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Helpful predators around the
home include frogs, spiders, ladybugs, praying mantis, and
dragonflies. Keeping these beneficial creatures around can
help you reduce pest populations.
Ants
Vinegar. Wash countertops, cabinets, and floor with equal
pans vinegar and water to deter ant infestations.
Flour and Borax*. Mix 1 cup flour and 2 cups borax in a
quart jar. Punch holes in the jar lid. Sprinkle the
contents around the house foundation. Keep borax out of
the reach of children and pets.
Bonemeal or powdered charcoal or lemon. Set up barriers
where ants are entering. They will generally not cross
lines of bonemeal or powdered charcoal. If you can find a
hole where ants are entering the house, squeeze the juice
of a lemon in the hole or crack. Then slice up the lemon
and put the peeling all around the entrance.
Pennyroyal, Spearmint, Southernwood, and Tansy. Growing
these plants around the border of your home will deter
ants and the aphids they carry.
Fleas
Vacuum. Vacuum, remove the vacuum bag, seal it, and
dispose of it immediately outside your home.
Vinegar. A ratio of 1 teaspoon vinegar to 1 quart water
(per 40 pounds of pet weight) in their drinking water
helps to keep your pets free of fleas and ticks.
Fennel, Rosemary, Red Cedar Shavings*, Sassafras,
Eucalyptus*, or Pennyroyal*. Spread leaves or shavings of
these plants under and around the pet's bed.
Flies
Prevention: Keep kitchen garbage tightly closed. Sprinkle
dry soap or borax into garbage cans after they've been
washed and allowed to dry; it acts as a repellent.
Orange. Scratch the skin of an orange and leave it out;
the citrus acts as a repellent.
Cloves. Hang clusters of cloves to repel flies.
Mint or Basil. Mint planted around the home repels flies.
A pot of basil set on the windowsill or table helps to
repel fleas. Keep basil well-watered from the bottom so
that it produces a stronger scent. Dried ground leaves
left in small bowls or hung in muslin bags are also
effective.
Sugar and Corn Syrup. Make your own fly paper by boiling
sugar, corn syrup, and water together. Place mixture onto
brown paper and hang or set out. |
