Most people would prefer not to share their homes with invaders who don’t chip in on the rent. We’re talking about insects. They like to travel in groups, eat and poo in the same spot, and reproduce like it’s 1999.

Oh. No. Ants, roaches, fleas, and the like have got to go. Since you probably don’t have the time to crush them under your shoe or thumb, you need a solution. Learn how give them the boot without using any toxic chemicals. Try these DIY bug-zapping recipes below to save your wallet and home from the pesky intruders.

Ants

Yeah they’re tiny and virtually harmless, but when ants start marching through your kitchen like they own the place, it’s a problem. Depending on your preference, you can either kill them or repel them.

Ant Repellents

• Lemon juice: Spray or squirt lemon where ants enter (walls, cracks, etc.), and the scent will deter them.
• Chalk: Sounds funny, but people claim that by drawing chalk lines at entry points, ants won’t cross the path. The calcium in it acts as a repellent, and gardeners tout chalk powder for its effectiveness, too.
• Cinnamon and clove: One of Granny’s faves. Combine these two powders together and sprinkle around the house to keep ants away.
• Cornmeal: Using cornmeal indoors or outdoors is known to get rid of ants and their nests.
• White vinegar: Spray a solution of ½ water, ½ vinegar where they hang out and the smell will drive them away.

Ant Killers

• Borax: Mixed with sugar, water, and dish soap into a spray, this recipe is a disaster for ants. You can also make borax bombs by dipping a cotton ball into a solution of borax and sugar and setting them out.
• Red pepper: Cayenne powder blasted into cracks, anthills, or any other spot will kill them.
• Honey traps: Watch the video below by Sicilian Prince to see how to whoop ant butts with honey. Seriously.

Fleas

They bite your pets, but they bite people, too. Ugh. To get rid of the tiny vampires, try these methods.

• Borax: This versatile powder can be sprinkled on surfaces to kill and deter fleas, but be careful about using it near your pets and children. Leave it on the floors for 12 to 48 hours before vacuuming it up.
• Rosemary: Steep 1 to 2 cups of fresh rosemary leaves in boiling water; after it’s cooled, mix with your pet’s bath water for a flea dip. Allow your pet to air dry.
• Apple cider vinegar: Add a capful to your pet’s drinking water daily; fleas don’t like the taste of sour blood.
• Dish soap: Used as either a bath shampoo or trap, dish soap kills fleas. To make a trap, get 1 shallow dish (or more) and fill it with warm water. Add a few drops of dish soap and place on the floor, close to light.

Roaches

Everyone’s favorite immortal creature – the roach – can be defeated with the right tools.

• Diatomaceous earth: Great for getting rid of fleas too, FOOD GRADE diatomaceous earth placed around the house will dehydrate the bugs from the inside out. Another bonus? It’s harmless to pets.
• Baking soda: Mix it with powdered sugar to lure them into a digestive death trap. Once ingested, their guts disintegrate.
• Borax: You can’t go wrong with this one: 3 parts borax to 1 part sugar. Sprinkle in cracks, crevices, cabinets or floors. It has the same effect as the baking soda cocktail.
  
  Though using Borax is very effective, you want to be careful about pets and kids inhaling or ingesting the loose powder. For more serious bug infestations, longer application periods for these remedies may be needed, or you may decide to hire a professional exterminator.

Be sure to watch this video from Sicilian Prince to learn how to make that ant-killing honey trap!

Do you know of any other home remedies for ants, fleas, or roaches? Which ones have worked the best for your home? Tell us in the comments!