Often we have to deal with pests like house flies, mosquitoes, bed bugs, cockroaches, and ants. If you prefer dealing with then naturally, it can be a challenge. The truth is that you truly don’t need harsh chemicals to tackle these invaders. Essential oils offer a natural and effective alternative for managing them. Here’s a guide of natural ways to get rid of bugs in your home.
House Flies
Essential oils to chase house flies away
- Bug Shield Blend: This one has been developed and tested to help keep flies away. We suggest that you put out small bowls of course salt each with 3 drops of Bug Shield in. Place the bowls around your kitchen and home area. You can also mix 15 drops of Bug Shield in a spray bottle with half water and half vodka and give the house a sprits over every 2 hours or so. Natural remedies do need to be applied or used often.
- Peppermint Oil: Its strong aroma repels flies. Mix 20 drops with water in a spray bottle and apply it around your home.
- Lavender Oil: Diffuse lavender oil or use it in a DIY spray to deter flies
Other natural ways to get rid of flies
- Apple Cider Vinegar Trap: A bowl of apple cider vinegar with a few drops of dish soap attracts and traps flies. You can use a soda bottle, cut off the first 3rd of the bottle, turn it upside down and insert it upside down into the bottom part of the bottle. Add the mixture to the bottle. The flies will fly in and get trapped. Use this in your kitchen around the sink area where flies tend to go if there is food left there.
Mosquitoes
Essential oils to keep mosquitoes away
- Bug Shield also helps to keep mosquitoes away. The thing with mozzies is that they bother you at night when you’re trying to sleep. We suggest adding 3 drops to your diffuser and ensuring that it has enough water to run throughout the entire night. Should you get a bite, just use our Baby-zzz oil to smooth over the itchiness and you’ll see that bite disappear within the day.
- Bug Shield lotion can also be used after baths as a body lotion – it will help keep the mozzies away. You can also use the Bug Shield Spray to spray on bedding and in the room as an extra precaution.
- Citronella Oil: Known for its mosquito-repelling properties, citronella can be used in candles or diffused in your home
- Eucalyptus Oil: Mix with a carrier oil and apply to skin at night to avoid bites or use in a diffuser to keep mosquitoes at bay
Other natural ways to get rid of mosquitoes
- Lemon and Lavender Spray: Combine lemon juice and lavender essential oil in a spray bottle for a natural repellent
- Since they are mainly out in the summer times – just switch on the fan in the room to keep them away from your ears. They tend to be unable to fly in the areas where the wind blows – so make sure it blows over you but not too strong to avoid drying out your mucus membranes.
Natural ways to get rid of bugs – especially Bed Bugs
Essential oils to keep bed bugs away
- Tea Tree Oil: Effective for killing bed bugs, mix with water and spray on affected areas
- Bug Shield Spray is also effective for this. Spray over your matrasses and linen – it smells wonderful but will also help keep those bed bugs away. Remember to clean those mattresses every quarter with bicarb.
Other natural ways to get rid of bed bugs
- Heat Treatment: Wash bedding and clothing in hot water and dry on high heat to kill bed bugs
- Treat your mattress every so often by laying it out in a sunspot and dusting it with Bicarbonate of Soda. Vacuum it off after 2 hours and turn to do the other side. Take it in and spray the one side with Bug Shield Spray then the other side and cover with your freshly heat treated bedding.
Cockroaches
Essential oils to keep cockroaches away
- Rosemary Oil: Cockroaches dislike rosemary. Mix it with water and spray in problem areas
- Peppermint & Neem Oil: In a spray bottle add 20 drops Peppermint (you can add Rosemary as well if you’d like – 10 drops) and 50ml Neem Oil. Then add 50% water and 50% Vinegar. Shake well and spray in problem areas.
Other natural ways to get rid of bed bugs
- Boric Acid: Sprinkle in areas where cockroaches are active. It is effective in killing them when ingested
Natural ways to get rid of bugs – Ants
Essential oils to keep ants away
- Cinnamon Oil: Ants dislike cinnamon. Sprinkle ground cinnamon or use cinnamon oil around entry points
- Cedarwood: It disturbs their pheromone trails and will cause them to scatter or become confused.
- Tea Tree Oil: Mix with water and spray around ant trails to disrupt their path
- You can do a spray mix by adding 10 drops of each Cinnamon Bark, Tea Tree, Cedarwood and Peppermint to 50% water and 50% vinegar. Spray often
Other natural ways to get rid of bed bugs
- Vinegar and Lemon Juice: A mixture of vinegar and lemon juice can disrupt ant trails and deter them.
If you use these natural ways to get rid of bugs you will find that over time they would avoid entering the home because remedies are effective. Sometimes we do deal with pests that are just too invasive and these might call for more serious approaches.