Spring and summer heat brings the bugs out of their winter homes and into your own. The questions begin when we try and figure out what we will use to get that eviction notice across. Using chemicals can be just as gross and harmful as having the pesky critters in your home, so try the natural pest solutions first. 

Ants

Ants find their way into homes looking for a meal to bring back to the rest of the family. Try the following tricks to stop them in their tracks.

Coffee Grounds

The smell of fresh brewed coffee might be the key to waking you up in the morning, but ants are not fans. To keep ants from coming in through windows and doors spread used coffee grounds around the entry points. Replace the used grounds everyday to keep them fresh. Sprinkle coffee grounds outside and in gardens and spray them with water to keep them fresh. The smell will keep them from going any further and they will move along.

Splenda

If you are finding the ant trails on your countertops start by cleaning the area. Cleaning will eliminate the scent trail that the last ant left. After that, sprinkle some Splenda along the areas that they have been traveling. When looking at Splenda at the molecular lever it is extremely similar to that found in insecticides. This is the reason that it works well as an ant killer.

Borax

Borax is safe to use around people and pets, but if an ant ingests it the it’s a different story. When an ant ingests Borax their digestive systems are compromised and they die. Combine 1 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon of Borax, and ½ cup of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, let boil for three minutes, and then let cool. The mixture will thicken as it cools down. Pour the mixture into lids and place in areas that ants have been congregating. The ants will eat the mixture and bring some back to their hills, killing the colony.

Bees and Wasps

Bees and wasps cause lots of problems, especially if there are allergies in the family. Try the following natural tricks to keep bees and wasps from building in places that are not good for us or for them.

Soda Bottle Trap

Cutting a soda bottle in half, turn the top upside down, and place it back inside the bottom. It will create a trap that bees and wasps can get into but not out of. Placing some sugar water or raw meat on the bottom of the bottle will attract the insects and lure them into the bottle. Place these traps through your yard and watch how quickly you notice it work. 

Vinegar Solutions

Combine 6 ounces of vinegar, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, and pour them into cups. Place these cups around the yard and the bugs will die in the solution. They are attracted to the sweet sugar but the vinegar will keep them from flying away.

Spiders

Spiders can bite and cause some dangerous reactions or large bumps.  Try some peppermint oil to keep them away.

Peppermint Oil

We might like having some minty fresh breath, but spiders would disagree because spiders do not like the smell of peppermint. Combine 15 drops of lemon oil, 15 drops of peppermint oil, and 14-16 ounces of water in a spray bottle. Spray the areas that you have been seeing spiders and the places where webs are already formed. The spiders will vacate the areas quickly and stay away from it.

Conclusion

Being outside is nice, but when the outside starts coming inside, the problems begin. Getting rid of these unwanted guests can be resolved with some natural remedies and help keep the outside where it belongs.