9 Ways to Keep Spiders and Insects Out of Your House

Bugs and spiders are an irritation, and they make our lovely homes look unclean. But the chemicals often used to get rid of them can be harmful to our little ones and pets. They are also harmful for the environment, as studies have shown. Going all-natural to shoo these pesky creatures away is a better way.

Bright Side will show you how easy and simple it is to keep your home bug-free by using simple natural products that are 100% effective and at the same time safe as well.

Introduce ladybugs to your garden.

Ladybugs are also considered bugs, but it’s better to have them in your lawn than other bugs and spiders. They keep spiders and other bugs away by feasting on them. These brightly colored beetles also eliminate the food that other bugs sustain on, thereby forcing them to find their home elsewhere.

You can use flowers and herbs like cilantro, dill, fennel, caraway, yarrow, tansy, angelica, scented geraniums, and coreopsis to lure them into your lawn.

Use peppermint oil to scare away pests.

Peppermint oil is a strong and effective insect repellant. But it can cause skin irritation in people and pets. To avoid this, it is recommended that you mix peppermint oil with water to dilute it. Spray this potent mixture in places where you would expect spiders and other insects to hide. Also, spray it along your windows and doors to keep the bugs from entering.

Make your own natural anti-pest spray.

You can make your own natural bug repellant. To do so, mix apple cider vinegar, oil, pepper, and liquid soap well in a spray bottle. Spray this solution every other day in your home. Also, remember to spray it along your windows, windowsills, and doors so that the bugs are forced to keep their distance. Don’t forget to spray after it rains.

Keep your house and surroundings clean.

It goes without saying that pesky bugs thrive in unclean places, so to keep them at bay, it is important that you keep your surroundings clean. Dust your home completely at least once a week. Don’t forget to clean hard to reach places, like under the bed or over the wardrobe. Remove cobwebs as you see them.

Get a cat.

Cats are cute, but they are also predators. They will chase away any insect that they see. Having a pet cat means that you will not only get to curl up with your feline friend, but also that your home will be free of bugs and rodents.

Use cedar around your home’s perimeter.

The smell of cedarwood is something that many insects, including spiders, do not like. So adding some cedar mulch around your house’s perimeter and in the lawn is an easy way to ensure that bugs stay out. You can also make a spider repelling spray by mixing cedar oil and water and spraying it around your home.

Put citrus peels around your house.

This fresh citrusy smell is something that insects detest. You may use the peel of any citrus fruit, including orange, lemon, or lime. Place these peels around your home, near doors, windows, shelves, and other places where you suspect insects could enter your home from. Keep in mind to replace these peels every 48 hours.

Place chestnuts strategically around your home.

One of the most surprising insect (especially spider) repellants is chestnut. They absolutely hate its smell, therefore, placing them strategically near doors, windows, closets, and other places will ensure that these bugs don’t enter from or infest these places.

Make use of the many insect-repelling essential oils.

Many essential oils have natural insect-repelling properties. But they can also cause skin irritation in people, especially babies and pets. To avoid this, rather than spritzing them directly, mix them with water to dilute the oil and spray using a spray bottle. One essential oil is that is the most potent is eucalyptus oil. You can either spray it or soak small cotton balls with it and throw them around your home.

What do you do to stop bugs from entering your home? Do you use chemical products? Or you have some homemade recipe to keep them away?

Illustrated by Leonid Khan and Daniil Shubin for BrightSide.me