Bye-Bye Bugs: Get Rid of Pesky House Pests With These Tricks

Imagine this: You’re sitting on your sofa, watching Netflix and sipping on a hot cup of tea. Then, you spot them. Tiny little critters dashing and scrambling around your floors, plants, kitchen cabinets, and so on.

Day ruined. Or, is it?

There are some common tricks to get rid of pesky house pests all without calling pest control. We’ll highlight certain pesky insects, and then the best way to get rid of them once and for all.

• Bed Bugs? Sprinkle Them With Baking Soda

  Not only are bed bugs incredibly irritating, they are one of the more harmful bugs out there. They infest your mattress and leave you struggling with itchy and swollen bumps the next day. So, what’s the trick? Sprinkle them with baking soda. Being a hygroscopic substance, baking soda is able to absorb and attract water from nearby surroundings. This pulls the moisture from bed bugs, killing them.

  Generously sprinkle the area with baking soda. Let sit for an hour, and then vacuum. Repeat this process as much as needed until all bed bugs have been taken care of.

• Flies? Get Them with the Apple Cider Vinegar Trap

  Spreaders of salmonella, E.coli, and food poisoning – flies can be a menace when inside your home! We have the trick for you. Pour half a cup of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap into a jar. Mix the solution and seal the jar with plastic wrap and a rubber band. Finally, poke holes into the plastic wrap and move the jar to a secluded part of your kitchen (or wherever the infestation is).

  Wait an hour, and voila. This trick can work with both fruit and houseflies.

• Cockroaches? Dash to the Store and Buy Some Catnip

  Cockroaches don’t bite, but they can definitely cause a fright when they dash across your floors unexpectedly. Their hard shells and waste are also known to cause allergies and aggravate asthma. Cockroaches hate the strong smell of oil that the catnip plant produces while cats love it. Place fresh catnip or cotton balls drenched with nepetalactone oil on them in spots where you’ve recently spotted cockroaches. They’ll be dashing out of your home in no time.

  Can’t find catnip? Mint and peppermint oils can do the trick as well.

• Fleas? Save Your Pets with a Rosemary Spray

  Have you seen your pets scratching and itching recently? Fleas might be the culprit and you should act fast. Luckily, you probably already have rosemary in your cabinets. Both dried and fresh rosemary have aromas that fleas detest – making them an excellent natural flea repellent that’s safe for your pets.

  To make the rosemary spray, start by boiling 1 pint of water. Toss in one teaspoon of dried rosemary or one tablespoon of fresh rosemary. Turn the heat off, place a lid on the pot and allow the mixture to simmer. After simmering for 10 minutes, strain the herb. Let the mixture cool down until room temperature and pour it into a spray bottle.

  It’s important to bathe your pet after spraying them with rosemary since it isn’t a preferred smell for them. It is safe for most pets.