Before you purchase bottles of insecticide from the grocery store, try these safe and simple insecticides that can be made at home.
Ants Away
Ants are everywhere and they make for any food or food debris. To keep them away, block up visible holes, then sprinkle dried mint, chili powder and borax where they are coming in.
Keep Cockroaches Out
Cockroach droppings may contaminate your food. To deter cockroaches, try making a a mixture of cocoa powder, borax and flour. You can also combine icing sugar and sodium bicarbonate, or plaster of Paris.
Shoo Them Flies
Bacteria are spread by flies. You can get rid of these pesky insects by using sticky fly paper or a fly swatter. But if your swatting average is pretty low, try this instead: Make bunches of bay, mint, or eucalyptus leaves. You can also crush them and sew into cheesecloth bags with some cloves and a few drops of citrus or eucalyptus oil. Hang them in windows or doorways to discourage flies from coming in.
Moths No More
The destruction that moths cause to fabrics is not a health hazard. But using mothballs may put your health at risk. To solve moth problems put sachets of lavender, camphor, rosemary and peppercorns in drawers and wardrobes that keep woollen clothes. Before packing clothes away, wash them well and then tumble in a drier. You can also press them with a steam iron to kill moth eggs.
Goodbye to Weevil Woes
Weevils thrive and breed in dry and starchy food. To end your weevil woes place a bay leaf in each container of rice, lentils, grains or other dry goods including flour. Just make sure you find the slightest flavor of bay tolerable.
These homemade insecticides are cost-effective, easy to make and generally safe. But make sure you keep them away from children's reach.
