FLIES… place a handful of dried cloves in a bowl and sprinkle them with a few drops of clove oil, lavender oil, & citonella/peppermint oil. Recharge with additional oil from time to time. A great idea for fly control at this year’s Christmas lunch table too!!
ANTS… several drops of peppermint oil may be sprinkled strategically along counters and walls to deter ants. (*test the surface first to make sure the oil won’t destroy the finish!)
MOZZIES… add a few drops of lemongrass or citronella oil to a bowl of steaming water to keep mozzies at a distance. Also, try dripping 5 drops of lemongrass, peppermint, lavender or citronella oil onto decorative ribbons and hang these from windows or doorways.
COCKROACHES… moisten pieces of cotton wool with a few drops of citronella oil and place them in the back of your cupboards. Or, try mixing 10 drops of peppermint oil + 5 drops of cypress oil with half a cup of water– shake well and spray where cockroaches run/live.
FISHMOTHS… moisten pieces of cotton wool with a few drops of cedarwood oil and place in your wardrobe and drawers. Lavender oil, citronella oil & peppermint oil work just as well!
APHIDS… to repel aphids, mix 10 drops of rosemary and/or lavender oil in about 500ml water. Shake well and spray on plants.
HOUSE DUST MITES… make a spray of 1 cup vodka and 20-30 drops of eucalyptus oil. Spray your pillows, bedding, upholstery & carpets a couple of times a week. If you have children, spray their stuffed toys and seal them in a plastic bag for several hours before putting them back in their places.
MICE… moisten pieces of cotton wool with a few drops of peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil or spearmint oil and place them in the ceiling or anywhere mice might enter the house.
Source: Ecovitality
In Summary…
All you need: lavender oil, peppermint oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, cotton wool, cloves & vodka, and you’ll be able to keep most household pests at a distance, naturally! Have a fragrant, pest-free Holiday Season!
In addition… Khakibos is a well-known home remedy for repelling ticks and fleas in dogs’ baskets- simply spread a few leaves in amongst the bedding. A fairly common tree found along rivers and watercourses in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, is the Tamboti (Spirostachys africanus). All parts of this tree are poisonous to humans (and DON’T use it for firewood when camping– the smoke can make you very ill!). However, small pieces of Tamboti wood placed near clothing (in your cupboard, bag, etc.) or anywhere, act as very good insect repellents. Keep any Tamboti parts away from your water supply (bark is a well-known African fish poison!). See also: Natural Insect Repellents
