Children who have been exposed to pesticides in their homes may have an increased risk of certain cancers, according to a new study.
Researchers have found after case studies that the children who had been exposed to indoor insecticides were 47% more likely to be diagnosed with childhood leukemia and 43% more likely to be diagnosed with childhood lymphoma than kids who had never been exposed to those chemicals. So try these nontoxic methods instead.
Here are some natural ways of repelling home insects.
Citrus Peels
A great tip of keeping spiders out of your home is rubbing down any areas of your house that spiders have been commonly like windowsills or bookshelves with citrus peels. It smells lovely too.
Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
Experts say that lemon eucalyptus oil is very effective in repelling mosquitoes. Lemon eucalyptus oil can also be used to prevent deer tick bites.
Garlic
Eating lots of garlic keeps mosquitoes away of you. When your body secretes the garlic, bugs will be able to sense it and they will steer clear of you. You can also get the same effect by sprinkling garlic powder around your home.
White Vinegar
Do you have an ant issue? Just put some white vinegar in a spray bottle, and lightly sprinkle the areas where ants like to hang out. Make sure to test the solution first if you are going to be using it on carpet or a colored fabric.
Herbs
If you are looking for an easy way to keep bugs from getting into your house, plant some fragrant herbs around both the front and back doors of your house. Some great choices are catnip, lemongrass, garlic, mint, citronella, basil and even bay leaves.
Keep your House Clean
Keeping a clean house is a great way to keep pests out. Make sure to dust regularly, vacuum and wash all surfaces with soapy water frequently to keep pests from making themselves at home in your home.
Cinnamon
Sprinkling cinnamon around the house is a great way to keep bugs out. Experts say that if you sprinkle the cinnamon in a line around the bugs’ point of entry, they will not cross it.
Baby Powder
Baby powder sprinkled all around is said to repel bees and wasps, so you might want to think about it if you have those little suckers hanging around your house.
Chalk
Ants avoid walking through chalk. So, if you want to keep them out, draw chalk lines around your house, and they will not want to cross them.
Cucumber Slices and Peels
Cucumber slices keep ants off your kitchen counters. Ants don’t like it and will try to stay away from it. Cucumber peels repel cockroaches.
Onion
Slice up some onions, throw them in a bowl of water and the bugs will run far away. Onion plants can also keep away the bugs from attacking their partner plants.
Vanilla Extract
Mixture of vanilla extract and water can be a good insect repellent. You can also add lemongrass extract, lavender, or mint extracts to the mixture too, and you will smell great while you fight off the bugs.
Soybean Oil
Soybean oil is usually used in cooking, but recent research has shown that it is also a great insect repellent. In a recent study, experts found that insect repellents made with soybean oil kept the mosquitoes away.
Get Rid of Standing Water
Mosquitoes like to live in standing water, so you might be unintentionally inviting them to hang out at your home. Keep your grass trimmed short and get rid of any containers that might be harboring standing water, so your home doesn’t seem so tempting to those little pests.
