas you know roaches will frequent. To kill off an existing population, place a piece of beer-soaked bread in a plastic container. Place the container where the rocks will find it. As with cornmeal and ants, cockroaches will not be able to properly digest the beer, causing them to slowly die. Keep a bottle of soapy water handy at all times. If you see a roach outdoors, spray it with soapy water, and this will kill the roach in minutes by breaking down its exoskeleton.
Natural pest control also exists for mosquitoes. As a preventive measure, remove all standing water from the patio, as this is the preferred habitat of mosquitoes. When you plan to spend time outdoors, rub in a solution that is at least thirty percent eucalyptus. Eucalyptus has been proven to prevent mosquitoes from biting. Planting sage, rosemary, and marigolds throughout your garden will also help repel mosquitoes. These plants have a natural digging quality. Another effective mosquito repellant is anything that creates smoke. During a barbecue or other outdoor gathering, burn incense or other smoldering items to help repel swarms that may gather and disturb your guests.
With natural pest control methods like these, there is no need to keep harmful chemicals around the house.