Summer’s War on Pests
Shannon King, CharityDirector
It’s summer in the US and the ants have invaded! For the most part, I always give my best effort to relocate any little invaders back outside but that doesn’t always work and I need to reach for pest control. I don’t like to use store bought poisons if I can mad scientist my way into something from my cupboard. It isn’t necessary to spend a chuck of change on harsh chemicals and poisons. There are many many great ideas online for cheap and natural homemade pest control.
*As always, if you have pets or smaller children always keep things out of reach and do your research to make sure its safe. Many of the recipes below contain borax, a natural mineral that can be bought in the laundry section, which is something to keep out of reach of your kids and pets. In larger amounts it can cause kidney problems. No one wants an unfortunate and avoidable accident. Simply place these brews where your pets or curious little hands won’t grab them like under or between the refrigerator or stove or at the back of the cupboard under the sink.
Ants *worker ants eat liquids but the queen and her larvae eat solids.
- Mix 1/4C confectioners sugar + 1 Tbsp borax: sprinkle in kitchens and bathrooms
- This can also be used as a household cleaner. Mason jar + orange peels + cinnamon sticks + distilled white vinegar. Place in a cool dark place for two weeks then strain add to a spray bottle. If you want a stronger scent for cleaning you may add a few drops of cinnamon oil to your spray bottle.
- This is a dry and wet combonation. Dry: mix borax and confectoners sugar in a 1:3 ratio, 1/4C borax + 3/4C sugar. Wet: 1/4C borax + 3/4C honey or maple syrup. With a spoon, drop a glob of the wet mixture in the ant trail. Sprinkle the dry mix on the trail also. If using in your garden place on a plastic lid so your plants arent effected.
- Mix 2Tbsp borax + jam, jelly, sugar, or syrup into a paste. Place on a paper plate or naping and place where the ants are.
- Make a paste with 2tsp cornstarch + 1tsp honey. Ants love the honey but can’t digest the cornstarch.
Bedbugs
- 1tsp peppermint oil + 1tsp rosemary oil + 2C water: spray on matress and floor surrounding the bed
Chiggers
- lavender, or lemongrass: Mix 2 ½ tsp of essentila oil with 1C of grain alcohol (like vodka) in a spray bottle.
Fleas & Ticks
- lavender, lemon grass, rosemary: Mix 2 ½ tsp of essentila oil with 1C of grain alcohol (like vodka) in a spray bottle.
- Vaccume carpets well before beginning. Sprinkle borax on your carpet and work it into the fabris with a hand broom. Let sit for as long as possible up to 36 hours then vaccum. Keep pets and children out of the room until its cleaned up to keep them from breathing in the borax.
Flies
- geranium, lavender, or lemon grass: Mix 2 ½ tsp of essentila oil with 1C of grain alcohol (like vodka) in a spray bottle.
- Fly trap: in a mason jar mix 2C apple cider vinegar with 1Tbsp dish soap. Cover the jar with plastic wrap and poke holes in the plastic with a tooth pick.
Mice
- Sprinkle borax where children and pets will not get to it.
- Cloves +eucalyptus leaves + clover blossums: Add ingredients to a sacht and hang from the ceiling.
Mosquitoes
- citronela, geranium, lemon eucalyptus, lemon grass, or lavender: Mix 2 ½ tsp of essentila oil with 1C of grain alcohol (like vodka) in a spray bottle.
Roaches
- 2tsp tea tree oil + 2C water: spray in kitchens and bathrooms
- Boil 1 dozen eggs and discard the whites. Mix yolks with 2.5oz borax. Next add ½ – 1C sugar until the mix is not crumbly but doey. Place yolk bombs around your home where pets and children won’t get into them.
