The Millstone Times June 2019

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DIY Bug Repellants By Lauren Kolacki

Unfortunately, no matter how much you scrub and clean, bugs around the house are inevitable. With pets and small children, you might be reluctant to spray harmful pesticides all over. We have compiled a list of easy and effective DIY bug repellants that are safe to use around your family and pets. To cease mosquitoes from entering your home, place lavender, catnip, or basil near any entrances to your home. The essential oils in lavender and basil are toxic to mosquito larvae, while studies have shown that catnip is one of the most effective repellants. With a fruit bowl in sight, fruit flies are unavoidable. These pesky creatures are present despite the cleanliness of your kitchen. An easy DIY trap can be created by mixing water and red wine vinegar in a cup then creating a funnel out of a coffee filter. The mixture will draw the flies towards the cup while the filter will refrain them from getting out. One of the less common, and more frightening, critters you find around the house are spiders. In order to keep them far, far away mix one tablespoon of peppermint essential oil and one cup of water in a misting bottle. Spiders are turned off by the strong scent of the oil so use the bottle to spray any entrance, crack or molding.

The last insect you want to see crawling around your house is a cockroach. In order to keep these beetle-like bugs away, mix two cups of water with two tablespoons of tea tree oil. Once again, the strong fragrance is off putting to these critters. The most popular insect you see crawling around your home are ants. Drop one little crumb and you’ll have an entire village. Before the ants even become an issue, combine water, white vinegar and essential oil in a spray bottle and mist all doors and baseboards in your home.

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The Millstone Times

June 2019