Read more mosquito prevention and repelling tips in my eBook, Repelled.
It should come as no surprise that pesticides are toxic.
Most people are aware that they’re filled with hazardous ingredients. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that pesticides are known to irritate eyes and skin, cause birth defects, cancer, and nerve damage. Some disrupt the endocrine system. Others are carcinogens.
Clearly, pesticides are not safe for anyone. But unsuspecting children and pets may unknowingly consume pesticides if the toxins are not stored properly. I tend to err on the overly cautious side, so I’d rather not have pesticides in my home at all.
Sometimes, though, you have to deal with insect infestations.
I clearly remember living in my first apartment. I detest bugs, yet this place was filled with them. Throughout the year I was subjected to plagues of insects: moths, carpenter bees, ants, silverfish, spiders (huge, scary ones) and cockroaches. I definitely got used to killing bugs, either by smashing them or using spray after spray. My mom warned that it wasn’t good for me to breathe in so much bug spray, but I chose not to listen. Now I wish I could turn back time and try natural remedies, instead.
Over the next two weeks I’ll give you some natural bug repellents to attempt this summer – some are plain common sense and other methods are passed along from generation to generation. Right now I’m not living with insect problems, so I can’t try these out to vouch for their effectiveness. I’ll try to give you enough options to try and try again until you find something that works.
Getting rid of roaches
To get you started, I’ll give you something to try today. If you do have to deal with cockroaches, like I did at my first apartment, here are a couple tips that might help:
- Fill a spray bottle with soapy water. Liberally squirt cockroaches with this soapy water whenever you spy them. Being directly sprayed with soapy water should kill them.
- Cockroaches are repelled by catnip. Keep them away by stashing sachets of catnip where you’ve noticed cockroaches lurking. (If you have cats, the sachets may end up in other places around your home.)
- Simmer catnip in water to create a “catnip tea.” Spray this concoction on counters and along your baseboards.
- If catnip sachets won’t work in your home, try to put garlic cloves or bay leaves where you’ve noticed cockroach activity.
What have been your experiences with pesticides? Stop back tomorrow to learn natural ways to repel pesky mosquitoes.Photo credit
Christian Meyn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Just so you know, I couldn’t read this. That’s how squeamish I am. ;) Maybe I’ll pull it up later for my husband to read!
I need some help with natural remedies for garden pests!