Five household remedies that help prevent pest infestations

Pests are an annoyance to households across the UK, they can gain access to all parts of your home and are expensive to get rid of. As well as damaging your home, pests can also contaminate food, which could make someone very ill.

There are many ways you can prevent pests, but a lot that is widely suggested will set you back a hefty sum. However, there are items that most people already have in their homes that can be useful.

So Joshua Houston, our Pest Control Expert at Household Quotes has revealed five household remedies that help prevent pests. 

1: Coffee grounds

Most insects hate the smell of coffee grounds, so use what’s leftover from making your morning cup and spread them in pest-prone areas of your garden. You can also use it in your home in the corners and cracks where insects commonly appear. This will cost you nothing as you’d already be using the coffee, and is better for the environment due to the recycling.

2: White vinegar

When invading your home, ants will leave a trail for the rest of their colony to follow. White vinegar, mixed with water and peppermint oil does a great job removing these trails, which ultimately stops the ants. Search through your cupboards to see if you already have these items available, if not then they are readily available for a couple of pounds at supermarkets.

3: Onion

Spiders are a common enemy to many in Britain, they find them scary and tend to scream in panic if one is spotted. To keep them out of your home, one unorthodox solution is using onions. Slice up some onions and place them in a bowl filled with water. Then place the bowl in the area where you are having spider problems, and the smell should keep them away. It’s a great way to make sure that leftover food is used, instead of being wasted.

4: Soap spray

Soap spray is a great way to stop pests from eating your plants and expanding their population in your home. To make it, all you need is a spoonful of liquid soap and water mixed into a spray bottle. Every household should already have these items in their homes, and it treats; mealybugs, beetles, whiteflies and aphid infestations. It works by blocking the pores that they use to breathe, which eradicates the pest problem without using chemicals that can cause long-term damage to your home and garden.

5: Salt

If you look hard enough, then you will most likely find some salt in your home. It’s a great natural product that can be used to eliminate fleas. Just sprinkle it over your carpet or furniture where you suspect an infestation, and leave it for a day. Once a day is over, hoover up the salt and the fleas along with their eggs should have dehydrated.

Joshua Houston, Pest Control Expert at Household Quotes:

‘’The cost of living crisis is still affecting millions across the country, many aren’t in a position to fork out for pest control. These five tips provide a cheaper alternative which should help people with their pest problem.

They also encourage people to reuse what they already have, which is a great way to reduce waste, and their carbon footprint.’’