It’s that pesky time of year again in Qatar when the pests (read insects and bugs) crawl out of their hiding spots and decide it’s time to roam our homes to stay cool and out of the summer sun. But, while they stay cool, they surely make us hot under the collar when we see them roaming around so freely as if they own the place. Now, that’s when we need to take some serious action and get rid of the little buggers once and for all.
Yes, pest control is an option and I know most of us get it done from time to time during the year here in Qatar, but sometimes, these pesky insects and bugs escape the wrath of the pesticide and find their way into our homes still.
Secondly, as Qatar moves towards sustainable development and protecting the environment, it is our duty as residents in this country that wants to make life better for us to play our part in helping to make it as eco-friendly as possible, and to avoid using chemical containing insecticides and pesticides as much as possible as they are also harmful for health..
That’s where the tips I’m going to talk about in this article will help because not only will we get rid of the pesky pests from our home, we'll do it without using chemicals. Most of the tips are easy to follow instructions and the ingredients needed can be found in most homes (these ingredients are, in general, chemical free) so will neither effect your health or that of your children, especially if they are still babies and toddlers and like to crawl or get into places they shouldn’t be (I can envision all the parents out there nodding their heads in the affirmative), and are not poisonous or dangerous if accidentally ingested.
So, if you’re tired of swatting away those nasty bugs and insects from your home here in Qatar once and for all the natural way, then read along with us:
There tends to be a lot of dust during the summer months in Qatar and that’s when most of the sand storms tend to take place, and if that sand and dust can enter our homes through even the tiniest of cracks or opens, just imagine how many bugs and insects can, too!
Though this tip is as obvious as it gets, well, many of us tend to slack off from time to time, especially if we’re managing the home all alone, and even more so when we have small children who are bound to drops crumbs of whatever they eat around the house.
That’s why it’s important to understand that if we don’t want pests in the house, then we need to stop being slack and make the effort to sweep or vacuum the floors on an everyday basis to get rid of crumbs or bits have food that have found their way only the floor instead of in the mouth and tummy. Wipe counter surfaces and tables, etc. to ensure they are crumb free, and also ensure no uncovered food is left out in the open, or you’ll find an army of ants or a bunch of cockroaches on the rampant having a feast in your kitchen and around the house. Wash dishes immediately after eating and throw away garbage as quickly as possible.
A great tip for cleaning drains in your kitchen and bathrooms is to pour a mixture of 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar down the drain. Leave for about 5-10 minutes and then pour boiling water down the drains so anything that is clogging the drains gets washed away. Not only will this keep your drains unclogged, it will also keep cockroaches and other bugs from crawling out of the drains into your home.
You might not know this (I didn’t by the way), but leaky faucets that continuously drip water are a breeding ground for bugs and insects. So, if any of your water faucets are leaking even in drops, get them fixed immediately and prevent the bugs and insects from breeding inside your home.
Now, let’s move on to some other tips that will help you effectively keep the bugs and insects out of your home using natural ingredients that may already be in your home, but even if they aren’t, they are easily found all over Qatar in supermarkets like Lulu, Carrefour, Spinneys, Mega Mart, Spar, Al Meera, Family Food Centre, etc. and even most ‘bakalas’ (corner shops).
Yes, we know chopping onions makes you cry, but when you cut them to keep the bugs and insects away, they’ll make you very happy! What do you say? Will you try it? All you need to do is slice up an onion, put the slices in water in places like kitchen counters and table tops and watch those pests run for their lives.
We all love a little black pepper on our food to flavour it up, but did you know it had other uses, too, as a bug and insect repellent. Bet that's news for most of you locals and expats in Qatar. Just sprinkle pepper powder around your home and you won't be seeing any bugs and insects creeping and crawling around to invade your privacy!
Borax and baking soda (both are easily available in the supermarkets in Qatar) can be used to get rid of the bugs and insects like silverfish, cockroaches, fleas, bed bugs and ants that you may see fluttering away in your home to hide when they know they’ve been seen. All you need to do is fill any holes or cracks in your home with borax or baking soda, and sprinkle the corners in your home, and you’ll be rid of these pests for good because both acts like insecticides and will kill bugs and insects.
Please keep in mind though that if you have any pets, borax may be harmful. In this case, stick to the baking soda!
Do you know that cinnamon powder is a great ant-repellent? All you need to do is sprinkle some in the cracks and corners of your home, and around the kitchen counters, and you won’t see the pesky little buggers again You and your food will be safe and you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the summer!
Yes, peppermint! If you add about 10 drops of peppermint oil (easily available in Qatar) into a spray bottle and mix it with some water, you can keep spiders, cockroaches, bed bugs and other insects away because they hate the smell of peppermint. It works on mice, too. All you need to do is spray it in areas around your home where you think these pests may be lurking and in different corners around your home, and VOILA! Your home will smell nice and you’ll keep the bugs and insects at bay. What more could you possibly want!
Sick of those fruit flies buzzing around the fruit you just left on the dining table? Where do they even suddenly appear from? No fear! Stick some cloves in a lemon/lime and watch how those pesky fruit flies disappear while you enjoy the citrusy fragrance in your home!
I bet you didn’t know that ants hate walking on any kind of powder (I just learnt about that myself and found it rather amusing). That’s why if you draw a chalk line around your pet’s food bowl, the chalk dust will keep the ants well at bay and they won’t dare venture near the food.
Have you ever used any of these household items to keep the bugs and insects away here in Qatar? Do you have any other tips for us? Do let us know your thoughts in our Comments section. Like and share the article - it keeps us going
Cover image credit: Wide Open Country
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