5 ways to avoid pesky bugs this summer

Summer comes at the same exact time as bug season every year, so if you’re outside a lot or are coming in and out of the house, you’re definitely going to be seeing a lot more bugs. Instead of dialing the number for an exterminator and having to clear your house so you can plant a bug bomb, there are other ways to keep the bugs away that are much easier and much cheaper.

TOO SWEET TO STICK AROUND

Bees and wasps are more active now that it’s warm, which means that you’ve got to be a little more careful about where you step. As you know, bees are hard at work during the summer gathering up nectar for food and pollinating all of the flowers, so be careful when you go out to take a look at the wildflowers.

However, when they start making their way inside your house or are pestering you while you’re out on the porch, try this trick from NatureWalkz. All you need is a lemon and some cloves, and before you know it, you’ll be seeing a lot less of those bugs.

CHALK ONE UP FOR THE HOMEOWNERS

If you have an ant problem, try getting some chalk (blackboard chalk or sidewalk chalk will do) and draw lines around the entrances to your house: windows, doorways, the garage — anywhere you think an ant may be able to make its way inside. People aren’t 100% sure why ants don’t like walking over chalk lines; some people say it’s because they don’t like getting the chalk stuck on them, and other people say it’s because the scent trail of the pheromones that ants put out is broken once they cross the chalk. Supposedly, the lack of scent confuses the ants, so they get confused and head elsewhere.If you really want to go all out against the ants, spread talcum powder around the foundation of your house and throughout your garden. The talcum powder should keep armies of ants out of your house and away from your plants.

LURE THEM IN WITH THEIR NAMESAKE

Fresh fruits are must-haves for the summer, but unfortunately, fruit flies love the sweet taste and smell of fruit just as much as we do. Fruit flies aren’t really known for being too destructive or dangerous, but they sure are pests!

Luckily, we can use fruit flies’ love of fruit against them. You can create your own DIY fruit fly trap and use any fruit you have as bait. You don’t have to use fresh fruits as bait; you can use fruit scraps instead. In fact, if you haven’t already used them for household odors, orange peels make great fruit fly bait.

Here are some other things that will be sure to attract fruit flies:

• Honey
• Squishy strawberries
• Maple syrup
• Bruised bananas
• Fruit juice
• Soda (not diet)
• Soy Sauce
• Apple Cider Vinegar    

ALLOW THE VODKA TO EAVESDROP

This method is a bit strange, but it seems to do the trick. Flies are typically attracted to unpleasant smells, but for some reason, they just can’t stand the smell of vodka — especially cheap vodka.

Grab some gallon-sized freezer bags and fill them half full with vodka. Hang the bags from the rain gutters with some string and let the smell of cheap vodka do the rest of the work.

MINT: GOOD FOR BREATH, BAD FOR SPIDERS

Mint is usually regarded as a nice, pleasant smell. But if you’re a spider, you definitely wouldn’t agree. Spiders are very averse to mint, so do what you can to spread mint throughout your house.

If you’ve got peppermint essential oils, make a minty-flavored spray that you can spritz around the areas where spiders seem to loiter. You can also get mint leaves and break them in little pieces or mint-filled tea bags to spread around the insides of your cabinets. You don’t have to use a whole lot — just enough so the smell is noticeable.

If that wasn’t enough mintiness already, you can plant mint plants throughout your house. Not only will you see fewer spiders, but your house will always have a fresh smell.

Unfortunately, mint-flavored gum or spearmint toothpaste won’t do a whole lot to deter spiders, so you’ll have to break out the real stuff for true spider-chasing power.

Hope these are some new and helpful idea's - I love the mint throughout the house!

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