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Vinegar Uses: Natural Pesticides

How to use vinegar to repel everything from flies to mosquitoes | Ask Anna
Bugs.  We all hate bugs, especially in our house and around our food.  There are lots of pesticides on the market but most, if not all, of them come with a toxic smell that leaves your home smelling dirty and deadly.  Well, you’re in luck!  Today I’m going to show you a few ways that you can use Vinegar as natural pesticides for your home.

#1 Countertops

To keep the bugs off your counters, and way from your food, “mix equal parts white vinegar and water and wipe” over the countertops.  Not only will this work as an insect repellant but it will also clean the counters!  Can I get a “woo-hoo” for killing two birds with one stone?!

#2 Insect Repellent

Do you have a problem with ants in your home?  In my opinion there aren’t a whole lot of things that are worse then being invaded by ants!  To prevent future invasions you need to arm your door crossings, your window sills and the baseboards!  “Pour full-strength white vinegar around [those] areas [to] prevent the [ants] from invading.”  They don’t like white vinegar, which means I love white vinegar!

#3 Fly Trap

Okay I have to admit that my least favorite thing about summer are the flies and the mosquitoes!  With this trick I can get rid of those nasty pests!  “To get rid of flies in the house [fill] an old jar about 1/2 way with apple cider vinegar.  Punch a few holes in the lid, screw the lid back on and the flies will crawl through the holes.”  To make a “portable trap” for summer garden parties and BBQs “place a bowl filled with apple cider vinegar near some food, but away from you and your guests.  By the [end of the evening] most of your uninvited guests will be floating inside the bowl.”  I sure wish I had known these tricks sooner, but now that I know them, I’m looking forward to a fly-free summer!!!

Have fun getting rid of all the pests around your home!  Join me tomorrow for tips on how to use vinegar for cleaning!

Vinegar uses

This series is based on a book I received from my mom at Christmas. All items in quotations are referenced from Vinegar: 1001 Practical Household Uses.

 

About Anna

"Hi, I'm Anna! Wife, mother, child of God, and the founder of Ask Anna. I have always enjoyed cleaning, organizing, decorating and helping people, so I've put that all together on the pages of this blog. I truly hope my tips help you in your home and make sure to contact me if you have a question!"

Comments

  5. umf76 says

    What about house centipedes? Anything I can do to keep them away? I live in an apt. & these things don’t pay rent.

  6. Deborah says

    I use medium grind corn meal to get rid of ants. They take it back to the nest where the queen is. When they ingest the corn meal it expands inside them, and they die. It really works. After a rain I reapply. I used to live in California, on an anthill I think, and nothing worked like this.