Killing bugs the frugal, eco-friendly way
Posted
Jul 08 2008, 10:37 PM
by
Karen Datko
If you've lived in Florida, you know about flea infestations, dive-bombing palmetto bugs, tarantula-size spiders, and other creepy-crawlies you wish would go belly up in the night.
Whether you're facing super-sized bugs or standard household invaders, you'll welcome some pet- and child-safe frugal pest-control measures. Two posts on the subject were featured in this week's Festival of Frugality.
Desert-variety bugs are the target of Penelope Pince and Madoline Hatter at Our Fourpence Worth. Pet-friendly is a priority because hounds Ludwig and Wolfgang share their home.
Top tip: super cleanliness. Ants and other creatures are adept at finding microscopic crumbs. Wash your dishes immediately, and don't eat crackers in bed or just about anywhere else. The two also provide tips for eliminating possible nesting areas, and discouraging pests from coming inside.
Should bugs gain entry, vinegar and rubbing alcohol are among their favorite noncommercial bug killers. They also recommend EcoSMART, a natural insecticide.
Grey at Frugal Fu has even more cheap and nontoxic ingredients in her anti-bug arsenal: salt, Cream of Wheat or Minute Rice scattered around ant hills; flour, cinnamon, basil, peppermint, or cayenne pepper as repellents (keep children and pets away from the pepper); traps made with cardboard and petroleum jelly, or leftover bottles of wine.
She notes that more than 50% of women have arachnophobia (count us among them), so her tips about spiders are particularly helpful. A gross tea made from chewing tobacco sprayed outside the home may disgust you, but it will keep spiders at bay. Citronella oil may be a more acceptable alternative.
