Latest news with #naturalrepellents
CNET
11-08-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNET
Sick of Bugs? These Houseplants Are Natural Bug Shields for Your Kitchen
Nothing kills the mood for cooking faster than spotting ants on the counter or gnats circling the sink. It just isn't sanitary or mood-lifting to prep for dinner or putter around in the kitchen with bugs around. Warmer months often bring more kitchen pests, but you don't have to rely on chemical sprays to keep them at bay. Certain houseplants not only add greenery to your space but also release scents and oils that naturally repel common insects. By placing the right plants in strategic spots, you can create a fresher, more inviting kitchen while quietly protecting it from unwanted guests. You may not have considered using houseplants to rid your home of bugs, but some common herbs and other plants can act as natural repellents. As a bonus, these plants add visual charm to your home and some can be used to add flavor to your cooking or cocktails. Below you'll find six houseplants known to deter insects naturally. Read more: This Houseplant Cleans Air 30 Times Better Than a Typical Plant For more, see the best plants for cooling the air in your home, find out which plants are easiest to keep alive and peruse our list of the best places to buy plants online. Best plants to repel bugs Herbs Herbs can do double duty as flavor enhancers and bug repellents. Kay Fochtmann/EyeEm Potent herbs like basil, mint, sage and rosemary are great for topping spaghetti or making mojitos, but their scent stops insects like house and fruit flies from coming near. Consider lining a sunny kitchen window with a few of your favorite food and drink garnishes. Not only will the bugs stay away, but you'll enjoy the benefits of fresh herbs year-round and without the hefty price tags found in most supermarkets. Pro tip: Lemongrass contains citronella oil, which is often used in candles and sprays to repel mosquitos. Marigold Marigolds give off a potent scent that not all critters enjoy. Jessica Dolcourt/CNET The yellow and orange flower is so much more than a pretty accent to an oversized pot or home garden -- it's a gnat- and midge-fighting beast that emits a distinct and powerful odor that sends critters scurrying. Perhaps best of all, marigolds are an easy plant to cultivate within your home since they require little maintenance and grow quickly. Lavender Lavender is soothing for us humans, but not so much for certain insects. nevarpp/Getty Images Lavender boasts calming properties that help us drift to sleep at night, but it has the opposite effect on insects like moths and beetles. Snip a few purple stems and incorporate them into an elegant flower bouquet to ward off any unwelcome visitors. You can buy live lavander plants on and other sites. Catnip Alina Bradford/CNET Your feline friend may experience an immediate sense of euphoria when exposed to catnip, but roaches and mosquitoes have the opposite reaction. According to scientists, the plant contains an active component that triggers the chemical receptor in insects that causes pain and itchiness. Like humans, when insects feel the slightest bit of discomfort, they tend to retreat and not return to the source of suffering. Amazon sells a four-pack of catnip plants for $23. Chrysanthemums Try some Chrysanthemum to slow down common kitchen insects. Corbis This popular flower is an insect's worst enemy. In fact, a chrysanthemum's hit list is extensive and includes roaches, ants, silverfish, lice, bed bugs and mites. Keep these away from your pets, though, as they can be toxic when ingested. Carnivorous plants The Venus flytrap is the most famous bug eliminator in the plant kingdom. Joel's Carnivorous Plants Lean into the obvious choice and opt for the endlessly entertaining carnivorous plant. Typically, these hungry wonders, like the Venus flytrap, lure in unsuspecting prey with a scent that mirrors delicious fruits and flowers. Once its hairlike lobes, otherwise known as trichomes, are activated, its leaves snap shut and reopen 10 days after the insect has been completely digested. Of course, you'll need a whole lot of carnivorous plants to tackle swarms, but they make great additions to target the occasional fly or two. No matter your preference, these plants, flowers and herbs make wonderful (and natural!) additions to a kitchen pest management plan. They also happen to be delicious and/or beautiful. If you're still not convinced, consider other all-natural alternatives like coffee grounds, essential oils, banana peels, white vinegar and onions. Each has also been proven to stave off an infestation if left out on kitchen counters.
The Sun
25-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
List of 3 plants will banish flies, spiders and mice from your home – it smells great but pests hate it
IF you're fed up with flies, ants and spiders inviting themselves into your home, fear not, we've got you covered. There's nothing more irritating than trying to eat your dinner, only to have bugs constantly flying at you, or scurrying across your plate. 5 5 And if you've heard a mouse in your house and aren't sure what to do, here's where to start. While it may be convenient to use sprays to banish pests, they often contain poisonous chemicals that can linger in the air and irritate you throughout the day. But now, luckily for you, a pest pro has shared the 'powerful' buys that will banish flies, ants, spiders and even mice from your home in an instant. And if your wallet is feeling the pinch, don't worry, as these handy buys are super affordable. In fact, you can pick up one from Asda for just £1.08 - yes, you heard that correctly. Richard Cale, an expert from Leaf Culture, claimed that where houseflies are concerned, it is better to get rid of them naturally with plants that can stop them coming near your windows. He said: 'If you're exhausted of annoying flies entering your home, consider adding some natural protections like houseplants. 'Certain plants can improve your living area and also serve as powerful fly repellents.' While it may seem strange to some, it turns out that certain herbs can produce essential oils that can confuse flies and even be mildly toxic to them. Additionally, plants mask the smell of fruit or any other food scents that attract flies to homes which will make your home less appealing to them. Top 3 Hacks to Get Rid of Moths As a result, having plants on your windowsills makes it more difficult for flies to hunt for food and can easily overwhelm a fly's sensory organ to keep them away from your pad. Not only can lavender work to banish flies and bugs from your home, but according to Richard, mint and basil will also do the trick too. Mint Homeowners struggling with houseflies should know that mint has a cooling yet sharp scent that will stop flies, but can even keep ants, spiders and mice out of homes. It is a fast-growing plant that contains menthol and other pungent oils which can unsettle animals and discourage them from going near your home. Richard explained: 'Mint is a plant well known for its fantastic aroma and cooking use. Not only this, it is a perfect barrier for flies and ants. Why do flies come out in summer? Flies are present all year round, but all of a sudden when summer comes, they are just EVERYWHERE! The main contributing factors are the breeding cycle of flies and the soaring temperatures. Insects are cold blooded and in summer, when their body temperature rises from the external heat, they become more active. The hotter weather also let's them seek out cool moist spots, like inside your home, to escape from the sweltering heat and to lay their eggs. House Fly eggs take around 20 hours to hatch, but when the temperature rises above 37 degrees, can hatch within 8 hours! In extreme hot weather the eggs can mature from larvae to adult fly in as little as four days. The average lifespan of a housefly is 21 days, so each female can lay up to 900 eggs during the summer months! 'The strong minty fragrance keeps out the insects and makes it an excellent natural pest control solution.' If you want to say goodbye to pests for summer, you'll be pleased to know that you can now nab yourself a Cool & Refreshing Growing Mint Garden from Asda for only £1.08, making this hack perfect for those on a budget. Basil Not only this, but basil is also great to have in kitchens as it has a strong scent that flies and even mosquitos hate. Basil works to overwhelm the senses of pests, making it difficult for them to navigate. Richard shared: 'Basil is known for its powerful scent and ability to repel flies and mosquitoes.' As a result, he advised: 'Place basil in sunny areas such as kitchen windowsills or outside patios where flies are a typical problem.' You can nab basil plants from the majority of supermarkets and while it'll only cost you £1.50 for a Fresh Living Basil Pot from Sainsbury's, you'll also find a Cooks' Ingredients Medium Basil Pot from Waitrose for just £1.36 thanks to a recent offer - so if you've not got a lot of cash to splash, this affordable trick is one you'll need to try. IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
