How to Use Natural Pest Control in Your Home

Insects and other pests are a common problem, especially during warmer months of the year. And while there are many insecticides and home pest treatments available, it can be hard if you prefer natural solutions for you and your family. But thankfully, there are some good natural pest control options.

Here are some natural, non-toxic options for different pests you might be dealing with this year.

All-Purpose Natural Pest Remedies

If you need something quick that will work for a variety of pests in and around your home, consider all-purpose natural pest control. You can mix one up yourself or simply buy from a natural brand.

For example, Aunt Fannie’s Pest Remedy can be sprayed directly on bugs like cockroaches and ants either inside or outside your home. Since it uses all-natural ingredients, it’s safe you use around kids and pets.

Another good option is Orange Guard Home Pest Control. It utilizes orange peel extract to eliminate pests like cockroaches, ants, and fleas immediately on contact. Like Aunt Fannie’s, it’s safe for inside and outside the home.

If you want to DIY, you can put together a homemade insect spray like these using vinegar, vodka, or witch hazel and essential oils.

Read on for natural pest control options tailored to specific pests.

Natural Ant Pest Control

The best way to begin getting rid of and prevent ants is to keep counters and other surface areas clean. Make sure all sticky areas, crumbs, and standing water or other substances are cleaned up daily. But if you find yourself with an ant problem, other methods you can try include:

• Spraying the ants with soapy water
• Adding garlic cloves in outdoor cracks
• Leaving cucumber slices (or the peels) around your kitchen or other areas the ants are entering
• Sprinkling diatomaceous earth where you find ants
• Leaving crushed mint leaves or mint tea bags where the ants congregate
• Leaving a nightlight on where the ants are
• Sprinkling citrus oil, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, lemon juice, or even ground coffee where ants are entering

Natural Pest Control for Flies

Flies can be incredibly annoying, especially if you don’t know how they’re getting in. Plus, they can carry germs into your home. But if you can determine where flies are entering your house, you can best help prevent their intrusion.

Make sure your doors, windows, and any vents are sealed well to keep flies from entering in the first place. And for flies already in your home, try these methods:

• Eucalyptus oil on a rag or cloth
• Homemade flypaper made from corn syrup and sugar (here’s a recipe)
• Non-toxic fruit fly traps

Got Fleas? Try These

Fleas are very frustrating pests for pet parents, as they lay eggs quickly and it can take a lot of time and patience to get rid of them fully.

Traditional flea treatments are not very natural, so if you want to go the non-toxic route, you’ll need to be diligent about constant treatment—and making sure your pet’s comfort is always accounted for.

Here are some natural pest control options for fleas in the home:

• Natural flea traps plugged into areas where your pet spends the most time
• Diatomaceous earth sprinkled where you see fleas most, including in the fur of your pet
• Regular bathing with mild soap, followed by combing (preferably using a flea comb) and dipping any fleas into soapy water to kill them
• Vacuuming often and thoroughly, including under furniture and adding flea powder to the vacuum bag
• Make your own flea trap: shallow pan filled halfway with soapy water, then placed on the floor with a lamp over it

How to Get Rid of Mosquitos Naturally

You’re most likely to encounter mosquitos during warm months in the early mornings and evenings, especially when there’s water around. Keep doors and windows closed during these times to prevent them from entering.

Other than that, try these pest control options:

• Remove standing water around your home
• Add neem oil to lotion and spread on your body
• Spray a mixture of one part garlic juice with five parts water on your body where mosquitos might bite
• Light a mosquito-repelling candle made with essential oils like peppermint, lavender, and citronella

Natural Solutions for Moth Pest Control

You might not think about moths as problematic compared to other pests, but they can contaminate food, damage clothes and other fabrics, and can cause illness or an allergic reaction if someone eats the food or wears the clothing they’re contaminated.

To naturally manage a moth infestation, you can try a spray like Stay Away. Other natural options include:

• Sachets filled with cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, lavender, or eucalyptus leaves.
• Cedar oil on a cloth or cedar chips in a cheesecloth.
• Dried lemon peels in closets and/or clothes drawers

Cockroach Natural Pest Control

Like with ants and flies, a clean living area is the best natural pest control for cockroaches. But if you are still dealing with them in your home, try:

• Vacuuming very well and washing all areas
• Spraying roaches with soapy water
• Sprinkling diatomaceous earth where roaches are found
• Leaving out sachets of catnip near entrances to prevent roaches from entering your home
• Applying boric acid to high places to kill roaches (but keep it FULLY out of reach of pets and children, as boric acid is toxic by mouth)

Natural Pest Control for Spiders

Lastly, here are some ways to deter our creepy-crawler eight-legged “friends”:

• Spray a mixture of peppermint oil and liquid clothes detergent around windows and doors and anywhere else spiders are found
• Another spray option is a mix of white vinegar and coconut oil
• Eliminate debris and piles in and around your home, as this is where spiders like to lurk
• Apply citrus essential oils like orange and lemon to areas you want spiders to avoid
• Make sure windows and doors are sealed to keep spiders from finding ways in

Shop Everything You Need for Natural Pest Control

As you can see, there are many all-natural methods for deterring pests year-round. To get what you need today, shop our Pest Control section and any other ingredients you need for DIY pest control options.