Organic Pest Control for the Homestead

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Using organic pest control methods for your homestead is a great way to keep your home pest-free but also kid and pet-friendly. When you create pest control for your home you want something a little different than what you use for your barn or garden, however. Thankfully there are a good number of pest repellants that you can use in your home that are either scent-free or use essential oils. 

Types of Organic Pest Control for the Homestead

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Check out our post on Organic Pest Control for the Garden Here!

Dish Soap and Water

This is one of the most simple combinations but it’s very effective. Mix a tablespoon of dish soap into a bottle of water and spray it on any pests that make it into your home. The spray will knock them down and the soap will quickly kill them. It’s quick, safe, and convenient

Potted Plants

Lavender, Rosemary, and any of the common mints like Peppermint act as deterrents and repellants. You can set them up in window sills and outside doors to keep bugs and other pests from thinking they’re welcome in your home. Organic pest control is as much about keeping unwanted guests from coming inside as it is getting rid of them once they’re in. 

Ammonia and Vinegar

If you have trouble with rodents sneaking into your house (a common problem for homesteaders) a mixture of ammonia and vinegar will scare them off because it resembles the urine of other, bigger, predator animals. You can spray the one-to-one mix wherever you see droppings or you can dip cotton balls in the solution and leave those. Spray or replace the cotton balls every two weeks. 

Cinnamon

Cinnamon bark, oil, or just the ground cinnamon used in baking can deter ants. You can spray, sprinkle or leave pieces wherever ants usually enter your home. An added bonus is that if you have a current ant problem, using cinnamon will disrupt the chemical trail they leave behind making it difficult for them to find their way back inside. Whole cloves are also an excellent deterrent for ants. 

Fermented Fruit Juices

You can make fruit fly traps with fermented fruit juices. While we’ve never had success with apple cider vinegar, but we have had great success with white wine. You can either purchase the small sample bottles or pour some in a dish with a hint of soap. The fruit flies are attracted to the smell of the fermenting fruit and drink, or just sink right into the liquid, and drown. 

Essential Oils

The following essential oils can be used in a spray or as a roll-on. Use the spray around your home (they’ll smell great) and the roll-ons for use on yourself, kids, and pets to keep the pests off and away. 

For Spiders: 

Peppermint

For Flies: 

A mix of Peppermint, Lavender, Orange, and Patchouli

For Pantry Bugs and For Rodents:

Citronella, Melaleuca, and Peppermint

For Mosquitos:

Citronella or Lemongrass