Bugs happen. Even if you keep your kitchen pretty clean, crumbs may fall or juices may get spilled, especially when we are spending more time at home and cooking more often. If you want to save your heavy-duty cleaner and use more natural ingredients around your food, check out the list below for a handful of natural, poison-free ways to keep those pests outside where they belong.
Vinegar, oil & lavender. Not for eating! By mixing water, vinegar and essential oil in a small spray bottle, you can spray your counter tops, window sills and nooks and crannies to help ban bugs. Use a mix of half white vinegar, half water and 10 drops of lavender oil.
Lemon juice. Like the vinegar mix, lemon juice can act as a natural deterrence. Cut it with water and sprinkle it around your counters, the backs of your shelves and anywhere you see bugs infiltrating.
Diatomaceous earth. This soft rock powder sounds like a mouthful, but really works to help keep critters outside. Simply sprinkle it in the cracks of your home where pests are likely to infiltrate.
Coffee grounds. Yet another wonderful gift from the coffee plant. This trick works outside rather than inside—sprinkle coffee grounds around the foundation of your home to deter bugs from climbing in.
Dish soap. While not completely “natural,” this is likely something you already have hanging around your home. Mix a bit of soap with water and rub it along your baseboards, window sills and door jambs.
