I figured with all the snow we got last winter, the bugs wouldn’t be much of a problem this year. Turns out, I was totally mistaken. Mosquitoes have always loved me when I’m outside, which is why I’m hooked on natural bug sprays. This year, though, it’s like there’s an insect plot to storm into our home the moment we crack a door open—which happens a lot with our kids running in and out.
The usual advice to “keep counters and floors clean and food tucked away so bugs aren’t drawn inside” doesn’t really hold up when you’ve got jars of sweet tea (kombucha) and sugar water (water kefir) fermenting on your counters. Plus, when your kids’ go-to snacks are fruits and veggies, some of it always seems to end up smeared on the table or floor.
Lucky for me, there’s a local pest control company that offered a special to spray our house and yard to protect against ticks, mosquitoes, roaches, flies, and more. Naturally, I passed on that. I was determined to find natural ways to deal with bugs before the flies drove me up the wall.
I turned to some natural pest control methods I’ve used in the garden before and tried out a few ideas from friends. These worked best for us:
First up is Diatomaceous Earth (DE), a fine powder from fossilized diatoms, a type of algae. It’s got a super hard shell and is high in silica, making it quite sharp. But it’s so fine it doesn’t harm human skin or tissue. I’ve even swallowed it before to rid of parasites and get extra silica for my hair and nails.
Diatomaceous earth is known for being safe for humans and animals, and food-grade DE is okay to consume, even if you’re pregnant or nursing. I’ve found DE to be particularly effective against ants, fleas, roaches, and other insects that crawl or jump. Just don’t inhale it—it’s irritating for the lungs.
Here’s how to use DE for pest control: I noticed an ant invasion, so I dusted DE liberally on the carpets and in the spots where ants were sneaking in. Within a couple of days, the ants were gone, and I just vacuumed up the leftover powder.
Years ago, we got a kitten that brought some fleas, turning our place into a flea fest in no time. Luckily (or not), we had white carpet, so I dusted DE on both the kitty and the carpet a few times a day for a week, and the fleas disappeared.
You can get DE online or from local supply stores. I use a specific food-grade brand that we can also use internally.
Katie from KitchenStewardship.com proposed another method during a podcast chat, and it worked well, though it takes a day or two to kick in since the ants carry it back home where it poisons them. This involves mixing equal parts Borax powder and corn syrup (seriously, the only good use for it), then spreading it on an index card. The ants gobble up the sweet mix and take it back to their nest, eventually getting rid of them. It’s not instant, but a good long-term fix.
Fruit flies have been a real pain this year, and because they’re tiny, they’re harder to trap. Thankfully, large flies aren’t a huge problem, but the fruit flies were driving me nuts. Someone at the farmer’s market told me about natural fruit fly traps that have been amazingly effective. I keep one near the fruit and haven’t seen many fruit flies since. Another option is using a natural blend that attracts and kills regular flies.
The easiest way to avoid indoor pests is to keep them out to begin with. Easier said than done, but I had luck with a vinegar and essential oils mix sprayed around our doors, where flies and ants were sneaking in. I mixed 2 cups of water with 1 cup of white vinegar and added 50 drops of peppermint, along with 20 drops each of basil and lemon essential oils. It didn’t smell bad and seemed to keep the bugs at bay.
I liked this natural pest control method because it did double duty. Fresh basil leaves repel flies well, plus I love their flavor (pesto, anyone?). I planted some basil near our doors, which reduced the bug issue and gave us an endless supply of fresh basil for all kinds of dishes.
Has your home been overrun with pests this year? What has worked for you?
