Instant Potatoes As Non-Toxic Rat BaitMost rat baits are toxic to other animals if they happen to chew or chomp on a dead rat. This is a deadly but non-toxic method to kill rats by using Instant Potato flakes or powder.
Making a Mosquito TrapBecause mosquitoes are attracted to the CO2 we breathe out, I started looking for ideas that used CO2 as the bait for the mosquito trap. I did think of dry ice but it does dissipate fairly quickly.
Roach Control IdeasNo need for expensive, smelly, and toxic cockroach killers that leave a residue. Spray cockroaches with any ammonia-based cleaner (e.g. Spray 'n Wipe). Ammonia is deadly to living things. And you clean your bench/floor at the same time! The ammonia smell dissipates quickly.
Pinesol To Keep Pests AwayKeep a spray bottle of half Pinesol/half water under your sink spray outside garbage cans or anywhere you have a pest problem. Animals like rodents, opossums, raccoons, etc. don't like the smell.
Keep No-See-Ums from BitingI was at my wit's end, allergic to the bites of no-see-ums. I was driven to tears. I am the only one in my house affected by these bugs. I finally found a remedy. I use a mixture of the original Listerine (gold type), witch hazel and tea tree oil.
Fruit Tree Bird Net FrameHubby and I made this frame out of 2 inch plastic irrigation piping attached to metal 'star' pickets. This size pipe fits snuggly on to the ends of the pickets, sliding easily over.
Get Rid of Mice with ExlaxWe owned and operated a seasonal fishing camp/resort out in the bush. Our cabins, lodge and washroom facilities were basic & simple. It was a summer business. In the fall we closed down, and in came the mice, although we lived year round on site with 5 cats!
Prevent Wasps from Making a NestTo keep wasps from setting up a home near your front door or around your home - mix 2-3 tablespoons of Dawn dishsoap and about 2-3 cups of water. Put into a spray bottle, shake and that's it. Spray where they keep coming back to, to make a new nest. This will also kill them and drop them like a hat.
Little Black Bugs in the KitchenI kept sweeping up little black bugs along one baseboard where I keep my cat's dish and water. I changed the location where I kept his place mat because they were in his water. I sprayed the area with ant spray and put down moth balls, which seemed to work. After a while they were back.
Natural Ways To Keep Snails Away From Your GardenIf you grow vegetables in your garden, you need to protect the plants from snails. Snails eat all vegetables, especially greens, such as cabbage, spinach, chard and lettuce. Since they multiply quickly, they can do serious damage.
Olive Oil to Keep Gnats Out Of Your FaceIn the late afternoon, when I mow grass or work outside, gnats love to get in my face. I can't stand it. I read that you can put olive oil on your face and it will keep gnats off your face.
Shine Flashlight on Pipe to Check for Drain FliesDo you have a problem with gnats in the house? They could be breeding in your drains. If you have plastic pipes, you can check your drains by shining a flashlight behind the pipe. It lights up the drain.
Prevent Squirrels and Rats from Climbing Up Fruit TreesAre squirrels or rats bothering your garden especially your fruit trees? Try this free solution out. It has been working for us!
How to Deter Bluebirds From Pooping On Your CarWe love the Eastern bluebird and have several houses for them. Bluebirds are beneficial as they not only are pretty and pleasant to hear, they also eat bugs. We have them around all year long.
DIY Gnat TrapsI have had a problem with gnats in the house and have used vinegar to trap them. Yesterday, I decided to put a bowl of vinegar outside to see how many I could catch. In just a few minutes, they were gathering on the edge of the bowl and drowning in the vinegar. I caught some house flies and yellow jackets as well.
Getting Rid of Mice and RatsEvery year around September, we have an issue with mice and rats. Behind us is a stable so as you know they breed rats and mice. We normally have just a few mice but this year, we had to battle rats. When you have too many rats they move on to munch whatever they can find to eat.
Ultimate Trapping Method for GnatsMy plan was to add information to my existing post on trapping gnats. I decided the information was good enough to warrant a post of its own.
Getting Rid of Mice in Your HomeEarlier in the spring, we heard a rustling in our walls and crawlspace. We started inspecting our home, looking for any entrance holes. Sure enough, we found a nest of garbage and insulation behind some stored tiles with a handy path behind our furnace. The rodents had chewed a hole in the back of the container we stored our dog food in. It was entirely covered from view by the container stacked above.
Catching Fruit Flies In The KitchenI'm sorry people. Call me the oddball. I have tried the classic trap with no success. It consists of pouring an amount of vinegar and a bit of dish detergent in a container and covering the top with perforated cling wrap.
Natural Fly RepellantHere is a way to keep pesky flies and mosquitos away using citrus and cloves. Simply cut the citrus in half and insert the cloves into the lime. The scent keeps them away and it is a natural solution.
Keeping Bugs Out of Sealed ContainersWhen storing goods, like flour or sugar, take a solution of peppermint oil and water and wipe around the top where the lid goes. It will keep the bugs away from trying to get in whatever you are storing. Do this whenever you open the container. I use a few drops of peppermint oil and water and vinager.
Help for Biting BugsPeople, even firewood sitting in a garage can contaminate furniture with microscopic mites - I believe they're everywhere in the outdoors. I got a loveseat from my sister and slept on it, the next morning woke up and had been slimed, covered heat to toe with - nothing I could see, but boy could I feel them.
Prevent Squirrels Digging in Flower GardenSquirrels love to hide their food. In the process of doing this, they tend to bury the food in soft dirt which is usually a newly planted garden.
Solution for Ants in Pet Food BowlsIf you get ants in your pet's food bowls, try this. Set your pet's food bowl in a larger shallow bowl, like a pie pan. Fill half full with water (like a mote ), no more ants. It is simple, but it works. I have been doing this for 40yrs +. I change the mote water every day.
Effective Homemade Treatment for Ant ControlAnts in your home can be effectively killed without any harmful effects to pets or barefoot small children. Prepare a spray bottle with one part water and one part liquid soap (dish washing soap, Mr.Clean, Fabuloso cleaners, etc.) Spray and ants will die on contact.
Vinegar and Soap for GnatsSummer is here and one of the mysteries of the ages, at least to me, is why and how those pesky gnats come up out of my drains and potted plants and drive me bonkers. I place a small bowl of ACV and a squirt of liquid soap onto my kitchen and bathroom counters and also the window sill in my master bedroom bathroom where I have some potted plants. The gnats are attracted by the ACV. Problem solved.
Mosquito Swatter RacketIf you are going camping or have a lot of skeeters where you live, you have to get one of these mosquito rackets! We used to get them inside our house where I used to live and this device ended up being the best thing to take care of them. When you press the button, electricity runs through the racket. All you do is swing at the skeeters and they get electrocuted and die. I know it's a bit harsh but, with mosquitos rap sheet on carrying infectious diseases, I don't feel so bad. ;)
Getting Rid of Bugs in CrawlspaceGet three pounds of food grade diatomaceous earth. Pour it at opening of crawlspace. Put on safety glasses and one of those little white germ masks. Get a leaf blower and blow it all under house. The bugs ingest it when they clean themselves, plus it dries out their exoskeleton which kills them.
How to Deter Swallows from Nesting in Your EavesI had a bunch of swallows trying to nest in a heat wave. I removed the mud during their construction, but it did not deter them from trying to build. I washed down the soffits and removed all trace of the mud they had put there, but they kept on trying to come back. The soffit is thirty feet from the ground so I taped an Old Spice stick deodorant to the end of my extension pole and applied a coat of deodorant to the window ledges and soffits. In less than two minutes the swallows were gone. Not sure how long it will last, but it sure worked well. All for the price of a stick deodorant. The only downside is the smell of Old Spice on my deck now, but it is better than the mess the birds were creating.
Treating Bugs in HairGet an empty bottle, preferrably a spray bottle, and add white vinegar in it with 2 teaspoons of vanilla and 2 tablespoons of alcohol. Keep it by your bed and spray every hour. If you need to do it more often, do that. You will see they will stay away.
Homemade Flea TrapGot fleas? They're no fun! I have no pets but somehow we have fleas inside our home and they're biting me. In any shallow pan/dish (I used a pot saucer) - add some water and mix with dish soap. Place underneath a light source and plants beside. Repeat and spread throughout your house where you may have fleas.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) For Pest ControlI've noticed quite a few posts about insect issues in the home. A great way to control bugs is with Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth. It is not a poison so therefore it is safe and healthy for your pets and family. It works by dehydrating their exoskeleton.
Keep Animals from Eating Your GrapesFor the past several years we didn't get to enjoy our Scuppernong grapes, except the ones we found as they were beginning to get ripe. Starting in August, before the grapes were fully ripe, the raccoons came at night and had a family reunion in our grapevine. They didn't even clean up after themselves.
Getting Rid of Fungus GnatsYea, Yea, we've read all these tips on how to get rid of them and most help but they just don't get rid of all of them. Well, I'm here to tell you a good way of getting rid of them for good and I mean all of them. We had them in our bathroom, kitchen and everywhere. They were driving us CRAZY!
Home Remedy for MosquitoesMix blue mouthwash with epsom salts and spray your yard and decks before your next bbq or pool party (or just sitting on the porch) to keep the mosquitos away
Keep Cats Out of Outdoor PlantersTo keep cats from getting into your outside flower pots or planters, I use wooden shish kabob skewers. Insert with the pointed side up into your outside planters or flower pots and cats will think twice about getting into them again. Simple and it works!
Energy Saving Bug LightsI don't like bug buildup around exterior lighting. In the past years, I've been through many different types of LED lights. This year, I've enjoyed one I found that works great and actually has kept most of the insects away. Not all but most, for so Florida that's big!
Killing Tent CaterpillarsWe had tent caterpillars on our fruit trees. If left alone they will strip all of the leaves off. I put in a small spray bottle 25% water and 75% vegetable oil. You will need to shake it often. I spray the tent and/or caterpillars as I see them.
Ortho Home Defense for Ant ControlSix days ago, I looked and saw a trail of ants crawling up our screened porch and going up under the vinyl siding at the top of the porch. There was a long trail of them that crossed the side of the deck and down the steps. It was time to get out the spray and put a stop to that problem.
Keeping Ants Away from Pet Food BowlsI was getting ants around their food dishes. I read somewhere to put vinegar on cotton balls and place them around the food bowls (under food mat edges, etc.). Bingo no ants and pet safe!
An Ant Remedy Worth RepeatingWith warmer weather here, a lot of us are going through the annual invasion of ants into our homes. Trying different means of eradication helps you find what works best for you.
Draw A Line for Ants with CoffeeIf ants are coming in a particular spot, draw the line - with used coffee grounds. If you put an ant in the corner of a box and then make a line with coffee grounds about an inch or two out, the ant will not cross that coffee ground line. They will die of hunger/thirst in that corner before they cross it.
Preventing Pests Around House FoundationOn a recent visit from our pest company, they mentioned that we really need a plant free border around our house. Plants that touch the side of your house allow bugs to get past the pest spray. We removed almost all of our plants and cut away the grass, creating a 2ft wide border around the house.
Use Coffee Grounds In The GardenThe next time you have coffee grounds, dump them in the garden. They will keep slugs and other pests away.
Tackling a Flea ProblemI have two dogs and a cat. We had a horrible flea problem. And when I say horrible, I mean horrible. I would wake up with fleas all over my legs. Everyone was covered in bites. We had to get rid of the fleas.
Borax and Powdered Sugar for Killing AntsTo kill ants, mix equal parts of borax and powdered sugar with just enough drops of water to make a paste. Place on pieces of cardboard where you see ants. This works both inside and outdoors within hours.
Killing Japanese BeetlesMany parts of the USA have been invaded by the Japanese beetle. While they don't normally kill a tree, they do put it under a lot of stress, prevent fruit trees from bearing fruit, and they make the trees appear ugly.
Bacon Grease Bug KillerLeave a bit of bacon grease out in a bowl where you have an insect problem. They will be attracted to scent, go in, and get trapped in the thickness. I found this out by accident when I left bacon grease out on the counter. We had a flying insect problem... And now we don't! ;)
Cucumber BeetleI thought this little bug was so cute so I whipped out my camera to shoot this photo. After a little research, I found out that all they do is wreak havoc on your plants.
Get Rid of House Flies with a CandleHouse flies can be a great nuisance when you eat or place food on the table during meal time, especially when you are outdoors. A very simple method to get rid of them is to light up a candle near your plates. The heat of the candle irritates them and keep them away from flying around your food.
Rid Your Kitchen Of AntsIf you see ants in your kitchen, it's really pointless to kill them. If you kill 10, they wont be missed by the nest which may contain thousands. You can use these 10+ ants to your advantage.
Keeping Mice And Rats AwayFor many years now, I've had an annual visitor. Never the same one, but always arriving at the same time and always choosing to set up housekeeping in the same area of my home.
Keep Pets out of Flower GardenI've tried many methods to keep my cats from digging up my flower garden in early spring, from cayenne pepper sprinkled in the soil (doesn't work) to adding broken sea shells (also doesn't work).
Dealing with Thousands of AntsDon't waste your money on ANYTHING at popular retail stores, it's not what works. Those cool looking traps are for you, not the ants. Find a store that specializes in pest control. You need to purchase granules. They will get it to the nest and eventually it will get to the queen and kill her.
Bird Repellent CD for your GardenIf you have CDs or DVDs laying around that you no longer use, that are scratched or broken, or received free from somewhere, those discs could actually be useful in your garden to scare of birds!
Keep Deer Out of Your GardenDo you live in the country and have deer eating the plants out of your garden? Sprinkle hair and crush egg shells on your garden. The hair will taste bad to the deer.
Peppers as Squirrel DeterrentMy successful loco pepper experiment, began with a blender jar half filled with loco peppers topped off with water, and well blended = pepper slurry.
Using Terro Ant BaitWe have a quarterly pest service to try to deal with our ant problem. Outdoor spraying has not kept the odorous ants out. We are opposed to spraying inside, so we have always relied on baiting. Our pest service will no longer allow us to only bait indoors under our contract, so we decided to try Terro bait.
Use Dryer to Prevent Bedbug InfestationBedbugs can be in both new and used items, even linens in their original package. Immediately put the items in the dryer for 20 minutes. Heat is what kills the bedbugs.
Body Scent or Cologne for Flying Bug ReliefI live in the country. Summertime brings lots of flying critters, especially tiny gnats and no-seeums to windowsills even though there are screens installed. It struck me that I have acquired many bottles of body sprays and colognes over the years from gift baskets, etc.
Discouraging Carpenter BeesHow to bumout and discourage carpenter bees. Cover their nesting tunnel holes with duct tape. Here's how:
Drown Ants Nesting In Potted PlantsThis is a picture of my sickly Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen). She stays inside with me. She hasn't been doing well, lately. Maybe it's the company she keeps. Somehow, I sorta doubt that.
Natural Cat Litter to Get Rid of Moles and VolesSeveral years ago I had a mole/vole problem in my decorative plant garden and lawn. I use a pine, walnut shell, or other natural cat litter for my cats. These products often have instructions right on the bag to use them once used on inedible plant beds as mulch.
March of the Sugar AntsWe have been battling sugar ants all month long. We started noticing them coming into the house late in February, when the spring rains started. As this is a yearly ritual, I put ant bait in the usual places; on my kitchen windowsill, near the dog's food, under the fridge.
How To Control Ants In Your KitchenWhen I was growing up during the warm summer months my grandma's kitchen would be filled with ants. Each morning we would wake up to ants around the sink, on the counters, and crawling up the cupboards.
Bleach Drains for GnatsI have tried a lot of these tips. Honestly, the best way I have tried was bleach down the drain and the fly traps.
Squeeze Bottle for D.E. ApplicationI found a cheap and easy way for spreading food grade diatomaceous earth. A squeeze bottle makes it easy to dust under leaves and hard to reach places to kill bugs.
Removing a Skunk from a Live TrapI got up early yesterday morning, looked out the window and could see something in the trap I had set for pecan stealing squirrels. It was larger than a squirrel, had a long bushy tail and digging like crazy trying to get out of the cage. I had caught a skunk.
Moth Repellent SachetI folded mine and dropped in a few mothballs and some leftover potpourri, then sewed shut. instant moth-repellent that doesn't smell too bad.
Oil to Keep Ants Out of Hummingbird FeederAfter several years of trying everything possible, I've found that liberally applying vegetable oil all over the shepard's crook and the feeder hanger itself keeps ants away. Nothing toxic, messy, or unsightly, and the ants don't like it!
Getting Rid of Gnats and Fruit FliesGnats and fruit flies love sweet liquids. You don't have to use wine, although they do like it. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid (only about 3) to wine and slowly stir this makes a film on the surface that the bugs get trapped in.
Soapy Water for Wasp RemovalWasps seem to hate warm soapy water. I attached a sprayer to my hose with simple dish soap in it. I applied some several times during the day and have successfully deterred a large nest that was visible and inside my covered porch structure. I was reluctant to use a bunch of wasp spray.
Natural Pest ControlI have a recipe for pest control using essential oils. It smells fabulous and can be applied to your skin, but keep it away from your eyes. It works better than the Avon stuff and is way more natural than chemical sprays.
Vinegar Fruit Fly TrapTo catch fruit flies in the house, I keep apple cider vinegar in a couple of 6 ounce jelly jars placed around the house and accessible all the time. I like the jar idea because the plastic is held in place with a jar band. The container is small and can easily be placed in any area of the house.
Mosquito TrapToday, I made two mosquito traps from soda bottles. I did not have any black construction paper but did have black ground cloth. I cut a piece to cover the bottle and stapled the fabric on the bottom so it would sit flat. This should last longer than paper.
Beer to Attract SlugsSlugs in the garden may be a problem for you. If they are just fill a plastic cup with beer and put it in the ground so that the top of the cup is ground level. The slugs will be attracted and in the morning you will have a cup'o slugs.
Ineffective Trap for Carpenter BeesForget the other tips about building a bird house-like trap with a soda bottle on the bottom, to entrap and kill carpenter bees. I built one, and mounted it right next to the existing bee hole. They buzzed around it and checked it out, but not a single bee ever entered it.
Carpenter Bee TrapA weathered 4x4 is best to make this trap to reduce the number of carpenter bees at your place.
Listerine for Black Biting BugsMy RV has got little, biting black bugs. They are not fleas or ticks, but they bite like them. I ask a pet shop owner what he would do. He suggested that I try the original, yellow Listerine.
Keep Micro Ant Army Out of Your KitchenIt was always one of those dreaded calling cards of Spring; the annual invasion of the Micro Ants, with lines snaking from my window or under sink to the nearest cabinet with anything sweet inside!
Chewable Sulfur Tablets to Ward off MosquitoesGrowing up with grandparents from "back in the day" was to me an advantage. In the 60's and 70's, as a kid, we children were sent outside to play, whether or not we wanted to. I did not mind, nor did the mosquitoes. Mosquitoes loved me. I was usually bathed in and caked in calamine lotion each night after my bath and stood in front of a fan to dry and try not scratch the bites that covered my little body. Finally, one year I was given a tasty orange chewable tablet daily in the warmer months here in Louisiana. I loved it. Mosquitoes never bothered me again, those many warm seasons ago. My pharmacists of today never heard of this Sulfur chewable. Nor, did they ever admit knowing the positive effects of sulfur against mosquitoes. Unfortunately, this isn't really a tip. It's more of a request. Pharmaceutical companies, please put this sulfur tablet back on the shelf. I'm sure it's quicker and safer than eating a match head or making my own tea. Even at age 50, I'm too eager to go outside to my garden. My grandmother knew what to do for me back then. There are some truths to "old wives tells".
Preventing Bites from Invisible BugsUse Hibiclens Antiseptic/Antimicrobial Skin Cleanser while showering and they won't bite that night.
Use Diatomaceous Earth To Deter SlugsI see so many people saying use salt. "Don't" use salt! It's bad for the PH in the soil and you will not be able to grow anything there. Others suggest beer and who knows what else. Sure those options may work if you have a "few" snails or slugs around like on a patio.
Essential Oils for Insect RepellentEssential oil is a wonderful all natural insect repellent! Peppermint oil will repel flies, ants, bees, roaches, and spiders! Simply add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil to 1/2 cup of water. Using a spray bottle, spray the area you want to be free of pests.
Water to Attract Night Flying InsectsI burn a back porch light all night, every night. During the summer months, the light attracts hoards of flying insects. Even after shooing, waving, and scattering the swarm, it's difficult to get into the house without at least a few getting in with me.
Dealing with Dust MitesTo prevent dust mites, I've had great success with putting 1 cup white vinegar with several drops of tea tree essential oil in the rinse cycle. Wash on hot and dry on hot....
Deterrent for House LizardsClean infested area with bleach and any other cleaning agent. Use spray bottle mixed with vinegar, lemon, and finely ground cayenne pepper. Spray area 1 time a day for 1 week, then 1 time a week inside and outside house.
Homemade Fly TrapTake any jar and squirt some jelly inside. Put a funnel in the jar. Some flies will go into the jar through the funnel and some will hang around the outside lid of the jar. Vacuum the outside flies, then lift the funnel a bit....
Stop Snakes From Stealing EggsIf a harmless snake is visiting the hens' nests and helping itself to an occasional egg, I say let the critter be. An egg or two ain't no big deal. Many snakes are beneficial, and they like to eat, same as you.
Sandalwood for Noseeums and MosquitoesWe winter over in Florida and I used to live there on an island. That is the worst in Florida for mosquitoes, as well as noseeums. Massive swarms in the summer! Use sandalwood incense and oils.
Prevent Noseeums by Keeping House CoolI live in south Florida and recently moved out of a beach front condo into a house inland. The noseeums in my new area have been merciless. After trying just about everything in these forums to battle these unseen critters biting me in my home, I finally got some good advice from a friend.
Protecting OpossumsOpossums eat rats Encourage your area to set up an area for opossums.
Wash Fruit to Prevent Fruit FliesWash all fruit thoroughly before storing, especially bananas! Your fruit fly problem will be quickly remedied.
Stop Ants on Hummingbird FeedersTo prevent ants on hummingbird feeders, use a dryer sheet on the wire supporting the feeder. It works great!
Glue Bait Down to Catch ChipmunksThey will steal the food in the traps. I had success by using a hot glue gun to glue sunflower seeds to the cage or mousetrap. We have caught over 50 chipmunks in the past 2 months. It works great in the live cages.
Natural Ideas for Ant ControlMy neighbor had a huge pile of cement ants. She used a mix of 50/50 baking soda and powered sugar. They were gone the next day. I thought the sugar would attract them but it worked.
Buggins Natural Insect RepellentBuggins Natural repels gnats and other annoying flies. I purchased from Menards for around $5. It can also be purchased online for around $6-7. It works wonders!
Cucumber Peel to Deter AntsI use a peeled strip from a cucumber, the green skin. Lay it down where they are. It works even when dried up. Does not harm pets or children.
Butterfly Net As Bug CatcherNo photo, but a great tip. Use a dollar store butterfly net to cover the bug, then use your shoe. No bug spray needed.
Getting Rid of Ants Without PoisonI have had great success this year with using cinnamon on my kitchen counter and windowsill to keep the sugar ants at bay. So when I found ants congregating near my garage wall, I knew just what to do.
Hot Sauce for Ants Around SinkI put a little hot sauce bottle, that was empty, with a small amount of water in the bottom, by the kitchen sink. When I see ants, I shake it on the area and wipe up with paper towel.
Use Wasp Spray to Kill RoachesIncidentaly, Hot Shot wasp spray kills roaches very effectively. If you see one scurrying along, just bust out the wasp spray. It has excellent range and aiming capabilities.
