The key to keeping pests out of the kitchen is to eliminate their access to food and water sources, which they need to survive. This can be done by practicing excellent sanitation in the kitchen: Make sure to wipe up all crumbs and spills on the floor, kitchen counters, cabinets and refrigerator in a timely manner.
Lemongrass, citrus, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, citronella, catnip, and lavender oils all possess properties that repel bugs. The oils can be used individually or combined to make a simple anti-bug potion.
Spray pyrethrin on mosquitoes, moths, flies, fleas or any hard bodies insect to kill them quickly. Make sure to check out our solutions that inclue pyrethrin below. Safer® Brand End ALL® Insect Killer - Available in a 32 oz ready to use spray bottle.
Acetic acid makes vinegar an excellent tool for pest control, repelling some of the most common backyard nuisances and even killing weaker insects. It's most effective against ants, spiders, and mosquitos. You can keep spiders from entering your home by spraying vinegar around your property's perimeter and entryways.
Vinegar is one of the best ingredients to make a pest control spray. It is effective in repelling ants, mosquitoes, fruit flies, and many others. Creating a mix is quite simple and is considered safe for humans and pets. Acidity of the vinegar is potent enough to kill many pests.
Vinegar spray
One of the easiest homemade bug sprays, simply mix one cup of white vinegar, at Walmart, with three cups of water. You can also add half a teaspoon of dishwashing soap to help the solution adhere. Shake thoroughly and apply to the affected areas.
A mixture of ½ cup rubbing alcohol and 1 quart of liquid soap can make an effective pest control spray to get rid of whiteflies, aphids, mealy bugs, scale insects, and thrips.
Rosemary, thyme, basil, and mint have scents that bugs dislike. Mosquitoes, cockroaches, and stinging insects try to avoid these herbs.
Keep insects away with peppermint oil. Before you reach for the chemical-laden bug spray and store-bought insect repellents, there's a natural solution you can try—peppermint. Insects hate peppermint.
You can kill the bugs by freezing them or exposing them to extreme heat and then thoroughly clean the area. If your cupboard contains plenty of grain products, beans, and rice, check everything.
A super simple fix is to pour boiling water down the drain to eliminate drain flies. Boil a medium-size pot of water once or twice per week, and pour down and around the drain. Another easy option uses baking soda: Combine 1/2 cup salt with 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar, and pour down the drain.
Exposed Food and Food Preparation Surfaces
There should be no cooked food in the kitchen when using bug bombs because ingesting contaminated food could cause serious health emergencies. It would be best if kept inside the fridge or covered tightly in sealed containers.
Clean up crumbs and spills on your counters, table, floor, and in your pantry. Keep your sink free of dirty dishes. If you have pets, pick up their food bowls when they aren't eating. It's also important to take the trash out regularly to avoid attracting pests.
Kitchens & Pantries
Look for them inside cabinets where food is stored, as well as under sinks where there's usually a bit of moisture from drain pipes and garbage disposals. Warm appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves, and toaster ovens are literal hot spots for insects, too.
Most dryer sheets contain the ingredient linalool, which can be found in plants like lavender, basil, and coriander, all of which naturally repel common garden pests. Similar studies found that this ingredient is also useful for repelling bugs like mites, weevils, beetles, and German cockroaches.
Another easy tip for how to keep bugs away from patio furniture is to burn citronella. It's particularly effective at discouraging flying nuisances, like mosquitoes, from pestering you while you're outside. One of the easiest ways to use citronella on your deck, patio, or other outdoor space is with candles.
Create a fly and wasp repellent.
Upstairs Downstairs Cleaning says that you can use full-strength Pine-Sol as an insecticide or a 4:1 Pine-Sol to water solution spray for staving off wasps and other stinging insects—just steer clear of honeybees!
Fortunately, there's an easy way to deter bugs (particularly spiders) from making their home in yours — one that doesn't involve spraying poisonous pesticides indoors. Mix a 50/50 solution of water and white vinegar and spray around your window frame. Do this indoors, and outside too, if you're able to.
Neem Oil Kills Many Bugs. Neem oil is a natural pesticide that's produced from the seeds of a neem tree. If you're wondering what bugs neem oil kills, it actually kills lots of different kinds. Anything from moths to cockroaches to termites will die from neem oil.
Bifenthrin is effective against almost all types of insects. The Bifen IT label recommends that cracks, crevices, baseboards, and any other entry points that insects use should be covered with spray.
If you want to manage a pest infestation, you will want to use the household products that kill pests. Cornmeal or borax baits for ants, diatomaceous earth dusting for crawling pests, vinegar traps for flies, Windex for spiders, and other lethal solutions will give you the chance for getting rid of pests.