eco friendly pest control – Eco Home Ideas

Get Rid Of Pests The Eco-Friendly Way

Now that spring has come and all of the flowers have blossomed in some areas and the grass has grown, be ready for the pest parade. Bugs, ants, caterpillars, spiders, roaches, worms, water bugs, and you name it, the pest is around. Don’t you just hate it when they invade your garden and/or your home? I know I do. Now that you are living the eco-life I think you should go about getting rid of them. No, do not stomp them, or eat them. Find eco-friendlier ways of getting rid of pests.

Here are some ways to get rid of pests the eco-friendly way and I hope you do try them.

Try natural planting. Why? It is more likely to attract pests that are beneficial to your plants instead of pests that will harm them.
Do not be squeamish. Slugs have a bad habit of roaming around and eating everything in sight. Slug it! Pick them up with your own hands and throw them out. You can also just stomp on them as you scream in fear.
Beer traps work well in killing slugs and roaches. Just put small containers full of beer in the ground. The next day you should have some surprises.
Protect your plants, fruits, and veggies with plant netting. They are great for keeping unwanted pests out of your hard work.
Any child would love to have an ant farm. Just make sure the ones you pick from the yard are not the red ones. The last thing you want is too have red ants running loose around the house because little Joe accidently tip the ant farm over.
Scott’s Nature’s Answer Natural Pest Control spray is a natural insecticide and fungicide. You can use is on flowers, fruits, and vegetables. It helps get rid of caterpillars, red spider mites, and black flies. Use is outdoors and indoors.

Add some color to your garden. Plant some wild flowers. Why? They attract bees and bees scare off other pests because they are bee-otches!
Diatomaceous earth can be used on many pests. Keep it handy.
When it comes to spiders…KILL THEM WITH WHATEVER IS NEAR YOU!
Trick those pesky pests. How? Trick them by planting strategically of course. If you are planting cabbages and want to avoid cabbage flies then plant chives or onions next to the cabbage. It will confuse them and you will be cabbage fly free.
Shoe fly don’t bother me! Put mint in small satchels around the house. It will repel the flies.
I especially hate the pests that visit when the lights are off. ROACHES! Spray them with some soapy water. Use Boric acid on the top of your cabinets. Be careful when handling the acid. These tricks also help get rid of ants too.
The eco-friendliest way is to have a clean home that the pests do not want to visit. I recommend not leaving your garden unattended for more than two days.

Now that you know some eco-friendly ways to getting rid of pests please try them. Leave the Raid cans at the store. The smell is deadly to the air and you. So next time you see an insect in the garden try not to scream and try getting rid of it if it needs to be. Remember that some pests are good for your garden like ground beetles, lacewings, butterflies and lady beetles.

8 Non-Toxic Methods to Control Pests

Pest control is an important part of keeping a home safe, clean and comfortable. However, it’s also important to choose natural pest control methods that are safe for our health and the environment since people and pets can be sensitive to the harsh chemicals used in commercial sprays. The following eight suggestions for non-toxic pest control use natural means to effectively repel and eliminate problematic pests.

Power of Mint

Mint is an all-powerful pest repellent that can work in both the home and garden to eradicate unwanted insects. This method can easily be implemented by tossing a few mint tea bags anywhere that pests tend to visit. Mint works well against ants, weevils and can be used as a shampoo to deter lice. Place mint in cupboards, pantries and other kitchen areas to prevent kitchen pests.

Spray Vinegar

Vinegar is also a versatile pest control method that is natural and safe enough to be used around anyone. A spray bottle filled with equal parts of vinegar and water can be used to spray carpets to get rid of fleas. Additionally, vinegar can be used as part of the shampoo to eliminate fleas on pets.

Diatomaceous Earth

This pest control method is a powder consisting of finely ground rock that is formed from fossilized diatoms, a type of algae. Diatomaceous earth is safe and proven to be effective in homes and gardens for eliminating ants, cockroaches, bedbugs, fleas and slugs. It is also easy to use and can be sprinkled in areas of the home that can be hard to reach such as corners and behind furniture.

Borax and Sugar

Borax is a mineral salt that can be mixed with sugar to deter ants and other insects such as cockroaches. This mixture can be dissolved in water to make a solution that can be used to soak cotton balls. Then, the cotton balls can be placed near areas of the home that insects use for access such as windows and beneath doors.

Apply Heat

Many common pests can be destroyed with heat. Bedbugs, dust mites and head lice can be controlled by washing and drying bedding, clothing and other washable fabrics in the hottest water available. Boiling water can also be poured into ant beds to eliminate the pests at their source.

Citrus Control

Citrus scents are a wonderful way to deodorize the home, yet citrus fruits also contain chemical properties that are repelling to pests. Orange peels can be boiled in water to create a solution that can then be used on a dog’s fur to eliminate fleas. This same solution can be sprayed on carpets and upholstery. Spraying lemon juice at the point-of-entry to a home for ants is an effective repellent as the ants will not cross over the lemon.

Soapy Water

Simple soap and water can be used safely in a variety of areas of the home to repel pests. This solution makes an ideal cockroach and ant spray. When placed in a shallow dish, soapy water left on the floor can also trap and kill fleas.

Bait and Trap

There are many effective natural ways to trap pests. A bottle of fruit juice or wine can entice fruit flies and gnats into a container. A basic type of flypaper can be made by covering wax paper in a mixture of corn syrup and sugar. Generally, a combination of repellents and traps will be effective for eliminating most pets.