Eco-friendly Ways to Control Pests at Home

Pest control is an important aspect of home maintenance, but traditional methods can often be harmful to both the environment and human health. Eco-friendly pest control is an alternative approach that utilizes natural methods to control pests without relying on toxic chemicals.

In this list, we present many eco-friendly ways to control pests at home. From sealing off entry points to using natural predators, essential oils and plants, these methods are effective in preventing and controlling pests while minimizing harm to the environment.

These methods also include cultural control, traps, non-toxic removal and consulting with professionals, integrated pest management. These tips can be used individually or in combination to effectively keep pests at bay while maintaining a healthy and sustainable home environment.

• Seal off entry points, such as gaps around windows, doors, and pipes, to prevent pests from entering the home.
• Use natural predators, such as ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps, to control pests such as aphids, scale insects, and mites.
• Use natural pest repellents, such as essential oils, to keep pests out of the home. Common oils include peppermint, eucalyptus, and citrus.
• Plant pest-repelling plants, such as marigolds, chrysanthemums, and petunias, in the garden or around the home to create a natural barrier against pests.
• Maintain proper sanitation and keep food sealed and stored away to decrease the availability of food sources for pests.
• Dispose of garbage regularly to prevent pests from using it as a nesting or hiding spot.
• Use traps, such as glue boards and snap traps, to catch small pests and live traps to catch larger pests.
• Apply diatomaceous earth, a natural substance made from the fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms, to carpets, pantries, and other areas where pests are known to gather.
• Use sticky traps to monitor pest populations and track the effectiveness of control methods.
• Use boric acid, a naturally occurring mineral, as a pesticide alternative for cockroaches and other insects.
• Keep outdoor trash containers sealed and away from the house
• Keep compost heap as far as possible from house, or use enclosed compost bin
• Use a dehumidifier to decrease humidity in the home, as many pests thrive in humid environments.
• Use a fan to circulate air and create an inhospitable environment for flying pests such as mosquitoes and flies.
• Keep gutters and downspouts clean to prevent pests from nesting or breeding in them.
• Use neem oil, derived from the neem tree, as an all-purpose pesticide.
• Use pheromone traps to attract and trap specific pests such as fruit flies, pantry moths and clothes moths.
• Use predators such as dragonflies, praying mantis and birds to control pests in the garden.
• Place garlic and onion around the house to repel mosquitoes and other flying pests.
• Keep pets treated for fleas and ticks to prevent these pests from coming indoors.
• Use horticultural oil, insecticidal soap and other natural insecticides to control soft-bodied insects such as aphids, whiteflies and spider mites.
• Keep plant leaves dry by avoiding watering in the evening, this helps to prevent fungal growth and insect infestations.
• Use beneficial nematodes, microscopic worms that feed on pests, to control pests such as fleas and grubs.
• Keep windows and doors closed to prevent flying pests from entering the home.
• Use a vacuum cleaner to remove pests such as ants, beetles and cockroaches from the home.
• Use a dryer sheet to repel ants and other crawling pests.
• Use peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil to repel rodents.
• Use cedar oil to repel moths, silverfish and ants.
• Create a barrier of natural materials such as salt, cinnamon, or cayenne pepper to repel pests such as ants or mice.
• Place bay leaves in pantry, cupboards and drawers to repel pests like cockroaches and moths.
• Use sticky barriers around the base of plants to trap crawling pests like aphids, whiteflies, and thrips
• Use a citrus spray to repel and kill pests such as mosquitoes and fleas.
• Use an electronic bug zapper to kill flying pests such as mosquitoes and flies.
• Use a “trap crop”, planting a certain plant that pests are attracted to but that will not damage your main crop or garden. this way you can reduce the pest population.
• Educate yourself about the pests in your area and their biology, to better understand how to control them.