"Suzanne D." <sdallape@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:g5rafd$q9j$1@news.albasani.net...
>
> "Tin@" <tinas49ers@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1ee4dd89-b78b-4f35-8db1-
>>The house of insanity.
>
> Well. some of us think it is insanity to spread dangerous chemicals around
> children and pets to get rid of harmless spiders and insects. Especially
> when one of the kids has a disease that makes it absolutely imperative
> that he have the cleanest air possible at all times. I think the
> trade-off of a small amount of poison to get rid of a certain species of
> spider that can actually be deadly is a fair one, but otherwise, I'll live
> with the critters and enjoy the extra two or three years this clean air is
> giving to my son.
> --S.
>
Some natural / safe pest remedies...
Ants
The first line of defense is to remove the attractants: keep counters free
of crumbs and sticky spots. Cover the sugar and put the honey jar in a
plastic baggie. Cut off water sources such as drips or dishes left soaking
overnight.
If the ant invaders persist, try these simple measures:
Keep a small spray bottle handy, and spray the ants with a bit of soapy
water.
Set out cucumber peels or slices in the kitchen or at the ants' point of
entry. Many ants have a natural aversion to cucumber. Bitter cucumbers work
best.
Leave a few tea bags of mint tea near areas where the ants seem most active.
Dry, crushed mint leaves or cloves also work as ant deterrents.
Trace the ant column back to their point of entry. Set any of the following
items at the entry area in a small line, which ants will not cross: cayenne
pepper, citrus oil (can be soaked into a piece of string), lemon juice,
cinnamon or coffee grounds.
Mix a half teaspoon each of honey, borox, and aspartame (Equal, Nutrasweet,
etc.), in small bottles. Place bottles on their sides, with lids off, in
areas of most ant activity. Ants will carry the bait back to their colonies.
Important: use indoors only; must be kept away from pets and children.
Leave a small, low wattage night light on for a few nights in the area of
most ant activity. The change in light can disrupt and discourage their
foraging patterns.
Ants on the deck? Slip a few cut up cloves of garlic between the cracks.
Clove oil-based commercial ant deterrents are available online.
Dust Mites
Microscopic dust mites are everywhere in the home - in our beds, clothing,
furniture, book shelves and stuffed animals. For people with allergies or
asthma, dust mites are a problem.
Here's how to reduce the dust mite population in your home:
Vacuum mattresses and pillows. For people with sensitivities to dust mite
allergens, dust mite bedding is available with zippered,
allergen-impermeable encasings designed to block dust mites.
Wash bedding at 55 degrees centigrade or higher. Detergents and commercial
laundry products have no effect on mites unless the water temperature is
high.
Keep books, stuffed animals, throw rugs and laundry hampers out of the
bedroom of allergy sufferers. Wash stuffed animals occasionally in hot
water.
Tannic acid neutralizes the allergens in dust mite and animal dander. Dust
problem areas with tannic acid powder, available at health food stores and
pet centers.
Cover mattress and pillows with laminated covers which prevent penetration
by dust mites. Avoid fabric-covered headboards.
Cover heating ducts with a filter which can trap tiny dust particles smaller
than 10 microns.
Avoid using humidifiers. Dust mites thrive on warmth and humidity.
Cockroaches
The best defense against cockroaches is a clean kitchen and bathroom. If
roaches are a problem in your home or apartment, vacuum well and wash the
area with a strong soap. Dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed
container.
Also try:
It is a little known fact that roaches like high places. If you put boric
acid on TOP of your kitchen cabinets (not inside), if space allows between
ceiling and cabinets, the roaches will take the boric acid to their nests,
killing all of them. Boric acid is toxic by mouth - keep away from children
and pets. more info about boric acid
Diatomaceous earth is a safe alternative which can be sprinkled in areas
where roaches congregate, especially hidden areas such a cabinet tops and
behind appliances. Harmless to people, the tiny particles cut the waxy
exoskeleton and kills the insect within 48 hours. For a week or so after the
treatment, the dehydrating insects will search more actively for water.
Therefore, do not be surprised if you see roaches more often after the
treatment. Most roaches should be killed within two weeks of application.
more info or to purchase
Catnip is a natural repellent to cockroaches. The active ingredient is
nepetalactone, which is non-toxic to humans and pets. Small sachets of
catnip can be left in areas of cockroach activity. Catnip can also be
simmered in a small amount of water to make a "catnip tea" which can be used
as a spray to apply around baseboards and behind counters. This natural
repellent should only be used in homes without cats!
Keep a spray bottle of soapy water on hand. Spraying roaches directly with
soapy water will kill them.
In an empty one pound coffee can, place 1 or 2 pieces of bread which have
been soaked thoroughly with beer. Place in areas known to have roach
infestations.
Leave bay leaves, cucumber slices or garlic in the affected area as
deterrents.
The fruit of the Osage orange tree, the hedgeapple, is a natural roach
repellent. Leave one hedgeapple per room for effective deterrence up to two
months. You can learn more about hedgeapples for pest control at
hedgeapple.com.
Non-toxic roach traps are commercially available.
Fleas
Bathe and comb your pet regularly. Use mild soap, not insecticides. If fleas
are found on the comb, dip the comb in a glass of soapy water.
Citrus is a natural flea deterrent. Pour a cup of boiling water over a
sliced lemon. Include the lemon skin, scored to release more citrus oil. Let
this mixture soak overnight, and sponge on your dog to kill fleas instantly.
Add brewer's yeast and garlic, or apple cider vinegar, to your pets' food.
However, it is not advisable to use raw garlic as a food supplement for
cats.
Cedar shampoo, cedar oil and cedar-filled sleeping mats are commercially
available. Cedar repells many insects including fleas.
Fleas in the carpet? The carpet should be thoroughly vacuumed especially in
low traffic areas, under furniture, etc. Put flea powder in the vacuum
cleaner bag to kill any fleas that you vacuum up, and put the bag in an
outdoor garbage bin.
Trap fleas in your home using a wide, shallow pan half-filled with soapy
water. Place it on the floor and shine a lamp over the water. Fleas will
jump to the heat of the lamp and land in the water. The detergent breaks the
surface tension, preventing the flea from bouncing out.
In the yard or garden, plant fleabane (Fleabane Daisy Erigeron speciosus) to
repel fleas. This is an annual growing 16-24" tall with violet, daisy like
flowers.
Nontoxic flea traps are available commercially.
Flea Control Nematodes can be used to control fleas in outdoor areas your
pets frequent.
Mosquitos
The first line of defense against mosquitos is to seal their point of entry.
Mosquitos are most active in the early morning and early evening. They seek
areas of still air because they are hampered by breezes. Close windows and
doors on the side of your house which are opposite the breeze.
Then try:
The most important measure you can take is to remove standing water sources.
Change birdbaths, wading pools and pet's water bowl twice a week. Keep your
eavestroughs clean and well-draining. Remove yard items that collect water.
In a New England Journal of Medicine study, oil of eucalyptus at 30%
concentration prevented mosquito bites for 120.1 minutes, while Bite Blocker
with 2% soybean oil kept bites away for 96.4 minutes. (the eucalyptus oil
must have a minimum of 70% cineole content, the active therapeutic
ingredient.) Citronella, a common alternative to DEET, performed poorly,
warding off bugs for only 20 minutes.
If you're using the barbeque, throw a bit of sage or rosemary on the coals
to repel mosquitos.
An effective natural bug repellent, mix one part garlic juice with 5 parts
water in a small spray bottle. Shake well before using. Spray lightly on
exposed body parts for an effective repellent lasting up to 5 - 6 hours.
Strips of cotton cloth can also be dipped in this mixture and hung in areas,
such as patios, as a localized deterrent.
Neem oil is a natural vegetable oil extracted from the Neem tree in India.
The leaves, seeds and seed oil of the Neem tree contain sallanin, a compound
which has effective mosquito repelling properties. Neem oil is a natural
product and is safe to use.
Planting marigolds around your yard works as a natural bug repellent because
the flowers give off a fragrance bugs and flying insects do not like.
Campers often report that the very best mosquito repellent is Avon
Skin-So-Soft® bath oil mixed half and half with rubbing alcohol.
Safe, nontoxic pheromone-based mosquito traps are now commercially
available.
Thai lemon grass - (Cymbopogon citratus) is a natural and effective mosquito
repellent. It contains the natural oil, citronella, which is safe and
effective; in fact, lemon grass citronella is considered more effective than
true citronella as an insect repellent.
Flies
Use mint as a fly repellent. Small sachets of crushed mint can be placed
around the home to discourage flies.
Bay leaves, cloves and eucalyptus wrapped in small cheesecloth squares can
be hung by open windows or doors.
Place a small, open container of sweet basil and clover near pet food or any
open food in the house.
A few drops of eucalyptus oil on a scrap of absorbant cloth will deter
flies. Leave in areas where flies are a problem.
You can make your own flypaper with this simple recipe: Mix 1/4 cup syrup, 1
tbsp. granulated sugar and 1 tbsp. brown sugar in a small bowl. Cut strips
of brown kraft paper and soak in this mixture. Let dry overnight. To hang,
poke a small hole at the top of each strip and hang with string or thread.
Safe, nontoxic, pheromone-based outdoor and indoor fly traps are available.
Other Home Insect Pests
Moths
Cedar chips in a cheesecloth square, or cedar oil in an absorbant cloth will
repel moths. The cedar should be 'aromatic cedar', also referred to as
juniper in some areas.
Homemade moth-repelling sachets can also be made with lavender, rosemary,
vetiver and rose petals.
Dried lemon peels are also a natural moth deterrent - simply toss into
clothes chest, or tie in cheesecloth and hang in the closet.
Natural attractant pheromones have been developed for controlling moths, and
are now available as clothes moth traps and pantry moth traps.
Earwigs
Diatomaceous earth is a safe and effective way to control earwigs in the
home. One application in key spots (bathroom, baseboards, window frames) can
be a long-term repellent.
To trap earwigs, spray a newspaper lightly with water, roll it up loosely
and secure with a string or rubber band. Place on the ground near earwig
activity. The next morning pick up and discard the paper in a sealed
container.
Another method to trap earwigs is to take a shallow, straight-sided
container and fill it half full with vegetable oil. Clean the trap daily;
the oil can be re-used.
Silverfish
Silverfish prefer damp, warm conditions such as those found around kitchen
and bathroom plumbing. Start by vacuuming the area to remove food particles
and insect eggs. Silverfish can be easily trapped in small glass containers.
Wrap the outside with tape so they can climb up and fall in. They will be
trapped inside because they cannot climb smooth surfaces. Drown them in
soapy water. The best preventive control is to remedy the damp conditions.
Nontoxic silverfish traps are also commercially available.
Hugs,
CatNipped
