You Are Here:
Cockroaches
Plug all small cracks along skirting boards, wall shelves and
cupboards, and around pipes, sinks and bathroom fixtures. A
light dusting of borax around your refrigerator, stove and duct
work is an effective deterrent. Replace the borax if it gets wet
as it's no longer as effective. To make a roach trap, lightly
grease the inner neck of a bottle and put a little stale beer or raw
potato in it.
Flies
Sunny
windows are flies' most common points of entry into your home, so close
windows before the sun hits them. Use sticky flypaper to catch
unwelcome visitors. You can make your own with honey and yellow
paper.
Mice and rats
Keep storage
areas clean and tidy and seal holes in walls. The RSPCA advises
that old-fashioned snap traps are a humane way to kill mice or rats
because death is likely to be instantaneous; make sure the trap
is placed so it will not be triggered by a child or pet. The
RSPCA also endorses live traps, but you must be sure these traps
are monitored regularly to prevent the animal from starving to
death before it can be released outside.
Moths
Keep vulnerable clothes clean, dry and well aired. Store cleaned
clothes in a cedar-lined wardrobe or trunk. Seal clothes tightly
in boxes or bags with moth-repellent sachets - small cotton bags
filled with cedar shavings, dried lavender or equal parts of
dried rosemary and mint. Or try dried orange peel scattered
through your clothes. Rid clothes of moth eggs by hanging them in
the sun for several hours or running them through the clothes
drier. To trap moths, mix 1 part molasses with 2 parts vinegar
and place in a yellow container. Clean trap regularly. Avoid
conventional mothballs and flakes made of toxic chemicals.
Mosquitoes
Preventative measure: if you have a rainwater tank, pour 1/2 cup
paraffin oil into the tank. This will stop mosquitoes breeding.
There are a number of herbal products on the market containing
ingredients such as citronella, lavender and tea tree oil to
keep mosquitoes at bay. Or you can simply rub yourself with
crushed leaves of basil, mint, chamomile or tansy.
Silverfish
Prevent dampness that encourages silverfish. Make traps by placing 1
part molasses to two parts vinegar in a dish. Silverfish can be
repelled by treating skirting boards, table legs and cracks in
cupboards with a mixture of borax and sugar (or honey).
Spiders
In general, leave spiders alone because they help to control pests.
Ticks and fleas
If your pets are infested, wash them well with soap and warm water, dry
thoroughly and use the following herbal rinse.
Herbal rinse: Add 1/2 cup fresh or dried rosemary to 1 litre boiling water. Steep 20 minutes, strain and cool. Spray or sponge evenly onto pet and allow to air dry. Do not towel down as this will remove the residue.
Alternatively, use a commercial shampoo containing penny royal regularly. To prevent infestations, add brewer's yeast and garlic to your pets' meals.
For more information visit Enviro-friendly products.
