Try easy-to-make bug killers as the first weapon to battle insects.
Each year, according to the environmental information website Earth Easy, North Americans use around 136 million pounds of pesticides at home on lawns and gardens, more than the amount of pesticides used by farmers. Motivated by environmental concern or the desire to save money, people sometimes wish to try a homemade pesticide for the house or garden. Though not all homemade bug killers are made of earth-friendly ingredients, many are. Simple household products and a few things from the the herb garden or spice rack can sometimes be effective weapons to battle bugs. Does this Spark an idea?
Common Ingredients
The ingredients used for homemade pesticides are noxious but usually nontoxic. A list of all the ingredients people use to make homemade bug killers would be a long one. Ingredients often suggested include items such as cayenne pepper or garlic from the garden, nettles or horsetail from the weed patch, tobacco resins, diatomaceous earth, oils such as neem or pennyroyal, and odds and ends such as cider vinegar, dish-washing liquid and even grit. When you create your own remedies, make small batches because you won't be using preservatives in the recipe. Label your finished products carefully.
Garden
Aphids and mealy bugs are two major garden pests. You can make a bug killer with a few drops of liquid dish-washing soap and canola oil. Add these to a quart of water in a spray bottle and spray the tops and undersides of the leaves on each plant. Diatomaceous earth sprinkled around the garden beds can kill insects and grubs. An easy-to-make recipe that is a general propose bug killer for the garden is to combine two tablespoons of cayenne pepper with a few drops of liquid dish-washing liquid and a quart of water. Spray this liquid on the tops and the undersides of leaves.
Ants
Common black or red ants may die when sprayed with a solution of half cider vinegar and half water, to which you add a few drops of dish-washing liquid and a few drops of an essential oil such as tea tree oil, peppermint oil or eucalyptus. Spray this into ant hills or areas where ants are seen. Fire ants are more of a challenge. Some people find it effective to bait the area surrounding the nest with grits. Others inject dry ice or boiling water deep into the nest through a length of PVC pipe. Be sure to cover your skin completely when exterminating fire ants.
Fleas
If you have fleas in your house, you can kill them with a strong solution of rubbing alcohol mixed with a degreasing dish-washing liquid and water. Place 1 tbsp. of alcohol and a few drops of dish-washing liquid in a jar and fill with water. Comb out your pets with a flea comb and quickly dip the comb in the solution to kill the fleas. You can also place this mixture in a spray bottle and spray around the house where fleas have been seen or pets sleep.
Cockroaches
Melissa Kaplan of the Natural Pest Control website recommends an unusual recipe to make a nontoxic roach bait for roach infestations. Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup shortening or bacon drippings, 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup flour and 8 oz. baking soda. Add a little water to make a doughy consistency and roll the dough into small balls. Place the dough balls in cupboards and drawers, behind the refrigerator, or anywhere roaches hide.
Tags: dish-washing liquid, bottle spray, cayenne pepper, cider vinegar, drops dish-washing, drops dish-washing liquid, drops liquid