16 Non-Toxic Pest Deterrents

A great alternative to chemical repellents and pesticides are eucalyptus oils. This essential oil has a strong and unfamiliar smell, which ants and gnats will try to avoid, thinking it's a sign of danger. SF Gate suggests making a repellent spray by adding 1/4 teaspoon of eucalyptus oil to one cup of water, shaking the solution, then spraying it on plants you want to protect from insects. Reapply every three days. To eradicate scale insects like aphids and mites, combine 1 teaspoon of eucalyptus oil, 1/2 teaspoon of liquid hand dish detergent and 2 cups of water instead.

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Diatomaceous earth is a natural mineral made of fossilized shells of diatoms, an ancient type of algae. The chalk-like powder is coarse and hard, which is abrasive to many insects with exoskeletons such as ants, fleas and roaches and dehydrates them, killing them within 48 hours. You can sprinkle food-grade dry DE in common indoor and outdoor pest-ridden areas, like garbage cans, window sills and beneath fridges and stoves. It's nontoxic and totally safe for children and pets, so while you're at it, why not rub some on the fur of your pets for long-term flea control, too.

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Turns out, some insects hate catnip as much as cats love it. The oil in the plant has been proved to be about 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET, which is used in most commercial insect repellents. There are many ways to extract and use the nepetalactone found in catnip to spray on infected plants. (To help you start: Try Linda Diane Feldt's oil-based infusions how-to in the Ann Arbor News.) But whatever DIY method you find, if you're considering spraying it on yourself, be sure to test the solution on a small area of your skin first to see if you're sensitive or allergic.

Cedar is a natural insect repellent and works especially well with moths. To keep bugs from chewing through your fabrics and valuables, place aromatic cedar blocks or shavings in your closets, hang cedar chips in cheesecloth or dab infested areas with cedar oil. The scent is what gets to the bugs, so be sure to replace the cedar when the scent fades!

White distilled vinegar is a favorite ingredient among gardeners. The right solution can (among many things) neutralize garden lime, kill weeds and keep pests away. Its natural acidity deters ants (breaks their trail), spiders (try vinegar + coconut oil), moths (catch them by hanging vinegar + molasses in a tin can) and fruit flies (lure them with the sweetness of cider vinegar). According to Adrian Hunsberger of the University of Florida, make an all-purpose bug spray by mixing two gallons of warm water, three tablespoons of baking soda, and two tablespoons each of canola oil, vinegar and oil. It's best to spray plants in the early evening to avoid burning leaves.

Another ingredient that confuses ants is cinnamon. Sprinkle some powder at their entryway and over their common paths both inside and outside of the house. If your kid's sandbox also tends to have ants, mixing the sand with cinnamon powder should do the trick. Not only will your house be ant-free, it'll also smell freaking good.

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Certain types of insects are harmless to humans and pets and also work as great pest control because they prey on those that are harmful. For instance, ladybugs consume aphids, whiteflies, mites and scales. Nematodes go for cutworms. And praying mantes tend to eat most garden pests. You can lure in the type of insect you need with specific plants (like daisies for ladybugs) or buy live ones online.

Bugs seem to despise garlic. Create a spray mixture by soaking three large cloves of crushed garlic and one tablespoon of vegetable oil overnight. Then, strain the mixture and add one teaspoon of liquid soap and one liter of water. Or if you're not really a DIY person, you can also buy one of the many commercially available garlic-based all-natural mosquito repellents.

Note: You might not even need to create a spray for some plants. Plant garlic directly next to certain plants, for example roses, can effectively deter aphids.

We also heard eating lots of garlic a few days before a hiking trip is known to keep mosquitoes away (though honestly, it might keep your partner away, too).

Turns out, wine can make a pretty great trap for fruit flies (as if we need more reason to drink wine). Like cider vinegar, wine has a sweetness that attracts the flies. Next time you're pouring yourself a glass or two, leave about an inch of wine in the bottle. Then find a large piece of paper and wrap it into a cone shape, leaving a hole just enough for flies to fit through. If you don't have an empty-enough bottle, pour some wine into a jar or cup and cover the opening with a clear plastic wrap, with a few holes just big enough for flies to fly into. The trick here is that flies will get to the source, but they won't be able to get back out.

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Borax works similarly to diatomaceous earth in that it erodes the exoskeletons of insects like ants, roaches, silverfish, fleas and termites and then kills them through dehydration. Bait insects with a mixture of the powder and something they usually like (for example honey, sugar or peanut butter) and smear the mixture on index cards. The insects will ingest some then bring it to their nests, leading more insects to ingest the mixture. The natural mineral also works as a herbicide though, so don't use them around plants.

Although Borax is natural and less toxic than spraying most commercial pesticide, it can still be toxic if consumed, so keep away from children and pets.

There are many non-toxic pest-specific traps that can be easily purchased online. Rescue! Why Trap has a reusable trap for wasps, hornets and yellow jackets that drowns or dehydrates the insects in two chambers (slide photo is an example from a reviewer). The company claims that the attractant will not lure beneficial honeybees. For rodents, poison-free and lightweight cages like the Atomic Barbie is kid- and pet-safe, plus allows you to safely release other animals that are accidentally caught.

According to several sources, including Earth Easy and Apartment Therapy, placing cucumber peels or slices at points of entry can deter ants, roaches and silverfish. And the more bitter the cucumber, the better.

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Soap is included in many homemade remedies to help break down the insect's body and allow the other ingredients to do their thing. A simple mixture of water and soap or detergent (with a soap concentration of about 2 percent) will work on soft-bodied arthropods like mites, aphids and mealybugs. You can also mix in a tablespoon of canola oil, which smothers the insect. For mites, try two tablespoons of cayenne pepper instead of canola oil and let stand overnight. But be careful on which types of plants you spray the solution on as some soaps are too harsh for them. Colorado State University Extension has some great application tips for soapy water.

Non-toxic copper-based shields and electronic fences have been known to keep slugs away by giving them a little static sensation that make them turn back. Electric shock is also used on rodents, with people claiming rat zapping is a more humane way of killing than poisoning and snap traps. But electric shock methods can be more time consuming, as small electrocution devices should be checked regularly, and other types of small animals may accidentally get trapped in the zappers and get hurt.

If the pest outbreak is getting out of hand, you might want to call an exterminator. Some pest control companies have cold or heat treatment as non-toxic and non-residual options. Because temperature has a direct effect on an insect's body, raising or cooling the area to extreme levels can be super effective.

Candles and oil lamps made from natural ingredients like clove, lavender, mint, citrus and rosemary are great alternatives to sprays. Who wouldn't want a home smelling like herbs instead of DEET? If you're purchasing an insect-repellent candle be sure to check the ingredients as many are made with toxins. Erin Boyle from Gardenista has a great tea candle tutorial made with essential oils that keep the bugs away.