10 Simple Ways to Get Rid of Crawling Insects in Your Home Using Organic Items

Crawling insects like ants, cockroaches, and spiders can be a nuisance in any home. While chemical insecticides are widely available, they often come with potential health risks for your family and pets, as well as environmental concerns. Thankfully, organic solutions can effectively tackle these pests while keeping your home safe and eco-friendly. Here are some tried-and-true methods for getting rid of crawling insects using organic items.

1. Cleanliness Is Key

Before using any remedies, start with prevention. Crawling insects are attracted to food crumbs, spills, and clutter.

• Sweep and mop regularly: Pay special attention to corners, under furniture, and along baseboards.
• Store food in airtight containers: This prevents ants and cockroaches from accessing their meals.
• Empty trash bins daily: Use bins with tight-fitting lids to block insect access.
• Clean trash bins daily: Ensure you clean your trash bins after emptying them, this keeps insects away from your bins.

2. Vinegar Solution for Ants and Spiders

Vinegar disrupts the pheromone trails that ants follow and acts as a natural deterrent for spiders.

• What to do: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray along doorways, windowsills, and other entry points.
• Bonus tip: Add a few drops of essential oils like peppermint or eucalyptus for a pleasant aroma and added insect-repelling power.

3. Diatomaceous Earth for Crawling Insects

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a fine, natural powder made from fossilized algae. It kills insects by dehydrating their exoskeletons.

• What to do: Sprinkle food-grade DE in areas where you’ve seen insect activity, such as baseboards, under sinks, and around the perimeter of your home.
• Precautions: Use food-grade DE, not the type used for pools, and wear a mask when applying to avoid inhalation.

4. Essential Oil Sprays

Essential oils like tea tree, lavender, and citronella can repel various insects. These oils can be made from home or bought from home stores near your locality.

• Ants and cockroaches: Mix 10 drops of peppermint essential oil with a cup of water and spray it around the home.
• Spiders: Lavender and citrus oils work well. Spray around windows and dark corners.

5. Cucumber, Baking Soda and Sugar for Cockroaches

Cockroaches are drawn to sugar but baking soda is lethal to them when ingested.

• What to do: Mix equal parts of baking soda and sugar and put small amounts of the mixture on top of a slice of cucumber, place in shallow dishes around areas where cockroaches are active.

6. Citrus Peels to Deter Ants and Roaches

Citrus peels, especially orange and lemon, contain natural compounds that repel crawling insects.

• What to do: Rub peels along windowsills, doorways, and countertops. You can also blend peels with water to create a spray.

7. Salt for Fleas and Ants

Salt dehydrates fleas and repels ants.

• What to do: Sprinkle table salt in corners, under rugs, or in cracks where fleas and ants might reside. Leave it for 24 hours before vacuuming.

8. Coffee Grounds for Ants

Ants dislike the strong smell of coffee grounds.

• What to do: Spread used coffee grounds around entry points or areas with ant trails.

9. Homemade Traps with Sticky Tape

For crawling insects like spiders and cockroaches, sticky traps are a safe and chemical-free solution.

• What to do: Place double-sided tape along the edges of walls, near baseboards, and in dark corners to trap insects as they move around.

10. Seal Entry Points

Lastly, block insects from entering your home in the first place.

• What to do: Use caulk or weather stripping to seal cracks, gaps, and holes around doors, windows, and pipes.

Final Thoughts

Using organic items to combat crawling insects not only protects your family’s health but also supports a cleaner, greener environment. Most of these solutions are cost-effective and easy to implement, ensuring a pest-free home without resorting to harsh chemicals.

By maintaining cleanliness and incorporating these organic methods, you’ll create a home that’s inhospitable to unwanted insects while staying safe and sustainable.

Have you tried any of these remedies? Share your experience in the comments below!

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