Is there a not toxic way of keeps various bugs from getting in?
by
Don Dobesh
+2
IN upstate NY we have critters such as carpenter bees, wasps, box elder bugs and spiders that can be a nuisance and even harmful. I hate to use toxins to prevent or eradicate them because of potential harms to pets and humans.
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Most of those pests do not like mint. I use dr. bronners peppermint castile soap. It has a very strong peppermint smell! I like to put a few drops on a rag that is damp with warm water. I then wipe down the window ledges and around the window trim. Don't rinse it off! When washing window screens in the spring I also use a mix of the soap in some warm water and wipe the screens down. I do gives those a quick rinse but the peppermint smell stays behind but not as strong. It does a really nice job of cleaning also :)
Thanks much! Had never thought of that!
Spray everything down with Simple Green cleanser. It is non toxic and bugs hate it! I use it to clean everything because of my sensitivity to toxins. I kill flies and fruit flies with it too. It is great. Bugs will flee to your neighbor's home!
I use peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle and spray door frames, baseboards and kitchen counters. Ants hate cinnamon so we drop cinnamon oil or powder where they are coming in. Smells great and works well.