While I love the rains, watching the flowers bloom in my mini balcony garden, sipping on some piping hot adrak ki chai and pakodas, I can’t ignore those pesky flies that make an unwanted entrance into my home. With the rains come in the bugs, mosquitoes and flies. The dampness around is pretty much a breeding ground for these insects.
Before you pick up that chemical laden spray to keep your home bug free, try these methods that are not just chemical-free but also safe for you and the environment. Trust me, you won’t ever go back to those chemical laden alternatives again.
There are ingredients in your kitchen that can repel those bugs and insects.
Now, these will not be as strong as the store bought ones and you will need to reapply this frequently. Essential oils of lemon, citronella and eucalyptus are known to be excellent mosquito and insect repellents. The best part is that these oils keep away the bugs without any harmful side effects.
If you want to spray this on clothes or your furniture, then don’t add the oil to the mixture.
Cleaning your home with white vinegar works like a charm. Not only do you have a nice, neat and a sparkling home, but you can also repel insects like ants and spiders with this simple DIY recipe.
Yes, the same one that you use to light a diya. Camphor is known to be a very good insect repellent. Add some water in a diffuser well and drop in a 3-4 tablets of camphor tablets in it. Place a tea light candle to let the camphor work its magic. You can also place a few pellets of camphor in the corners of your home. Just ensure that they are not in the reach of babies and pets!
Sounds intriguing? Well, it is also easy to make. Take a small empty glass jar with a lid. With a nail and a hammer make some holes on the lid. About 7 – 8 holes should work fine. Empty a packet of baking soda (approx. 50 gms) and add to this powder 10 drops each of lemon, eucalyptus and citronella essential oils. Mix well and place it in any room you want to deodorise. Customise it according to your requirements, opt for some lavender if you want to place it in your bedroom.
When you dust the house, avoid using a wet cloth. Instead use a dry cloth. Ditto when you are cleaning the floors. Dry mop the floors at least thrice a week instead of using water to mop the floor. When you use water, add some rock salt to it to keep the insects and flies away. Also choose chemical-free floor cleaners that allows you to reuse the water if you do want to wet wipe the floors. These chemical-free floor cleaners are made with essential oils and they act as natural insect repellents.
Simple, effective, cost-friendly and chemical free. These DIY remedies are not just easy to follow but a safer and a non-toxic way to keep your home insect and bug free especially in the monsoon. When you choose natural options, you ensure a safer environment for everyone around you as well. Do your bit, and go chemical-free.
(Pratibha Pal spent her childhood in idyllic places only fauji kids would have heard of. She grew up reading a variety of books that let her imagination wander and still hopes to come across the Magic Faraway Tree. When she's not rooting for eco-living or whipping up some DIY recipes to share with her readers, Pratibha is creating magic with social media. You can view her blog at www.pratsmusings.com or reach to her on Twitter at @myepica.)
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