The Perplexing and Bursting Solutions for Domestic Pest Eradication
Household pests like fleas, ants, and roaches can be a nuisance and pose a threat to the comfort and hygiene of your home. While numerous commercial solutions promise to eliminate these pests, many of these contain harsh chemicals, mandate evacuation from the property for a few days, and leave toxic residue that could harm your pets and children.
Fear not, as there are safe and natural alternatives that use household items and basic hygiene to get rid of fleas, ants, and roaches. Here are twelve remarkable methods to vanquish these pests:
1. Liquid Poison to Fleas: Dishwashing Detergent
Dishwashing detergent can be lethal to fleas. Wash your pet with the detergent to clean its fur and kill any fleas present. Ensure to use a natural formula and test a small area on your pet first as some animals have delicate skin. Secondly, create a flea trap by filling a shallow plate with dishwashing liquid and place a candle in the middle or keep it under a light source. The fleas will be lured by the light and become trapped in the viscous liquid over a period of a week or so.
2. Vacuum and Wash Everything
To get rid of fleas, you must eliminate their eggs and larvae. Devote a day to wash every item in your home that could be harboring fleas, including bedding, bathroom mats, clothes, and soft rugs, paying particular attention to your pet’s favorite blankets and cushions. If the flea infestation is severe, it may be necessary to dispose of your pet’s bed and get a new one, as fleas can lay eggs in both the stuffing and cover of the bed. Subsequently, vacuum your home thoroughly and reach those hard-to-reach spots, as fleas tend to reside in areas with limited sunlight.
3. Salt Your Carpet
A layer of salt will dehydrate and kill fleas living in your carpet. Sprinkle a generous amount of finely ground salt over your entire carpet and leave it for one to two days or as long as possible. Finally, vacuum thoroughly.
4. A Natural Flea Spray
Once you have reduced the initial flea population using the previous steps, create your own natural flea repellent. Neither of these remedies contain harsh chemicals, and they are safe to use around your home. However, exercise caution not to use rosemary oil or powder on your cat as it could have adverse effects.
5. Deter Ants with Household Products
Identify the entry point for ants in your kitchen and spread petroleum jelly, duct tape, or talcum powder across it. You can also wipe away their trails with diluted cinnamon oil, or place ground cinnamon or whole cloves near the entry points. Spraying white vinegar, fresh lemon juice, or diluted peppermint oil on old ant trails can also erase their scent, making it difficult for the colony to continue using the same path. Draw a line with chalk around the entry points as ants are repelled by calcium carbonate. To keep ants away during a picnic, place water-filled containers under each table leg.
6. Bait or Trap Ants
Create a homemade bait by mixing 1 part borax with 3 parts powdered sugar. The sugar will attract the ants, and the borax will poison them. The ants will carry the poison back to the colony and eradicate it. You can also create an ant trap by pouring honey into a shallow dish. The ants will be attracted to the sugar but become stuck and unable to escape.
7. Employ Dishwashing Detergent for Fleas
Dishwashing detergent is the nemesis of fleas, and washing your pet with it can clean their fur while killing any fleas that may be present. When using a natural formula, be sure to test a small area first to make sure it doesn’t cause any skin irritation to your pet. Another approach is to make a flea trap by filling a shallow bowl or plate with dishwashing liquid and placing a candle or light in the middle. Fleas are drawn to light, so they will be trapped in the liquid over time.
8. Wash and Vacuum Extensively
To effectively eliminate fleas, it’s necessary to get rid of their eggs and larvae as well. Spend a day washing everything in your home where fleas might reside, including bedding, bathroom mats, clothes, and soft rugs, with special attention to your pet’s favorite items. If the flea infestation is severe, it may be worth discarding your pet’s bed and getting a new one, as fleas lay their eggs in the stuffing and cover. After washing everything, vacuum your entire house thoroughly, paying special attention to dark and shadowy areas.
9. Salt Your Carpet
A layer of salt can dehydrate and kill fleas living in your carpet. Use finely ground salt and sprinkle a generous layer over your entire carpet, leaving it for one to two days or as long as possible before vacuuming thoroughly.
10. Create a Natural Flea Spray
Once you’ve taken care of the initial flea population using the steps above, you can create your own natural flea repellent using common household items. Neither of these options contain harsh chemicals and are safe to use in the home, but keep in mind that rosemary oil or powder should not be used on cats as it may cause adverse reactions.
11. Deter Ants with Household Products
If you know where ants are entering your kitchen, you can deter them with petroleum jelly, duct tape, talcum powder, or cinnamon oil spread across the entry point. You can also wipe away ant trails with diluted cinnamon oil, or place ground cinnamon or whole cloves near the entry points. Spraying white vinegar, fresh lemon juice, or diluted peppermint oil on old ant trails will remove their chemical scent and prevent the colony from continuing to use that path. You can also use chalk to draw a line around the entry points, as ants are repelled by calcium carbonate. To keep ants away from your picnic table, place a container filled with water under each leg.
12. Use Bait or Traps for Ants
A homemade bait made by mixing 1 part borax with 3 parts powdered sugar can be used to poison ants. The sugar will attract the ants and the borax will kill them, with the ants taking the poison back to the colony to eliminate it. You can also make an ant trap by filling a shallow dish with honey, which will attract the ants but keep them stuck.
13. Find and Eliminate the Ant Nest
Some ants are aggressive and have painful bites, so only destroy the nest if other methods have failed. Pour boiling water into the nest’s entry point, which will flow throughout the tunnels and kill the colony. You can also use a solution of camphor oil
