9 Cheap Ways to Get Rid of Bugs

No one wants bugs in their house, but it’s also not fun to spend money getting rid of them. Thankfully, there are many inexpensive yet effective methods of evicting creepy crawlers from your home.

1. Peppermint Oil

You can buy peppermint oil inexpensively at most grocery stores, and in addition to helping ward off bugs, it’ll also make your home smell great and fresh. Mix ten to 15 drops of this oil with eight ounces of water.

Shake or mix the tonic to combine and then spray the mixture in spots bugs are commonly found - doorways, vents, windows, and so on. Peppermint oil is known to naturally repel ants, spiders, mosquitoes, and even larger pests like mice, making it well worth the small investment.

If you grow mint, which is prolific, you can even make your own.

2. Dish Soap

Another spray you can concoct from items you most likely already have in your home will repel pesky ants. Fill a spray bottle three-quarters of the way with water, and then add ten to 20 drops of dish soap to the bottle. Shake the bottle to combine the ingredients thoroughly and spray your problem areas to kill and ward off ants for mere pennies.

3. Eucalyptus Detergent Mix

This is particularly effective for dust mites, which are hard to see, but most likely in your home and on your linens and clothes. For an inexpensive and natural way to get rid of them, mix six teaspoons of eucalyptus oil with one and a half teaspoons of liquid laundry detergent in a bucket of water.

Soak any washable items in this mixture. For anything that you can’t soap, put the same mixture in a spray bottle and spray it onto problem areas, wiping it down with a clean cloth. If you prefer tea tree oil, that works as well.

4. Flypaper and Insect Traps

You can likely find flypaper and insect traps for under ten dollars at your local hardware store, making them a cheap way to rid your home of bugs. These can be strategically placed around your home to collect moths, flies, centipedes, and other unwanted creatures.

The scent and color of these lure insects to them and then trap them there. Be sure to check them every few days and dispose of them once they’ve done their job and collected bugs.

5. Homemade Fly Trap

It’s easy to make your own fly trap to rid your home of these annoying flying creatures. Fill a jar with about an inch of apple cider vinegar, and then add a few drops of sweet or floral smelling dish soap to the mix.

Cover the jar with plastic wrap and secure it with a rubber band. Poke holes in the plastic wrap to allow flies entrance into the jar. Once the fragrant mixture has done its job attracting flies, put the lid on the jar and dispose of the bug or let them go outside.

6. Lavender

Not only does lavender smell amazing, but it also repels bugs like moths, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes. You can use lavender in your home in two ways. The first method is to place sachets of dried lavender around your home to ward off bugs. Another option is to spray a mixture of five to ten drops of lavender essential oil in eight ounces of water around your home. You can even do both for an extra fresh and bug-free home!

7. Catnip

Catnip is a highly effective and wallet-friendly way of getting rid of cockroaches. Although cats are fond of the smell catnip emits, cockroaches despise it. Fill sachets with catnip and place them in the areas you’ve seen roaches. This will help keep them away.

8. Chili Spray

A somewhat surprising but effective way to get rid of crickets in your home is to make a spray with red chilies. Boil two cups of water and add half a cup of red chilies, red chili powder, or chili sauce. Strain the liquid and add two additional cups of water.

Put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray the outside perimeter of your home. This will keep crickets from coming in. Don’t spray this inside as it could potentially stain furniture, rugs, or other linens.

9. Citrus Peels

The next time you enjoy a delicious orange or tangerine, instead of discarding the peel, use it to ward off spiders. Citrus scents repel these insects, so rubbing the peel of a citrus fruit along baseboards, window sills, and other problem areas will keep them at bay. Plus, it’ll make your house smell great.

In addition to most of these remedies being affordable, they’re also almost all-natural, which makes them even better for you and your home.