Getting rid of bugs and pests from your home can get tricky, and with the slew of different (often toxic) products needed, it can be pricy as well. Thanks to this brilliant infographic brought to you by Visually and PartSelect, we have every DIY pest control hack we'll ever need.
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It all starts with prevention. Most of us wait until we already have a pest problem to do anything, but that's a mistake. The easiest thing to do is to keep food crumbs off the counter and store all food away in properly sealed containers. Eliminating odors from food and fixing leaky faucets are also key. Wash out juice and milk jugs before throwing them away. To rinse out your drains, pour a 1/2 cup baking soda and a 1/2 cup vinegar down the drain before washing it all away with hot water five minutes later.
There are a number of essential oils that can help control specific bugs. You can mix 2 1/2 teaspoons of the appropriate oil with a cup of vodka to mist your home with. Lemon eucalyptus and citronella essential oils will deter mosquitos, peppermint works with spiders and ants, rosemary works with fleas and ticks and patchouli helps get rid of those pesky gnats.
Ants are one of the biggest issues homeowners deal with in the spring and summer. Another alternative to get rid of them is sprinkling coffee grounds around doors and windows. You can also make your own homemade ant traps pretty easily by pouring 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup of sugar water into a small jar that has a lid. Poke holes in the lid and watch the ants be drawn into it.
You can also plant horsemint, marigolds and citronella around your house since they are natural insect-repellants. Here's another strange one you may not have heard before: Catnip spread around your flower beds will also help keep bugs at bay.
DIY bug repellants are just as simple to make yourself. One easy mixture is to choose the essential oil that correlates with the bug you're trying to repel (see below) and put about 30-50 drops in a spray bottle. Add in 4 ounces of water and 3 ounces of witch hazel. Voila! An all-natural insect repellant without all of those toxic chemicals.
Check out the infographic below for more DIY details about essential oils, repellent mixtures and ways to guard your home from all those unwanted pests.
