7 Ways to Control Pests At Home
Building your home prep pantry with enough food to last you and your family for at least a month or more is a rewarding feeling. It can remove the worry associated with wondering how your nutritional needs will be met, it can save money and it can also help you lend a hand to your neighbors if they’re in need.
Of course, building your home-based prep pantry isn’t without its challenges, including expiration dates. Dealing with pests is an underrated aspect of keeping a well-stocked prep pantry that’s full of food that hasn’t been spoiled yet. While you can certainly pay for exterminators to regularly treat your home, unless you have a really bad infestation, it’s best to try to avoid the potential toxins involved with those treatments. Enter home-based pest control. Here are ten ways to help reduce your chances of having pests enter your home prep pantry.
- Keep a Clean Home. Just like humans, pests like ants and other bugs require food and water to survive. One of the easiest ways to keep pests away is to keep your home clean. Take out the garbage often, wash dishes and use antibacterial cleaning products on counters and other surfaces, and always remove half-consumed food and beverages.
- Coffee Grounds. If you notice an anthill in your kitchen or other areas, fresh coffee grounds have been known to kill them. It is either because of the ingredients in coffee - possibly nitrogen, or the fact that ants are harmed by caffeine.
- Remove Water. If you find that your home contains too many mosquitos, you might have too much moisture or stagnant water. Regularly refill dog dishes and birdbaths with fresh water and keep your gutters clean.
- Citronella candles. Citronella candles not only smell pleasant, but they have been well-known to repel mosquitoes and flies. Citronella is also registered with the EPA as an insect repellant.
- Basil and other herbs. Using herbs like basil in plants by doorways can be a great way to keep flies at bay. You can also use an herbal satchel with basil and other herbs like mint, bay leaves, or cloves.
- Get rid of places for bugs to hide. Insects like spiders, flies, and ants tend to hide in dark places that are messier than the rest of our home. Be sure to rid your home of overgrown plants, woodpiles, and other debris that insects can hide in.
- Peppermint Oil. Spiders and some other insects are bothered by peppermint. You can use a spray bottle and fill it with peppermint and vinegar. Spray the mixture on doorways and under cabinets and other problematic areas.
High-Quality Products from More Prepared
Even though natural insect repellants tend to be more attractive to many home pantry preppers, sometimes you need something stronger. More Prepared carries many quality outdoor protection products like insect repellant and sting relieving wipes. Of course, these products can safely be used indoors should you need them. Feel free to take a look around our website for other quality pantry prep items.
