Many individuals don’t like or simply can’t use chemicals in their houses do to chemical sensitivity issues. While there are numerous ways for cleaning ones house, what happens if despite your best interests some problem pests decides your place looks like a great home? This week we have a guest post from Karen Miller who writes and blogs for Terminix Pest Control Offers. Karen enjoys working on home projects and spending time with her friends and family when she is not consumed with her writing. So with no further ado…
The Problem:
Pesticides and other insect repellents are loaded with poisonous chemicals that will decimate the life out of the little organism you’re trying to get rid of. The problem is that many of those chemicals don’t just poison the ant, roach or other unwanted nuisance; they also pose hazards to the environment, your pets, your children and yourself. Here are some green ways to deal with your pest problem that are more natural and less caustic to you, the pest and the world.
Prevention:
Prevention is always the best and greenest way of dealing with pests, not giving them a reason to come around. This means removing, or making inaccessible, their contact with food sources, shelter and water.
Much of their food sources in your home are going to come from spills, scraps or exposed pieces of fruit, meat, bread or other tasty morsels left uncovered. As you’re likely not making and eating a pastrami sandwich in the bedroom, your kitchen is usually the area you need to focus on in preventing food sources; which can be done as simply as keeping the floors and counters clear and cleaned, wiping up spills as they happen, keeping trash cans covered and making sure perishables and/or leftovers are secured in Tupperware, tin foil or plastic wrap.
Tour your home and fill in any cracks, gaps or other fissures in your foundation, windowsills, doorways or any other possible entryways for pests to get inside your home. Similarly, fix any leaks you may have as they’ will draw life; your external spigot is one of the biggest culprits for leaks and attracting pests, especially in the winter. Even though you’ve turned your home into a veritable Fort Knox, pests can still get in; and depending on the kind of pest, there are a couple different ways to naturally get rid of them.
Fruit Flies:
Fruit flies, common enough, can usually be eliminated by vinegar traps; simply fill a bottle, jar or plastic baggie with a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a piece of old fruit or meat; make a paper funnel with the big end outside and the smallest end taped inside the bottle/jar/etc. Flies come in but they can’t get out. Using the baggie means you have the option of taking it outside, opening it up and releasing the fruit flies instead of killing them.
Ants:
Filling in cracks and keeping a clean kitchen is the best way to deal with ant infestations but if they begin to come around there are a couple things you can do: spray lemon juice around doors or windows where ants appear to be getting in; clean counters and floors with a bit of vinegar; or, you can use borax, cornmeal or grits sprinkled around the floor and counters to kill off whatever still remains.
Mice & Rats:
Rodents are a bigger problem in terms of comfortable infestation but there are some green ways for handling those as well. Again, cover and fill any holes where you think mice or rats might be getting in: steel wool and fabric softener works great. You can also place a couple drops of peppermint extract or mothballs around those holes, which will help ward them off. If they’re still getting in, you can invest in some humane traps which will trap the animal and allow you to release him into a neighboring park or forest.
Once again I would like to thank Karen for not only pitching this idea but hopefully for giving you some “tips and techniques, that you should be able to keep a clean and natural home that’s safe for yourself, pests and the environment.” For more ideas you might want to check out our “pesky critter” series; Snakes & Scorpions / Mosquito’s / Mice, Squirrels, & Racoons / Spiders. Of course in some cases no matter how much you do, it might not be enough so it becomes not only worthwhile but safer to call in a company like the one she works for.
