Talcum powder and vinegar will discourage their emergence.
Sprinkle salt or spray soapy water onto the ants to drive them away.
They will understand the "No entry" message when you use mint (in any form). One simple way is to apply peppermint essence (used for baking) or pour it in a spray bottle and spray onto the areas where ants were spotted.
Place bay leaves to keep them away.
Stop ants from entering by lining the area with fabric sheets.
Regular vacuuming effectively removes carpet beetles which are already present, as well as hair and lint which could encourage infestations. Avoid a build-up of dust and lint. Vacuum the edges of carpets, underneath furniture, along baseboards, behind radiators, cold air ducts, or ventilation ducts and moldings. These are places where carpet beetles like to feed.
Do not store soiled garments. Have all clothings either dry-cleaned, hand washed, pressed with a hot iron, sunned or brushed before storing.
Store clothings in a cool and dry place.
Fur storage can be stored in cold vaults.
Clear away abandoned bird and insect nests under eaves and around the house.
Wool remnants, old clothings and clothings with fur or feathers that lie untouched for long periods on shelves, drawers or boxes are often a source of infestation.
Garlic and chilli are both effective against whiteflies, aphids, leafhoppers and spider mites.
To make garlic spray -
1. Blend 3 garlic cloves in a blender 1/2 filled with water.
2. Strain and add more water to make a litre of concentrate. 2 tablespoons of molasses can also be added.
3. Add 1 part of the concentrate to 5 parts water.
To make chilli spray -
1. Blend 1/2 cup of hot chilli with 2 1/2 cups of water & strain.
Mix some laundry detergent or soap flakes into water before watering plants to keep aphids, whiteflies and spider mites.
To deal with caterpillars, prepare this spray : blend both rinds and seeds of citrus food then soak them in water overnight.
Chase beetles away by mixing 2 teaspoons of dishwashing detergent with 500ml of water thoroughly and spray on the plants, covering every surface. Repeat every 5-7 days until pests are gone. This spray may also repel caterpillars.
To battle against Japanese beetles, prepare this onion concoction -
1. Put about 5 finely chopped onions and 5 cloves of finely chopped garlic into a jar.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
3. Cap tightly and leave it for a day at room temperature.
4. Strain the mixture with a piece of cloth. Discard the onion and garlic.
5. Add 500ml of water to the oil mixture followed by 2 teaspoons of dishwashing detergent.
To prepare spray, get 3 tablespoons of the solution and mix with 500ml of water.
Spray every 5-7 days (best during dusk) or after rain until pests are gone.
Add 3 teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar into 1 litre of water and spray onto plants to inhibit fungal growth.
Did you know about a place that has no pests to fuss about? HEAVEN.
But in the meanwhile, on your next vacation to another country, make a trip to a local grocery store or supermarket and orientate yourself with the types of non-toxic pest control products that are available. You might just find something really interesting and useful.
Chase away spiders with eucalyptus - leave a few drops in a bowl of water and they will exit the area!
Fruit flies - place a dish or pudding bowl filled with apple cider vinegar containing drops of dish soap. Flies attracted to the smell will just end up in soap. Empty dish regularly!
...Niena Byrne via email, Sept 2003
Ants do not like chilli powder. If you sprinkle it around the area where they enter, they will not
cross it. Or sprinkle comet on their ant hill, this will kill the majority of them.
. Cockroaches do not like catnip, or bay leaves, the smell wards them away.
Also, a mixture of half powdered sugar and half baking powder mixed together and set around the house where they usually "hang out" will kill them after they eat it. (This mixture works on ants too). If you can get a hold of neem oil (found at Asian stores), mix a few drops with water. Put the
mixture in a spray bottle and spray the mixture around your home. Especially where they mainly hang around. This mixture either kills them or wards them off and this is the one that I have found that works best.
...xatch@sbcglobal.net
