Pest Control Without the Toxic Chemicals
• Use mint as a fly repellent. Small sachets of crushed mint can be placed around the home to discourage flies.
• Make your own insect repellent by filling a quart jar with some herbs from the mint family--catnip, spearmint, or pennyroyal and cover with apple cider vinegar. Shake twice a day for 2 weeks. Strain the mixture and use by either rubbing it on or spraying it on.
Garlic
• Use garlic juice for an effective natural bug repellent. Mix one part garlic juice with 5 parts water in a small spray bottle. Shake well before using. Spray lightly on exposed body parts for an effective repellent lasting up to 5-6 hours. Strips of cotton cloth can also be dipped in this mixture and hung in areas such as patios, as a localized deterrent.
• On HGTV, Paul James suggested, "Finely chop a dozen garlic cloves into 4 ounces of mineral oil. Soak for a day or 2, strain it and add 4 drops of dishwasher liquid. Dilute with half cup of water and pour into sprayer."
A coffee filter can be used to strain it. It is a bit messy and it smells. Use it on plants to repel insects. Try planting garlic cloves next to each rose bush to repel insects. Old soap and garden spray bottles, well washed, can be used with no harmful residue.
• Slip a few cut up cloves of garlic between the cracks to deter ants on the deck.
• Garlic is good for flea control as well
Essential Oils
Eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, and rosemary are essential oils that have been found to be effective in repelling mosquitoes. Essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin; instead add a few drops to some jojoba oil, which doesn't leave an oily residue on the skin like some of the other oils do.
It is generally believed that natural repellents that use essential oils for protection from insects do not last as long and must be reapplied frequently--sometimes as often as every 15 minutes. A New England Journal of Medicine study showed:
Oil of eucalyptus at 30% concentration prevented mosquito bites for 120.1 minutes (the eucalyptus oil must have a minimum of 70% cineole content, the active therapeutic ingredient.)
Bite Blocker with 2% soybean oil kept bites away for 96.4 minutes.
Citronella, a common alternative to DEET, performed poorly, warding off bugs for only 20 minutes.
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