You may not have invited them, and yet, as soon as the good weather arrives, they are always stuffed in your house! Fleas, gnats, flies, mosquitoes and other ants have (to your great displeasure) taken up residence in your home and garden. How to get rid of these unwanted naturally? Here are our 8 shock remedies that ignore chemicals that are harmful to the planet.
Fly tape
A solution not very aesthetic, certainly, but oh so effective. Hang a strip of glue-covered paper from the ceiling. The flies that land there will stick together, then die of starvation and exhaustion. You can make your own fly swatters. You need:
Mix the ingredients and then spread them out on your card stock. Hang your creation in a strategic place in the house. Start again when your natural fly trap is full.
The electric mosquito trap
Forget mosquito sprays and burning coils, which are harmful to your skin and your lungs. Invest in electric or solar-powered mosquito lamps instead. The light emitted attracts them and electrocutes them. The radius of action of these lamps is about 4 meters, enough to protect your table and enjoy your barbecue in peace.
The photocatalytic mosquito repellent lamp
Latest innovation in natural household insect control! This lamp attracts the mosquito by imitating human breathing. The parasite is sucked in and held prisoner.
Use apple cider vinegar
In addition to being a natural disinfectant, apple cider vinegar is an ultra-effective insecticide. Its very strong smell scares away insects. Dilute 10 cl of this miracle liquid in 1 liter of water in a spray bottle and spray it on:
Make a wine trap
Pour ½ l of water, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 70 ml of sweet white wine and 30 ml of mint syrup into halved bottles. The upside-down top of the bottle (the neck inside the bottle) serves as a funnel. Place your natural insect traps at a height of about 2m from the ground, if possible. Especially dangerous near wasp nests!
Grandmother's recipe for making her citronella candles
Ingredients:1 small terracotta pot, 500 g of paraffin, 1 large braided wick, 15 drops of Ceylon citronella essential oil.
Plug the hole in the bottom of the pot with modeling clay. Glue the wick to the bottom of the pot so that it remains vertical. Melt the paraffin in a bain-marie (maximum 80°C), stirring occasionally. Add the essential oil. Pour the mixture into the jar. Let cool. Your natural mosquito trap is ready!
The fruit trap to get rid of flies
This method is surely the most effective way to trap as many flies as possible.
In a glass jar, pour pieces of very ripe fruit (bananas, peaches, strawberries, etc.). Form a cone with paper to create a funnel. The hole in the bottom should be big enough to let the flies in, but not so big that they can't get out. Protect the rim of the jar with tape to prevent flies from flying away.
Expel fleas with essential oils
An economical and natural way to get rid of fleas is, without a doubt, the use of essential oils. To do this, mix in an empty bottle:
Spray your preparation on the critical areas of the house:animal basket, carpets, cushions, niches, sofas, etc.
Say goodbye to gnats with natural ingredients
To drive away the gnats that invite themselves into your kitchen, place a sponge impregnated with lavender essence in a saucer. Cloves stuck in a lemon also work wonders on these little critters.
You don't need to be super armed to drive pests out of your home naturally. A few ingredients, a little equipment, and you're good to go for the summer! It's up to you to have dinners with friends and sunbathing afternoons without being corny.
