Easy & Natural Pest Control Methods

Pest Control That Works in the Winter

We share some easy and natural pest control methods that can make your life easier this winter. t’s cold outside, and your home is warm. A great combination for pests moving into your house once the weather turns rainy, snowy, or cold. Pests are seeking a dry place and food, what better place than your home, stocked with all sorts of food and a warm and dry place to be. Unfortunately, it’s not too convenient for the humans that live in the home since the holidays seem to usher in new house guests in the way of ants to mice, and more!

Ridding Your Home of Pests Naturally

The last thing you want when you are prepping for the holidays is a home invasion of pests, which seem to turn up at the most inopportune times. Warm indoor temperatures bring pests into the air, carpet, counters, cupboards, closets, and more! How do you naturally rid your home’s interior of ants, fleas, flies, and mice?

Ants-Where Did They Come From?

You go out to get your morning coffee, and suddenly you are greeted by crawling friends all over your countertop, not the way to start your morning. The first defense for ants is to remove everything that could attract them. Keep your counters free of crumbs and sticky spots.  That’s easier said than done if you have children! Cover your sugar and put your honey bear in a plastic bag. Cut off water drips or soaking your dishes overnight-both which attract thirsty ants.

If these simple measures don’t keep ants away, try these simple remedies:

• Soapy Water-keep a spray bottle filled with soapy water and spray ant trails.
• Cucumber Peel-leave cucumber peels or slices in the kitchen where you have detected the ants’ entry points. Ants don’t like cucumbers.
• Peppermint-soak a paper towel or cotton ball with peppermint oil, or use crushed peppermint leaves and place them at the ant’s entry points.
• Natural Ant Repellants-Cayenne pepper, citrus oil, lemon juice, cinnamon, or coffee grounds.
• Diatomaceous Earth-for long-term ant control, sprinkle diatomaceous earth in places where ants tend to frequent.

Flea Population Increasing?

Fleas usually come into our homes through our pets. For every flea your pet has, there may be as many as 30 more in the general pet’s area. For flea problems in your home, the best line of defense is a two-prong attack; put an electric flea trap in the area that your pets frequent the most and use non-toxic flea and tick preparations on your pets.

If you find you are experiencing a flea invasion, here are some simple tips:

• Electronic flea taps-these are available on Amazon and your local pet store and keep fleas away.
• Shampoo-Shampoo your pets regularly with non-toxic flea deterrent shampoo.
• Citrus Oil-make a citrus oil potion with lemons and skin in boiling water, let soak overnight, and then sponge the mixture on your dog and wash off. Not to be used on cats.
• Pet Food Supplements– add brewer’s yeast and garlic, or apple cider vinegar to your pet’s food, just no raw garlic for cats.
• Diatomaceous Earth-if you find your home invaded, wash every pet bed and then sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth on pet beds, and all floor coverings, leave for at least 48 hours- 1 week, and then vacuum up the dead fleas.

Got Compost Container-Have Fruit Flies?

Many of us compost for our gardens, but when the weather turns cold and the house is warm, it’s a perfect environment for the breeding of fruit flies. Here are some simple solutions:

• Plastic Bag– Use a new plastic bag to line your counter compost container.
• Bleach-rinse your compost container out with a bleach solution each time you take the contents to the garden.
• Red Wine: Create a fruit fly trap with an old Mason jar, punch a few holes in the lid, and fill halfway with red wine. They will fly into the trap and not be able to get out.
• Peppermint Oil-make up a solution of peppermint oil and water. Spray the inside of your compost container each time you add items, and spray the area where fruit flies are congregated with the same mixture.

Where Did the Mice Come From?

The weather has gotten cold, and suddenly you hear the pitter-patter of small feet during the night. Welcome to winter, especially if you live out in the country and your home has fields around it. Mice can seem to show up anywhere, and they can get through the smallest spaces.

• Cats-Borrow a neighbor’s cat or get a cat as a natural mouse deterrent.
• Peppermint Oil-Spray on a cotton ball and place at mouse entry points.
• Plumber’s Foam-Use this to plug up holes in sheetrock and make the space smaller around your dryer vent.
• Instant Potatoes-The mice will eat them, and they will expand in their stomach, killing them, sad, but it does work.
• Have-a-Heart Trap-Catch your mice and re-home them at least a couple of miles away from your home.
• Used Kitty Litter-Place at points of entry, mice think a cat’s around and will stay away.
• Steel Wool-Stick this in cracks and crevices that mice have used as an entry point.

We hope you have a pest-free holiday season. If you are looking for great gifts for anyone who is a DIY builder, be sure to take a look at all the products on Shed Windows and More. A Shed Windows and More Gift Certificate for building supplies is always a winner!