Introduction

During the hotter months, you’ll start noticing the bugs proliferating. Ants, flies, mosquitoes, fleas, and cockroaches can be attracted to our homes as a source of food and as breeding grounds. While in most cases they won’t pose a hygiene problem, they’re likely to be disruptive and annoying.

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The good news is nontoxic, natural strategies are available. Of course, if you have a serious infestation problem, it’s best to call in pest control services. However, if you just want to keep the bugs out, then these natural, non-toxic solutions will probably be more than enough to ensure your home stays comfortable, livable, and free of bugs.

1. Install retractable insect screens

Insect activity increases during the warm months, when the hot weather supports their feeding, body temperature regulation, and breeding patterns. For many, this isn’t great as summer’s the time when we most like to let some cooling air into the home as night falls.

An excellent solution is to install retractable insect fly screens. These barriers prevent bugs from entering while allowing you to circulate fresh air into your interiors. Moreover, you’ll be able to enjoy some natural light along with unobstructed views.

2. Natural deterrents and sprays

Generally speaking, cockroads, ants, and flies aren’t a serious threat to your health. However, they can be a serious nuisance. As such, it’s probably a good idea to have a few natural deterrents and sprays on hand.

Deterring ants and cockroaches

• Ants and cockroaches don’t like the scent of cucumbers. Place cucumber slices around any points of entry, like cracks in and around your kitchen. The more bitter the cucumber, the better. A spray with soap and water will also deter ants, as can crushed mint leaves or mint tea bags. Clean affected areas with white vinegar to get rid of the scent trails ants rely on.

Eliminating cockroaches

• Experts suggest it’s best to avoid killing any insect unless absolutely necessary, as they play a vital role in our ecosystems. However, if you have a serious cockroach issue, diatomaceous earth offers a natural solution for killing bugs, by dehydrating them. Sprinkle over areas where you see cockroaches. A soap water spray will also kill cockroaches, as will a mixture of equal quantities boric acid powder, sugar, and cornmeal sprinkled along areas frequented by roaches.

Mosquitoes

• Remove their breeding habitats by eliminating any sources of standing water, like a pond near your house. Mix one part garlic juice and five parts water to make a deterrent spray. Apply neem oil on your skin to deter them, along with aphids, thrips, and white flies. Alternatively, rub the stem of Thai lemongrass on your skin for a similar effect. Planting marigold in your garden is another way to deter mosquitoes.

Flies

• Use sachets of crushed mint around your house to repel them. An alternative is placing cotton clothes infused with a few drops of eucalyptus oil around the house. If you suspect a fly infestation in your drains, flush out with boiling water and bleaching powder. Lavender also repels flies, along with moths, fleas, and mosquitoes. Set sachets of dried lavender around your house or make a spray of 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil in 250ml of water to use around the house.

Bed bugs

• Apply kerosene oil to the corners, any cracks, and in between joints to kill bed bugs. Regularly air out your bedding in full sunlight and/or wash your bed with hot water.

Moths

• Sachets of crushed bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, cloves, eucalyptus leaves, lavender, and peppercorns will repel moths. Hanging dried lemon peels in cheesecloth will also help with repelling moths along with spiders, ants, and mosquitos.

Spiders

• Repel spiders crushed hedge apple placed around the house or a nontoxic, safe spray made of peppermint oil and water. The latter will also repel other pests; for example, ants, mosquitoes, and even mice.

3. Seal up your home

Take a walk around the perimeter of your home and look for any gaps and cracks outside. For instance, you’ll want to seal gaps around doors and windows, and in brick, wood, and cladding.

Check your siding, foundations, and walls for cracks and small openings where bugs can easily get in. Use door sweeps, thresholds, caulking, mortar, cement, and other fillers as appropriate.

4. Make use of Nature

Letting Nature do its work is also an effective strategy. Spiders, especially Huntsmans, in the house will eat cockroaches, flies, ants, and other insects, so leave them be if possible.

Plant fennel, parsley, dill, chives, and elder plants to attract natural predators that eat insects. Tea trees, grevillea, and bottle brushes have flowers that attract insect predators like lady beetles, ladybirds, praying mantises, hoverfly larvae, and spiders.

Plant lavender, basil, tansy, and wormwood in your garden to deter bugs. Introduce a bat box if you have bats in your region; bats are natural predators of insects. Fill up your birdfeeder to encourage other natural predators like warblers and swallows to eat the insects around your property.

5. Remove food sources and breeding spaces

Eliminate food sources like open compost and rotting food. Ensure your garbage is carefully disposed of and use a compost bin, keeping it as far away from your house as possible. Get rid of piles of newspaper, wood, mulch, grass clipping, leaves, and other types of clutter that attract insects and encourage them to breed.

Store food in lidded containers or in the fridge, and wipe up spills and crumbs as soon as possible. Don’t leave used dishes and cutlery lying around; wash these right away. Keep pet food sealed and packed away in the pantry. Food waste in the home should be stored in lidded bins.

Conclusion

From pest control to pollination, the work of insects is a vital contribution to the whole ecosystem. While insects and bugs are crucial parts of the web of life and should be respected as such, you probably don’t want to share your home with them. In the home they can be of significant nuisance, affecting your comfort and quality of life.

Physical barriers like retractable insect fly screens are an excellent measure. Sealing up cracks and gaps is also important. Using natural solutions like oils and plants will also create an effective deterrent against or even eliminate bugs.

In and around the house, deal with food waste and clutter quickly to remove potential sources of food and breeding sites. By using these tips, you should be able to deter the bugs and keep unwanted insects out of your home.