Nobody likes pests in their home! While there are a large number of professional-grade chemicals you can use to deter pests, these are often toxic and harmful to the environment. Thankfully, there are some eco-friendly solutions that can keep pests out of your home.

Use Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the most versatile household products. It’s eco-friendly, cost-effective, widely available, and most people already have some in their pantries. All insects hate vinegar, so it’s one of the best ways to keep them away. Spray a solution of ¼ cup white vinegar and 2 cups of water on your counter-tops, doors and windows to keep ants, spiders, cockroaches, and other insects out of your home. This mixture works to spray away the trail that ants use to travel between locations. Breaking this trail will cause confusion among their group, prompting them to leave your home. If you don’t like the strong smell of vinegar, you can add a few drops of peppermint oil to this solution to mask the scent.

Block Off Entrance Points

The best way to control pests is to prevent them from entering your home in the first place. Seal up all the possible places that bugs and insects could enter your home. Take a walk around your home to identify any gaps, holes, or cracks around windows, door frames, vents, and piping. Fill these gaps with caulk or non-toxic filler. If your window screens are ripped or broken, replacing them will help block out pests. This strategy is also important for preventing rodents from entering your home. Blocking off entrance points is the best option to keep away mice.

Keep Your Home Clean

Dirty, rotten food attracts a large number of pests—from cockroaches and ants to mice and rats. Keeping your home clean is the best way to remove the temptation from these creepy crawly creatures. Make sure you keep your food waste bagged and safely deposited in the trash bin as soon as possible. Wipe away sticky spills and pick up dropped food immediately. Keep all your food stored in sturdy, air-tight containers that can’t be ripped or chewed open by pests. Maintaining a clean home will go a long way towards repelling pests.

Next time you’re dealing with pests in your home, try these three eco-friendly solutions. Keep your home clean, block off possible entry points, and use a solution of vinegar and water to keep them away in a way that’s safe for them and for the environment.

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