5 Recipes for DIY, Green, and Frugal Pest Control

Summer is officially here, which means that bugs of all persuasions (let's take a moment and shudder a collective ick) are out in full force. Most bug repellents and pest control sprays are laden with chemicals (and unsafe to use by kids and pets) and fall on the pricey side. Whole Living magazine included 5 recipes in their June 2011 issue for do-it-yourself, homemade repellents.

For Ants: 

• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 tbsp Borax

Sprinkle in kitchens and bathrooms (alas, this one must be kept away from kids and pets, however).

For Bedbugs:

• 1 tsp of peppermint oil
• 1 tsp of rosemary oil
• 2 cups of water

Spray on the mattress and the floor surrounding the bed. (To me this sounds like the perfect aromatherapy mix for the bedroom, too!)

For Flies:

• Cloves
• Eucalyptus
• Clover blossom

Tie in a sachet and hang from the ceiling.

For Mice:

• 1 tbsp peppermint castile soap
• 1/2 tsp cayenne
• 8 cups of water

Spray along the baseboards in your house.

For Roaches:

• 2 tsp of tea tree oil
• 2 cups of water

Spray in kitchens and bathrooms.

For a list of store-bought, non-toxic pest repellents, visit www.wholeliving.com.