HEALTH LIFE

Natural Insect Repellents That Anyone Can Make

7 min read
Natural Insect Repellents That Anyone Can Make

Insects are a natural part of our lives.

But just because they’re necessary for the balance of our planet doesn’t mean we want a lot of them in our homes. One or two pests might go unnoticed, but when there are more than you can handle, it’s time to take action.

There are a wealth of pesticides available on the market to deal with insect issues, but if you have children and pets these toxic substances might do more harm than good. That’s why it’s useful to have a few natural tricks up your sleeve for getting rid of pesky bugs, like these!

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Cockroaches

There’s nothing more disgusting than seeing a cockroach making it’s way across your floors or counters, and after you’ve squished the first one there’s always that sick feeling that more are probably out there. Well the safest first defence against cockroaches is to keep a very clean kitchen and bathroom. If this isn’t working, try some of these:

  • Vacuum the entire place well and wash all the floors and counters with a strong natural soap. Make sure after you vacuum that you dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed container.
  • If you don’t have a cat you’ll find that catnip is a natural cockroach repellent. The active ingredient in catnip is nepetalacton, a non-toxic substance to people and pets that works effectively against roaches. You can leave little bags of catnip in areas of cockroach activity, or you can simmer the catnip in a small amount of water and make a ‘tea’ that can be sprayed around your home.
Natural Insect Repellents
via www.organicfacts.net
  • Get a spray bottle, fill it with soapy water, and keep it somewhere close by. Spraying a roach directly with soapy water will kill them.
  • Sprinkle diatomaceous earth in areas where you know roaches hide out or collect. This type of material, although harmless to people, leaves tiny cuts in the exoskeleton of roaches and kills them within 48 hours. Don’t be surprised if you see more roaches after putting the diatomaceous earth out though as the small cuts dehydrate the roaches making them search more for water.

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About Author

Oceana Setaysha

Senior Writer A passionate writer since her early school days, Oceana has graduated from writing nonsense stories to crafting engaging content for...Read Morean online audience. She enjoys the flexibility to write about topics from lifestyle, to travel, to family. Although not currently fulfilling the job of parent, her eight nieces and nephews keep her, and her reluctant partner, practiced and on their toes. Oceana holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Writing and Indonesian, and has used her interest in languages to create a career online. She's also the resident blonde at BarefootBeachBlonde.com, where she shares her, slightly dented, wisdom on photography, relationships, travel, and the quirks of a creative lifestyle. Read Less

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