Natural Pest Control

Insect pests are a part of every home. Ants, dust mites, fleas, mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches and wasps inhabit our air, carpet, counters and cupboards. Every homeowner wrestles with how to best get rid of these tiny, often undetected trespassers.

Pesticides are available for the elimination of most common household insect pests. Unfortunately, more often than not, these powerful chemical pesticides may be more harmful to you and the environment than to the pests. Luckily, there are some natural, non-toxic ways to control household insect pests.

Natural pest control offers safer and less costly options for the removal of household pests. The growing concerns over health and environmental problems continue to fuel the interest in alternative methods for pesticide-free pest control. These methods range from home-made remedies to professional pesticide alternatives that are currently being used by several national pest control providers.

Only a few smaller natural pest control companies operate around the country, but the demand from consumers is creating an upswing in this market. Professional and residential users may wonder whether natural pest control methods actually work. As with any pest control product, there are certain solutions that maximize the control of specific types of pests. When dealing with ants, first remove the pest attractants. Get rid of crumbs and sticky spots from countertops. Keep sugar covered and put things like honey and syrup in a tightly sealed plastic bag. Cut off any water sources such as drips or dishes left soaking overnight.

If the ant intruders persist, try these simple tricks: Spray the ants with a bit of soapy water. Set out cucumber peels or slices in the kitchen or at the ants' point of entry. Many ants have a natural aversion to cucumber. Bitter cucumbers work best.

Other natural substances ants won’t cross include cayenne pepper, citrus oil (soaked into a piece of string), lemon juice, cinnamon, and coffee grounds. Then, try mixing a half teaspoon each of honey, borax and aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet, etc.), in small bottles. Place the bottles on their sides, with the lids off, in areas with the most ant activity. Ants will carry the bait back to their colonies. Use this method indoors only. The solution must be kept away from pets and children.

Finally, leave a small, low wattage night light on for a few nights in the area of most ant activity. The change in light can interrupt and deter their scavenging patterns. If you have ants outdoors on the deck, you can slip a few cut up cloves of garlic between the wood planks.

Part 2: More on Natural Insect Control

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