Spring Bug Tips: How To Get Rid of Ants Naturally, Prevent Spiders, Stink Bugs & More (Updated 2024)
Warmer weather is upon us, and with that means more activity from humans, animals, and bugs. As spring progresses it gets warmer, and wetter, making a perfect storm for bugs in your house. Soon, you’ll be asking yourself “how to get rid of ants naturally?!” or “prevent these spiders from coming inside!”.
We put together some tips for common bugs and how to deal with them using “natural” tactics and sometimes more commercial, chemical or other methods.
How To Get Rid Of Ants Naturally
There are several natural remedies mentioned in the video we share here but some highlights:
- Mint or Peppermint oil
- Cinnamon: sticks, oil, or powder. Mix cinnamon oil in spray bottle with water will have a strong effect according to the video to the right
- Coffee grounds at entry points & cracks, even outside! (Add some peppermint too for additional impact)
- Tansy Flowers: dry flowers work or plant some near front doors or where ants may like to congregate
- Diatomaceous Earth: Using the dead bodies of crustaceans is a natural remedy and good for a lot of types of bugs like centipedes, ants, and other insects
- Baking soda & powdered sugar (careful about attracting other insects with the sugar)
These other two videos are great resources for more ways to get rid of ants. The Home Depot video does suggest some traps and bait to get rid of ants so not completely natural. The common thread here on how to get rid of ants naturally is peppermint oil. It has been mentioned in almost all videos and tips we have researched. The key is getting the treatment to the entry points and along their trails to prevent entry. These tips won’t kill them but will deter. If you want to completely eliminate (aka kill) you will most likely need some type of bait or treatment like Terro or Diatomaceous Earth. You can make a “natural” form of Terro with just sugar and Borax but keep away from kids or animals. Read the directions for more info.
Treatments can take some time so you may need to refresh treatments. Many of these tips and authors suggest 48-72 hours to see a complete reduction.
Another tip: try not to squish ants. Spraying Windex on them seems to take them out without the squish. Why? The scent they leave calls and attracts other ants to the body(s). If you have to remove some ants, using Windex or a spray bottle to drown them without squishing is preferable.
Prevent Spiders In Your Home
Spiders can be great for dealing with bugs, but most people don’t want to share a house with them. This video from This Morning is a great walkthrough of things to do.
Similar to preventing ants is using Peppermint and even citrus! Things like lemon furniture polish and vinegar with 1 to 2 parts ratio to spray “liberally” around, although the smell may make humans run too. We tend to favor the mint and citrus approach. Lastly, keeping things cleaned, picked up, and tidy is one of the most helpful things to do.
Dealing With Stink Bugs
Stink bugs just look gross. Period. Having lived in many old and new homes, stink bugs don’t discriminate for the type of house you have.
There are many types of stink bugs, they do not actually stink. These bugs like Oak and Maple trees so if you live in a heavily wooded area, you will definitely see these.
Many remedies discuss soapy water, which we have seen mixed success with. Other ideas are sticky traps. This video had a great idea for a homemade, DIY stink bug trap. Check it out for an idea on how to get rid of a mass group of stink bugs.
Centipedes In House: What To Do
Get a “leg up” on this problem (stole that joke from the video). Centipedes are creepy looking, hands down.
Two natural ways to get rid of centipedes is by sticky traps and good old diatomaceous earth. For more infested areas, you may need to use synthetic insecticides. At this point, calling in a pest control company or an expert is a good option to make sure you are covering your bases.
Centipedes also don’t like peppermint (sound familiar by now?). Treat both outside to prevent entry and inside. Diluted vinegar is also a choice.
With any pest, we want to eliminate their food source (other insects) and moisture. Remove the clutter, get the moisture out, keep other pests at bay and you will have a house with a reducing pest population in no time.
Conclusion: How To Get Rid Of Ants Naturally (And Other Pest Control Ideas)
If we learned nothing else it is that Peppermint and Vinegar are two ingredients to have on hand for almost ANY pest control issue. We will be planting peppermint outside to keep these pests at bay. So if you want to know how to get rid of ants naturally and with more intense measures, along with getting rid of other pests, we hope this article helped! Check out our other tools and home cleaning resources for more info.
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