foo 2008-11-20 15:05
Indoor pests
[img]http://www.sitagita.com/artimages/71moth.gif[/img] Dealing with pests is a daunting task for anyone. Everytime you seem to eliminate the problem, they come back with the usual familiarity and begin their systematic destruction. Insecticides cost a fortune, but here are some home-made ways to combat these tiny intruders.
Ants
Vinegar Use a mixture of vinegar and water to deter ant infestations. Use the mixture to wash countertops, cabinets, and floors.
Flour and Borax Mix one-cup flour and two cups of borax in a quart jar and punch holes on the lid. Sprinkle it around the house. Keep it away from children and pets.
Use powdered charcoal or lemon Set up barriers where ants are entering. They will generally not cross lines of bone meal or powdered charcoal. If ants enter your house through a hole, squeeze the juice of a lemon in the hole or crack. Then slice the lemon and put the peeling all around the entrance.
Grow Spearmint, Southernwood, and Tansy around the border of your home. These plants will deter ants and the aphids they carry.
Fleas
After vacuuming, remove the bag, seal it, and dispose it immediately outside your home.
Add Vinegar to a quart of water. It helps to keep your pets free of fleas and ticks.
Spread leaves or shavings of Fennel, Rosemary, Red Ceder Shavings, Sassafras, Eucalyptus, or Penny Royal under and around the pet’s bed.
Flies
Prevention: Keep kitchen garbage tightly closed. Sprinkle dry soap or borax into garbage cans after they’ve been washed and allowed to dry; it acts as a repellent.
Scratch the skin of an orange and leave it out; the citrus acts as a repellent.
Hang clusters of cloves in cupboards to repel flies.
Plant Mint around the house. Or a pot of basil set on the windowsill or table helps to repel fleas. Keep basil well-watered from the bottom so that it produces a stronger scent
Make your own fly paper by boiling sugar, corn syrup, and water together. Place the mixture on a brown paper bag and hang or set out.
Mosquitoes
Prevention: Encourage natural predators such as dragonflies or praying mantises to cohabit in your house.
Eliminate pools of stagnant water around your neighbourhood. Avoid wearing perfume, bright colours, flowery prints and bright jewellery as these items attract mosquitoes.
Burn Citronella candles to repel insects.
Plant tansy or basil around the patio and house to repel mosquitoes.
Moths
Prevention: Store items in a clean condition; moth larvae especially like areas soiled with food stains. [img]http://www.sitagita.com/artimages/71cockroach.gif[/img]
Mix a little of Rosemary and Mint with Thyme and Ginseng (optional) and two tablespoon of Cloves. Mix and put in cheesecloth bags and place in closets or drawers.
Make sachets of dried Lavender or equal portions of Rosemary and Mint. Place in closets, drawers, or closed containers.
Mix handfuls of Rosemary, Sage and Mint. Add a little Lemon peel and a pinch of Cinnamon. Place in muslin bags.
To trap moths, mix 1 part of Molasses with 2 parts of Vinegar and place in a yellow container to attract moths.
Place your unused clothes in the sun to kill the larvae.
Roaches
Prevention: Close all gaps around pipes, drains and electric lines inside the house. Seal food tightly and rinse dishes that have leftovers overnight. Do not leave pet food out at night.
Cut hedge apples in half and place them in the places where roaches frequent.
Mix two tablespoons flour, four tablespoons borax, and a tablespoon cocoa. Set the mixture in dishes. Take care to keep your kids and pets away from this mixture
Mix ? cup borax and ? cup flour and fill a glass jar. Punch small holes in the jar lid and sprinkle it where roaches frequent.
Mix equal parts of Oatmeal, Flour, and Plaster of Paris and set in dishes. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Mix equal parts of Baking Soda and Powdered Sugar and spread around infested area.