Category Archives: Pest Control

Natural Ways To Get Rid of Mosquitoes Easily

Mosquitos suck….literally!  Their presence can turn any outdoor living space into an unwanted area to be in. Recently I hosted my son’s graduation party in our backyard.  After two days of torrential Austin downpours, I had a mosquito filled backyard.  Needless to say, everyone went home with a few mosquito bites.  With all of the research I have done on cleaning our clients’ homes with Eco-Friendly Supplies, I felt horrible when I grabbed the outdoor fogger and sprayed the backyard.  Guess what….it didn’t even work!  So, I’ve spent the last week experimenting with different solutions and I have a few proven ones that I’d like to share with you.

For Large Outdoor Spaces

Our outdoor environments become a second (and sometimes first) living room for most…depending on the season.  So, while decorating I am sure you have decided to add some plants or flowers.  Let’s not only add plants or flowers for an aesthetically nice look – but let’s add the types of plants and flowers that repel mosquitoes!

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  • Citronella is a perennial grass which grows very large and can be a great filler for landscaping.
  • Marigolds are colorful, flowering plants. Be careful where placing these as the bright colors may attract other uninvited guests to your party such as wasps and bees.  They are commonly seen in borders in apartment complexes or your neighbor’s colorful, flowered front yard.  The fragrance they let off is not too sweet – but for the color factor they are a winner!

  • Horsemint, Basil, Lavender, Peppermint, and Rosemary are more fragrant than large but have more uses than just a mosquito repellant.  Now you can have some fresh herbs for your tea or cooking and fight off mosquitoes at the same time.   
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Natural Bug Repellant

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Mosquitos aren’t just pesky…they can be harmful to your health.  We’ve all heard the scary statistics related to the diseases that mosquitos can carry such as the West Nile Virus.  We need to protect ourselves from these nasty little critters.  But, who enjoys putting on all of those chemicals to try and keep the mosquitoes off?  Let’s look at some essential oils to help out! Essential oils are essential for non-chemical bug sprays.  These sprays can be sprayed on your body and cotton materials without damage.
I mix a solution of:

  • Water  
  • Eucalyptus 
  • LemonGrass 
  • Rosemary

I use about 20 drops of each essential oil to a spray bottle.

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Then I pour a glass of wine, sit back, and enjoy my outdoor space.  I suggest you do the same.
CHEERS!

Ridding ants out of your home without harming the environment.

If you are using a Pest control service make sure they are Eco Friendly. We have pets, babies and our own health to consider when toxic sprays are used to repel insects. If you are noticing ants in your home there are a few household items that can repel the ants before the Eco friendly pest control service arrives. Remember: the ants do not wait for Pest control – they continue to feed. Determine where the ants are entering your home and sprinkle or spray the area with one of the following: Cayenne pepper, black pepper, cinnamon, a citric acid, cream of tartar or vinegar. Each one of these items repels the ants in one way or another whether it be by odor or taste.

Your bagged dog or cat food could be attracting more than your pets

It is spring time so not only does that mean spring flowers, spring weather and spring cleaning, it means spring pests. Such as ants, rodents, and bugs of all sorts. One way to stay on top of preventing these unwanted guests into our homes and garages is to keep all animal food in an air tight sealed container. It is so tempting to just rip open the bag and pour as you go, but the scent of the food is attracting pests more than the animals we are intending to feed. The paper bag cannot stop sharp little mice teeth and claws from attacking it. Those pests now have a place they know food is always available. They will set up camp in our homes and garages to not only eat but live. The container store sells air tight pet food containers specifically made for pet food. I suggest every household with pets invest in an air tight sealed container today rather.