Protect your home with a non-toxic solution against pesky insects

10/30/2024 / By HRS Editors

Keep your home pest-free using non-toxic solutions that are safe for children, pets and the environment. Using these solutions means you won’t need products that contain harsh chemicals to protect your home and loved ones from various pests.

Detailed below are some effective natural pest control recipes that you can easily make using items you may already have at home. (h/t to EverydayCheapskate.com)

Ants

If you find ants in your stockroom, all you need to do is clean the countertops, cabinets and floors with equal parts water and vinegar. The vinegar mixture will help deter ants.

Alternatively, you can try repelling ants with a dishwashing soap solution. Combine equal parts dish soap (such as Blue Dawn) and water in a spray bottle.

You can also use other dish soaps that are also non-toxic, biodegradable and with grease-dissolving properties.

Use dish soap ant spray on ants or other insects. The soap breaks down their exoskeletons, which makes them die almost instantly without harming you or your family.

Bugs, ants and spiders

Use lemon to keep bugs, ants and spiders out of your home.

Blend half a cup of ground lemon (including the rind) with one gallon of water. Use a garden sprinkling can to treat the perimeter of your house with the natural lemon spray.

The lemon solution is also mild and environmentally friendly. (Related: Prepping 101: How to protect your home and stockpile supplies against pests and rodents.)

Cockroaches

Mix 1/4 cup shortening with 1/8 cup sugar in one bowl.

In another bowl, combine 1/2 pound of powdered boric acid, which you can buy at most pharmacies, with 1/2 cup flour. Add the dry mixture to the shortening.

Slowly stir in a little water until the mixture turns into a soft dough.

Roll the dough into marble-sized balls and leave them in areas frequented by cockroaches. This bait is more effective than commercial products, but it should be kept away from children and pets.

Mosquitoes

Plant basil around your house. Basil will look and smell great, but keeping the plants well-watered will enhance their scent and make them more effective at keeping mosquitoes away.

Where to get DEET-free bug spray

The Health Ranger Store is committed to helping you prepare for any emergency and protect your family from various pests.

That’s why we’re proud to introduce an assortment of non-toxic pest control solutions such as the DEET-Free Bugs Away + Bug Defender Combo Pack.

Health Ranger’s DEET-Free Bugs Away Spray

Insects and pests usually crawl out of their hiding places in summer. Many of these pesky bugs may also invade your home and get in the way of your family’s fun summer activities.

But there’s no need to worry during bug season because the Health Ranger Store has the perfect product for you: Health Ranger’s Bugs Away Spray. This product is formulated with clean, non-toxic ingredients derived from plants found across the United States, such as:

Catnip – The essential oil of catnip, a member of the mint family, is 10 times more effective at fighting off mosquitoes than commercial insect repellents. Catnip oil is also effective at repelling house flies and cockroaches.
Cedarwood – Cedarwood oil or cedar oil protects against insects by dehydrating them. The fragrance of the oil also disorients insects by blocking their ability to detect chemical signals called pheromones, which they use to find food.
Citronella – The active compounds in citronella oil, an essential oil sourced from certain species of lemongrass, can effectively mask other scents that attract insects. Citronella oil is a non-toxic and eco-friendly alternative to commercial insect repellents.
Eucalyptus – A study published in the journal Insecticide and Acaricide Tests showed that the oil extracted from eucalyptus tree leaves can effectively repel ants. Another study published in the Malaria Journal showed that the oil can effectively repel mosquitoes for up to 12 hours.
Lavender – Lavender contains a non-toxic compound called linalool that is effective at repelling moths, flies, fleas and mosquitoes. Lavender is also great for the skin because it is gentle and nourishing.
Tea tree – Tea tree oil, a widely used natural medicine in Australia, is an effective insect repellent. A study published in the Australian Journal of Entomology showed that insect repellents containing tea tree oil are effective against biting midges, bush flies and mosquitoes.
Lemongrass – Lemongrass oil is an effective repellent against mosquitoes and house flies, according to a study published in the journal Parasite.
Patchouli – Patchouli, a flowering plant from the mint family, has been used for centuries to repel ants, bed bugs, fleas, flies, mosquitoes and moths. A study published in Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology showed that patchouli essential oil can effectively repel mosquitoes for up to two hours.
Witch hazel – Witch hazel is often used in homemade repellents because it’s one of the gentlest astringents on the skin. It also helps moisturize and refresh the skin.

Health Ranger’s Bugs Away Spray is 100 percent natural and contains no DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), artificial fragrances, or synthetic chemicals. It is also extensively lab-tested for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology.

Additionally, Health Ranger’s Bugs Away Spray is gentle on the skin since it is made with natural ingredients. This means it can be applied as often as needed.

DIRECTIONS: Shake well before use. Because Health Ranger’s DEET-Free Bugs Away Spray contains no artificial chemicals, it can be used as often as needed. Reapply after swimming or bathing. Not for ingestion.

Health Ranger Select DEET-Free Bug Defender

Health Ranger Select Bug Defender is a bug spray specially formulated to protect your home from pesky insects while also being safe to use around pets, kids and adults.

Its key ingredient is cedar oil, a fragrant and pet-friendly oil sourced from Texas cedar, which has natural insect-repelling properties.

Our all-natural, pet-friendly formula takes out insects at all stages of life, from eggs to adults. It can also keep away virtually all kinds of pesky insects, such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, bed bugs and cockroaches.

Please remember that Health Ranger Select Bug Defender should never be ingested or sprayed on the skin. It is also not for use on plants.

Avoid these dangerous bugs with Health Ranger Select Bug Defender:

Bed bugs
Cockroaches
Fleas
Lice
Mosquitoes
Ticks

When used as directed, the Health Ranger Select Bug Defender can effectively keep away these pesky invaders.

Most commercial bug sprays contain toxic ingredients and synthetic chemicals that are harmful to your health. For example, DEET, an active ingredient commonly found in commercial bug sprays, can cause breathing difficulties, rashes and seizures in both humans and animals when inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin.

Health Ranger Select Bug Defender contains absolutely no harmful ingredients like DEET. It is safe to use around kids and pets because it contains only all-natural, non-toxic ingredients like cedar oil.

Derived from Texas cedar, a tree with natural insect-repelling properties, cedar oil can dehydrate and disorient insects thanks to a naturally occurring alcohol called cedrol.

To use Health Ranger Select Bug Defender, lightly spray it on areas that are prone to bugs, such as window frames, doorways and carpets. Apply weekly or as needed.

DIRECTIONS: Spray anywhere indoors where there are bugs. Goes on clear and will not stain. Safe for most indoor surfaces.

Visit Preparedness.news to read more tips about other natural pest repellents that you can use in your home or around your homestead.

You can also check out Health Ranger Store and Brighteon Store for more supplies for your prepping needs.

Click on this link to learn about prepper gear that you need for outdoor survival.

Watch the video below to learn more about DEET-free Bug Spray and how it can protect your family from pesky bugs.

This video is from the Health Ranger Store channel on Brighteon.com.