Living in the city has its perks. But it also has its pests. From mice to roaches to bed bugs, dreaded pests can and will descend upon our apartments. Why pay an exterminator hundreds of dollars to douse dangerous poisons, when myriad natural, non-toxic, economically priced solutions are at our disposal?
While there are numerous ways to deal with bees, wasps, mice and the critters, the best approach to pest control is the natural one. Did you know that mice find the smell of peppermint unbearable, or that cockroaches won’t tolerate Tabasco sauce? For bed bugs, the answer is a treatment of diatomaceous earth!
Mice Don’t Like to Be Minty Fresh. Peppermint is a beloved staple of soothing herbal teas, breath-freshening chewing gums, and bestselling toothpastes. Though for mice, this invigorating scent works like one of those prank stink bombs from yonder days of elementary school. They find it unbearable and will quickly scurry for the hills.
Cockroaches Don’t Do Spicy. Cockroaches are renowned for their ability to survive harsh conditions and hazardous environments. They do, however, avoid “spicy” situations. In fact, there’s a condiment that’s as painful for cockroaches as it is for people with ulcers. Even just the scent of this substance is intolerable for cockroaches. Yep. Tabasco sauce.
Bedbugs Won’t Survive Broken Glass. Bedbugs are notorious for being extremely difficulty to eradicate. They’re impervious to most insecticides. So effectively removing them takes a somewhat aggressive approach. Enter diatomaceuous earth. When bedbugs journey across this gritty powder made from the fossilized skeletal remains of ancient marine life, their bodies are sliced open and drained of vital fluids. Yes, that’s gross. You know what else is gross? Bedbugs. In YOUR bed.
Thankfully, pests don’t magically materialize out of thin air—they sneak in from outside, or from the apartment of the eccentric hoarder living next door. To prevent their entry, it’s imperative to patch up entry points with expanding foam sealant. Also, heed your mother’s advice and remember to “clean your room” frequently. Roaches and mice thrive in filthy environments. These pests are more likely to set up shop where there are piles of dirty clothes and crumpled-up papers sprinkled with last year’s pizza crust crumbs.
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