No one wants to share their home with pests like rats and cockroaches. These unwanted guests can contaminate food, spread diseases, and cause damage to your property. While professional pest control services can help eliminate infestations, there are also many natural and DIY remedies you can try to deter rats and cockroaches from entering your home in the first place. Here are 10 effective remedies to keep these pests away:

1. Essential Oils
Certain essential oils have strong smells that rats, cockroaches, and many other pests dislike. Peppermint oil, lemongrass oil, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil are some of the most effective. Try making a spray by mixing 20-30 drops of your chosen essential oil with water in a spray bottle. Spray this solution in areas where you’ve seen pests or along potential entry points.

2. Vinegar
The strong sour smell of vinegar is unpleasant for many pests. Spray undiluted white vinegar around countertops, floors, and other areas prone to cockroach or rat activity. You can also use a 50/50 vinegar and water solution. Re-apply regularly as the vinegar smell fades.

3. Boric Acid
This common household product is an effective cockroach killer and deterrent. Make a boric acid and sugar bait by mixing equal parts boric acid and white sugar. Spread this along cockroach trails or in corners where you see them. The sugar attracts them while the boric acid kills them or causes them to avoid the area.

4. Catnip
While attractive to cats, the strong smell of catnip is highly offensive to rats, cockroaches, and many other pests. Grow catnip plants around your home’s exterior or sprinkle dried catnip in potential entry areas. You can also stuff catnip into small muslin bags and place them in cabinets or other hot spots.

5. Soap Solution
A simple soapy water solution can help drive away cockroaches. The slick surface makes it difficult for them to move around, while the smell from the soap further deters them. Mix a few drops of dish soap into a spray bottle filled with warm water. Spray the solution frequently in infested areas.

6. Steel Wool
Rats and mice are skilled chewers, but they can’t easily gnaw through tough steel wool. Stuff any cracks, holes, or potential entry points with steel wool to help block rodents from getting inside. This also deters them by causing an unpleasant feeling on their teeth if they try gnawing through.

7. Coffee Grounds
While you may love the smell of coffee, rats, cockroaches, and many insects detest the strong aroma. Simply sprinkle used coffee grounds around your home’s exterior, entrances, or any areas where you see signs of pests. The grounds can also be mixed with other deterrents like essential oils.

8. Ammonia
The pungent odor of ammonia is highly repellent to rats, cockroaches, and other pests but safe for humans when used properly. Try soaking rags in ammonia and placing them in out-of-the-way areas where you suspect pest activity. Just be sure these areas are well-ventilated.

9. Baking Soda
A light dusting of simple baking soda is a safe, all-natural way to send cockroaches packing. The baking soda sticks to their bodies and eventually dehydrates them, causing them to vacate the area. Sprinkle some baking soda in corners, behind appliances, and any other cockroach hiding spots. Reapply frequently.

10. Diatomaceous Earth
This naturally-occurring sedimentary rock is made of fossilized diatoms and has an abrasive powdery texture that dehydrates and damages the exoskeletons of insects like cockroaches. Lightly sprinkle some food-grade diatomaceous earth in cracks, crevices, and other areas prone to pest activity.

In addition to using these remedies, there are other helpful tips for keeping rats, cockroaches, and other pests out of your home: READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Keep Things Clean
Pests like cockroaches and rodents are attracted to food sources and crumbs. Keep all kitchen surfaces clean, store food properly in sealed containers, and vacuum/sweep regularly to eliminate anything that could attract them.

Seal Entry Points
Carefully inspect the interior and exterior of your home, sealing any cracks, gaps around pipes/wires, and other potential entry spots with caulk, steel wool, or other materials. Close off any obvious access points.

Remove Water Sources
Cockroaches and other pests need water to survive, so fix any leaky pipes and remove sources of standing water around your home. Make sure to dry up spills quickly as well.

Use Traps
In conjunction with other deterrents, set humane traps around your home for rats, mice, or cockroaches. Empty them outside regularly.

Maintain Landscaping
Keep shrubbery, mulch, and other yard debris away from your home’s exterior, as pests often nest in these areas before moving indoors. Clean up fallen fruit or seeds.

While these natural pest deterrent remedies can be very effective, be patient as none of them will eradicate an existing infestation overnight. It often takes consistent, repeated application.

If you do have an existing serious pest problem like a rat or cockroach infestation, it’s best to first bring in professional pest control experts who can safely and thoroughly eliminate the pests. Then you can implement the remedies above to help prevent future re-infestation.

Keeping your home neat, sealing off entry points, removing food and water sources, and using these homemade deterrents can make your living space less attractive and inhospitable for these unwelcome pests. A multi-pronged approach is best for keeping cockroaches, rats, and other critters out for good.

While some pests may never be fully eradicated, staying vigilant and taking preventative measures can at least stop them from taking up residence inside your home. With some diligence using these safe and affordable natural remedies, you can help keep your home free of rats, cockroaches, and other invasive pests.