Using Natural Insecticides In The Home

No one wants bugs in their home. Not only is it disgusting, they can be damaging to stored food and the structure of the home. They can spread disease as well. However, you also do not want to load your home up with dangerous toxic chemicals in order to repel the bugs. What is the answer? Use natural insecticides to keep the bugs out of your home.

Boric Acid

Select natural insecticides that are safe for your kids and pets yet are deadly or repellant to insects. Boric acid is one good example. Mix some boric acid with sugar and then add water. Soak cotton balls in this boric acid solution and place the cotton balls where ants have been spotted. Boric acid is also useful against roaches. Put some in a squeeze bottle and squirt the powder along baseboards, behind appliances and anywhere you have seen a roach.

You can also use boric acid to get rid of termites by mixing it with propylene glycol which is the non-toxic form of anti-freeze. The glycol helps the boric acid seep into the wood to get at the termites. Boric acid can also be used as a natural insecticide for silverfish. Place it in your closet or attic or anywhere else you have spotted the critters. In fact, you can make a solution of boric acid by mixing it with boiling water and then using that to wipe down surfaces in your home. This will act to repel all kinds of crawling bugs.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth is another natural insecticide you can use in your home. It is made out of the skeletal remains of tiny sea creatures and plankton and works by puncturing the insect's body which leads to dehydration. This is an effective solution for fighting moths, roaches and silverfish. Diatomaceous Earth also kills fleas, working in as little as one day.

Citrus Oils

You might also want to try natural insecticides made from citrus extracts as these will leave a pleasant smell in your home as well. It is important to only choose a natural insecticide that is not harmful to kids or pets. Just because it is a natural insecticide does not mean it is safe around mammals too. A few natural insecticides are harmful to humans as well. Luckily, there are many choices you can make that will rid your house of annoying bugs but won't harm your family or pets in the least. So be sure to read the labels and follow the directions as carefully as you would for a chemical product and keep your family safe.

Gardening and lawn care: Homemade insecticidal soap recipes and information - Newsolio (blog)

Newsolio (blog)

Gardening and lawn care: Homemade insecticidal soap recipes and information Newsolio (blog) It is very easy to make you own soap spray and customize the recipe to you own needs. A basic insecticidal soap recipe is one to three tablespoons of soap to a gallon of water. The more soap you use the more chance of leaf damage to the plant, ...

Here's a better way to fight pests and diseases - Vancouver Sun (blog)

Here's a better way to fight pests and diseases Vancouver Sun (blog) Organic-based insecticidal soaps and herbicides are now what gardeners turn to when they have a pest or weed problems to solve. Greenthumbs are also being encouraged use predator insects and microscopic organisms to combat pest infestations. and more »

What's bugging you? - Vancouver Sun

What's bugging you? Vancouver Sun They fly into the air when disturbed. They can be captured on yellow sticky paper. You will find readymade traps at the garden centre. The other solution is an insecticidal soap spray. ANTS You'll never totally get rid of ants, so don't expect to. and more »

Grape leaf skeletonizer appears in May - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Grape leaf skeletonizer appears in May Las Vegas Review-Journal Make sure you look at the bottom . Some insect pests will invade the leaves from the bottom. The leaves look pretty normal to me . However, you are getting into the season when you will get grape leaf skeletonizer, which starts in May.

Indoor growing: Learn what common pests infest houseplants and how to identify ... - Newsolio

Newsolio

Indoor growing: Learn what common pests infest houseplants and how to identify ... Newsolio Then try a forceful wash if the plant isn't delicate and tender. Make sure the spray reaches all areas of the plant, including the underside of the leaves. Try swabbing entire plant with rubbing alcohol. Insecticidal soaps are often helpful. and more »

Frankie flowers your garden - Town Crier Newspapers

Frankie flowers your garden Town Crier Newspapers “The quickest thing you can do if you see insects on your plants outdoors, just blast them with water and that will get them off right away,” Ferragine said. “Or you can use insecticidal soap.” “A happy bottom will give you a great top, and that means ...