No matter how clean a house may be, it is not entirely immune to pest infestation.
So, if you are depending on hygienic practises alone to keep you safe from pests, you need to take a step further and learn eco-friendly pest control in Brisbane methods.
Eco Friendly Pest Control Methods: Top 15
Pest control methods fall into two categories—biological and chemical. And while both measures are effective, one happens to be safer for you and the environment when compared to the other.
This safer method is often referred to as eco-friendly, and we will be looking at 15 methods you can use to practise eco-friendly pest control in your home.
Season your windows
It is common practise to season foods when cooking. But it would surprise you to know that there are certain food seasonings that can repel insects from your home. These spices are easy to get and most of them are already in your kitchen.
Spices that are toxic to insects include cinnamon, black pepper, rosemary, garlic, and salt. To use them as pest control, shake some seasoning onto your window sills and form a line with it. It will prevent insects from entering your room.
Plant pest repellents in your garden
If you have a garden, you can start planting some of the herbs that are toxic to pests by yourself. When you do this, you will be protecting the other plants in your garden in the safest and most eco-friendly way.
Some of the herbs you can plant to repel insects include rosemary, lavender, mint, and basil. As these herbs protect your vegetable garden, you can harvest some, put them in small bags, and arrange them in places where you feel insects are likely to infest, like the wardrobe or bookshelf.
Use food waste and leftovers
Waste foods like banana peels, orange peels, lime peels, and other citrus peels are very effective for eco-friendly pest control. So the next time you eat these foods, do not be in a hurry to throw away the peels.
Cut the banana and citrus peels into tiny pieces, then place them on your window sills and counters to act as natural pest repellants. You can also use these peels to make a citrus cleansing spray.
Use vinegar and coconut oil
Instead of introducing toxic chemicals into your home, use vinegar to make a natural cleaning liquid. The cleaner you will make from vinegar will also serve as a pest repellent, and it is very easy to make.
Measure a portion of coconut oil, then double that portion for the vinegar. Make a solution out of both ingredients and you will get a healthy vinegar spray for your home.
Use baking soda
Since baking soda has so many benefits, it is no surprise that it is also useful for controlling pests. It is very poisonous to insects but still remains a non-toxic form of pesticide.
To use baking soda, strategically sprinkle it in places where you find pests. When they ingest it, it produces gas in their stomach—a gas that is strong enough to kill pests in a matter of hours.
Heat treatment
This form of pest control is highly effective, especially against bed bugs. According to recent findings, heat treatment has a success rate of over 95%, and this is because it is very hard for insects to withstand heat, so they cannot survive this treatment.
When used in an infected room, heat treatment will kill all the insects in that room. And since it does not involve the use of any toxic substances, it can pass as a safe and eco-friendly method of pest control.
Invite birds
If you have a pet bird, this method should be very easy. When birds are left to roam around the garden, they can add more colour and life to it. But they also serve as eco-friendly pest control agents because they feed on tiny pests.
According to a recent publication, birds eat up to 550 million insects a year. So, you should put bird feeders in your garden to attract more birds. Your pest problems will be taken care of as they eat the insects.
Use boric acid
Since the 1940s, boric acid has been regarded as an effective pest controller. This naturally occurring compound can kill different types of insects, and all you have to do is apply it to the parts of your home where you have been seeing insects.
Use traps
You can set up traps to catch different types of pests in your home. This method is especially good for rodents since they are bigger and easier to lure into traps.
It is also a great choice if you are one of those people that just wants to get rid of pests without killing them. When you catch them in traps, you can take them outside and release them.
Natural pesticides
Before many of these chemicals were discovered and used for pest control, people had been handling them naturally. So, if you want to be eco-friendly, use a natural insecticide like pyrethrum.
Organic pesticides like pyrethrum are biodegradable, and they are also safe to use because they have low toxicity to humans.
Use solar power
Being eco-friendly is all about keeping nature in mind. This is why the use of solar power as a way to get rid of pests has become a welcome development.
With a solar panel above the ground and its spike underground, a solar device can cause enough vibrations to scare off any insects on the ground around your house.
Make a sticky trap
The trap we mentioned before was more effective for rats, but this sticky type is perfect for smaller pests and insects. All you need is a jar of banana peels, then rub petroleum jelly on the rim of the jar.
When you do this, the insects will get attracted to the banana, but on their way to get it inside the jar, they will get stuck on the jar rim.
Use a sticky broad
Just like the sticky trap, this board can keep insects and rodents glued in one position until you come and take them out. It is perfect for both rats and smaller pests. All you have to do is buy a good sticky board and place it in the area where pests are more likely to stay in your house.
Wash your pet’s bedding with hot water
If you keep seeing pests despite all your efforts to get rid of them, the problem could just be in your pet’s bedding. Insects can easily hide there and multiply, so make sure you use hot water to wash your pet’s bedding and prevent a pest infestation.
Use cedar oil
This oil occurs naturally from cedar trees as a form of protection against bugs, so if you want to repel or even kill insects in your home, cedar oil is a perfect eco-friendly method to do so.
Because of how effective and safe this oil is, it has been approved by government authorities like the FDA. To use cedar oil for pests, dilute it with water and pour into a spray bottle. Spray the solution on areas that pests are likely to stay.