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Our homes not only house our loved ones but can also be a breeding ground for pests. Flies, mosquitoes, wasps, cockroaches, and whatnot – all of whom are huge health hazards. Not to forget, the amount of pain and discomfort they cause when they bite, especially the little ones. With growing cases of dengue, malaria, encephalitis, etc., it becomes all the more imperative to curb their presence in our homes. However, using chemicals to drive them off is equally hazardous to health. So, if you too are concerned about the use of chemical insect repellents, then worry not. For, we give you here a list of home remedies that you can try to keep your home free of pests. Here goes:
1. Eucalyptus Oil And Tea Tree
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Take a glass-full of water and mix it with a few drops of tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil. Put this in a spray bottle and shake well. Then spray this mixture inside your house, especially in the nooks and corners where insects hide.
Another way is to put a few drops of eucalyptus oil in a jug of warm water and use this to wipe your furniture, doors, and window panes. Insects cannot bear the smell of these oils. If you use them this way regularly, the pests in your house might reduce soon.
2. Citrus Oils
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Essential oils like orange have a strong smell that can easily be effective when trying to repel insects. Mix this with concentrated lemon juice and you have a potent and effective natural insect repellent. To make a spray, mix a few drops of orange essential oil and lemon juice with some liquid dish wash in a glass of slightly warm water. Shake it well in a spray bottle and spray it around in your home. That should do the trick.
3. Cinnamon Sticks
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This spice not only adds a dash of flavor to your favorite dishes but can also come in handy in driving away pests. Keep a few cinnamon sticks in the corners of your cupboard or bookshelves. You can also pound them and make a rough powder which you can then put on the window sills to prevent the entry of insects. What’s great is that your clothes/books will end up smelling pleasant too.
4. Mint Leaves
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Mint is regularly used in all households for cooking. But it is a great natural insect repellent too. Take some dry mint leaves and line them across the corners of your house or at the doorstep to keep ants, houseflies and other insects at bay. You can also keep some mint plants around your home and even in the kitchen to prevent the entry of pests.
5. Turmeric Powder
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Another common kitchen essential, turmeric is very effective in keeping insects, especially ants out of your home. If you don’t mind the yellow color in the house, then sprinkle some turmeric powder in areas which are normally infested by ants. However, once the ants leave, you can brush away the powder. Use again if the infestation recurs.
6. Garlic
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Garlic is an important ingredient in most Indian, Chinese and even Italian dishes due to its unique flavor. However, when its pungent smell can drive away any person then what are insects in comparison! Cockroaches especially abhor the smell of garlic. Sprinkle some garlic powder around places often infested by cockroaches. You can also keep garlic cloves in areas like bookshelves. However, make sure you replace the powder on a monthly basis and the dry garlic cloves with fresh ones.
7. Garden Plants/Grass
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Some garden plants like marigold and rosemary are known to repel insects, especially mosquitoes. Citronella grass is also believed to be effective in driving away those creepies. So, try and plant these in your house. Not only will they improve the aesthetic of your home, but will also keep your home insect-free.
We hope these natural remedies help you in getting rid of those insects which infest your home. Have you too tried some natural hacks to get rid of them and found it helpful? If yes, then please share them with our readers in the comments section below.
