9 Everyday Household Products That Keep Bugs Away

Bugs: The household annoyance that you can never seem to conquer. While there are many insect-repelling products on the market, some of the best products to rid your home of these pests are already in your kitchen cabinets. From basil and hot sauce to dish soap and WD-40, check out these effective methods to deter insects of all kinds. 

Dish Soap

Simply look at your kitchen sink for this ant problem remedy. Mix 2 ounces of dish soap with 4 cups of water in a spray bottle to create a solution that kills ants upon contact. Plus, applying it anywhere you spot ants will eradicate the scent trails these bugs leave behind. The trails allow ants to talk to each other and orient themselves, so getting rid of them can prevent more ants from following the first invaders into your home.

White Vinegar

If you have white vinegar in your kitchen cabinets, you’ve got an excellent ant repellent. Apply a 50-50 solution of vinegar and water around any area where ants have been active. This will eliminate the pheromone trails ants depend on to communicate and find their way around. However, you will probably need another method to kill the ants already in your home.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar isn’t just for salad dressings — it can also eliminate fruit flies. Pour apple cider vinegar into a drinking glass or bowl until the container is halfway full. Then, add a dash of dish soap. Fruit flies are drawn to the vinegar, while the dish soap will keep them from being able to leave the dish.

Tabasco

People who like adding hot sauce to their food now have another reason to love Tabasco: It can stop yellow jackets from invading outside gatherings. All you have to do is pour a little Tabasco into a few saucers or small bowls, then place the vessels around your picnic table or patio. Capsaicin, the chemical that makes hot sauce hot, affects yellow jackets’ membranes, metabolism, and nervous systems, so they’ll try their best to avoid the spicy sauce.

WD-40

WD-40 is more than a lubricant for rusty gates and old locks. Spray WD-40 around your doors and window sills, and you’ll have a barrier against ants and spiders. You can also apply WD-40 around vents to deter bees and wasps from turning these secluded spots into their new nesting areas.

Basil

In addition to adding flavor while cooking, basil can keep flies away. This applies to both fresh basil plants and dried basil. Simply add a few spoonfuls of dried basil to something that won’t cover up its scent — such as a cotton handkerchief or a thin sock — and place it near doors or windows to deter flies from entering your home. Also, make sure to rub the basil holder periodically to refresh the scent, and don’t forget to replace the dried basil at regular intervals.

Cinnamon

Humans may love the smell of cinnamon, but ants, moths, and silverfish are repelled by it. This means you can use the spice to stop these pests in their tracks. Just sprinkle cinnamon powder or place a few cinnamon sticks in your cabinets and under the sink to deter these creatures.

Cloves

Moths and flies dislike the smell of cloves, so add a few spoonfuls of crushed dried cloves to a small mesh bag and keep it by doors and windows. The odor will make hovering moths and flies less likely to enter your home. As ants also hate the scent of cloves, consider bringing a few small bags of dried crushed cloves with you the next time you’re eating outside.

Electric Fan

A fan can do more than keep you cool. It turns out that mosquitoes aren’t strong enough fliers to get past the gusts of a fan. This means that a fan blowing toward the lower half of your body offers protection from these bugs.

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