It is summer and the bugs are out in force. Some “bug” us and others “bug” our gardens. With all of us attempting to become green, the bug sprays of the past pose a problem for us as well as our environment. With a little research and Grandma’s old methods, it is possible to do away with the pesky critters with a less toxic approach.

ANTS–Did you know that they hate cucumber peels? It doesn’t kill them, but it will repel them, as will orange or lemon peels. Take peels from either an orange or lemon and add to boiling water, remove from the stove and let soak overnight. Next day place the water into a spray bottle and spray the areas where you have seen the ants. If asking them to leave doesn’t work, try feeding them dry cream of wheat, which is suppose to take care of them permanently.

COCKROACHES–I think that these little critters are the nastiest of all. Living in Arizona for awhile, I have had some experiences with them. We had the ones that were as big as your thumb AND flew. Between the heat and the cockroaches, I was ready to move–and we did! I no longer have to deal with them, but for those of you that do, bay leaves and cayenne pepper deters them. Place them in and around your kitchen. I love my Ivory soap, but I understand that they don’t. Mix a couple of tablespoons of liquid Ivory soap in approximately 1 quart of water and place into a spray bottle–the mixture is suppose to kill the roaches. I have my doubts that anything can kill them. So, give it a try and let me know if it works. They will come up through your drains, so make sure you fit your sink and bathtub drains with screens.

GRASSHOPPERS–These are pesky little creatures that love our gardens. I am content to leave them alone if they leave me alone. But my tomato plants don’t feel the same way. In a spray bottle add a mixture of blended onions and Tabasco sauce in approximately 1 quart of water–straining the mixture before adding it to the water. Let set for a day and then spray this concoction around your garden. I have tried this and it does repel these little guys.

MOSQUITOES–Now we are talking about a host of problems. I am allergic to them and will swell up baseball sized bumps when bitten. They can also carry diseases, so we want to eliminate them from around our homes and be armed when we are outside. Standing water around your house and in your garden is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. There are a number of plants that repel them, such as tomatoes, basil, citronella grass, and eucalyptus. It was suggested that catnip wrapped in gauze repels them–try carrying it with you on a walk. I haven’t tried this one yet, but will this summer. Let me know if it worked for you.

SPIDERS–OK, now we are talking about one of my big fears. I remember my Mother saying that “a spider can’t hurt you, but it can make you hurt yourself getting away from it”. It doesn’t matter how small although the bigger the scarier, I still hate them. I have tried everything to rid my basement of them (without spraying toxic chemicals), until I found sticky pads. I placed a sticky pad in each corner of the basement and I was shocked at the number of spiders visiting my basement weekly. I try to get my husband to toss the old ones (filled with spider carcass), it is too traumatic for me. These won’t work for you if you have nosey pets. Our dog doesn’t go into the basement, so that is the only place I can use them.

FLIES–They are annoying and nasty, but not until my son came home with the story about how a fly eats his food, did I actually become obsessed about keeping them out of my house. Flies can’t eat solid food, so they have to throw up on the food they land on, and their enzymes break down the food so that they can drink it up with their tongues. Now I am thinking–what if they were just in the garbage? I am not great with a fly swatter so I am going to try lavender oil which is suppose to repel them. Cut a sponge into small pieces, add a few drops of lavender oil and sit them around the kitchen.

WEEVILS–They love beans, rice, flour, and grains. I don’t have a problem with them, but for those that do, simply place a dry pepper in the beans and grains and no more weevils.

MICE–Some people think mice are cute, but the sight of one brings on panic and then I am ready to pack my bags and move. This is not realistic, so they will have to be the ones to go. I don’t like killing them, so lets try to keep them from not wanting to visit. I understand that peppermint oil (100% pure essential oil) will keep them away–they don’t like the smell. Place cotton balls soaked in the oil around the baseboards and where they frequent. So far, no mice.

I have family that uses the electronic pest control units in their homes and swear by them. I am not ready to place them in my home until someone can assure me that they are not harmful to my family and pets in any way. So, if there is anyone that can speak to the safety of these units–I am listening!

In the meantime, if you have any suggestions for getting rid of pests, please share your ideas and experiences.

Related posts:

1. Rid Your Home of Roaches with Natural Products Like Boric Acid
2. Lemon Juice—Double Duty
3. Use Your Gift Stash First
4. Getting Rid of Wasps
5. How to Crack Eggs Properly