Natural Bug Control

[happysmileylady]

It's time for the bugs to invade my home again.  Every summer we have a battle royale with ants, spiders and pill bugs. 

Yesterday I was reorganizing my pantry and discovered a bunch of ants.  It appears that a package of bisquic apparently broke open and attracted them.  Thankfully it wasn't much that was spilled and while it wasn't a bunch it wasn't as many as it could be.

So, my question...

I need a natural bug repellant that will keep out the ants and the spiders.  Something pet safe, kids safe and food safe since I need to keep them out of my pantry.  I would love something that works on both the ants and the spiders (and if it works on pill bugs too, bonus!) but if I have to try to things, that's fine as long as they don't interfere with each other. 

I have heard that if  you put grits down where ants are known to be it will kill the colony, but I don't know where the colony is...or rather, they are all over our yard.  I have also heard that sprinkling cinnamon around the baseboards will keep the ants out, would that work on spiders too?  Other suggestions?

[New_Natural_Mom]

I've used EcoSmart.  The smell is overwhelming to me (like cinnamon) but it seems to work!

[JamieCatheryn]

Borax bait pellets are good, pretty safe to be around but you don't want anybody eating them, and food grade Diatomaceous Earth powder swept under baseboards and in other out of the way places is messy but effective and very safe. Sealing up and cleaning up any food is really important. The spiders are there for the other bugs, technically they're a benefit, I'd guess they'd move on if the other bugs died out.

[newbymom05]

Is it very dry where you are? Usually, every summer we have a problem w/ earwigs and pillbugs, but this year we've been better about watering the yard/close to the house and I haven't really seen any bugs inside this year. I think the bugs were attracted to water, but now that things aren't as dry, they're staying outside. That's my theory, anyway!

With ants I've found that the toxic bait traps work best. They're enclosed, so kids can't get at the bait although my dog has tried. If that isn't an option, try wiping down entry areas (windowsills, doorways) and countertops w/ vinegar. But IME that repels them--toxic bait traps kill them. Personally, I never had any luck w/ DE even though everything I've ever heard says it works.

I don't think anything works proactively on spiders other than removing their food sources. I've accepted spiders in my house and just try to knock down their webs whenever I see them.

[healthyfamilies]

With ants we have had great luck with mixing sugar and borax in a heavy bottom pot-the sugar melts and then crystallizes, when it is cool I have put small amounts in small cups/lids where I know the ants are.  It took about a month and half but I haven't had any ants since (this was over 2 years ago)

I love the idea of watering the lawn to keep them outside!

Kelly

[Cyllya]

Hey, guys! I'm having a problem with big scary sewer roaches. My apartment complex owners offered to spray pesticide, but I'm worried that it'll hurt my pets (rats). Same for store-bought pesticides. Do you think putting vinegar around the door will keep them away?

[Sol_y_Paz]

Sticky traps.  And lots of them.  Spiders don't bother me one bit unless they are actually the 2 types that are a threat to humans and dangerous.