With spring comes warmer weather, beautiful blooms, and, unfortunately, annoying bugs that may interfere with the comfort of your home.

Whether you deal with mosquitoes keeping you up at night with their buzzing and itchy bites, an ant colony that has laid ownership to an obscure corner of your home, or flies spoiling your outdoor plans, bugs have a tendency to ruin the fun.

Getting rid of pests requires a combination of preventative measures, including properly storing food, removing garbage promptly, cleaning regularly, and sealing off entry points. Sometimes, however, this isn’t necessarily enough to keep the bugs at bay. This spring, consider the following natural and effective DIY remedies you can use to keep pesky pets from taking over your home. (Note: some of these solutions may have negative effects on pets, so check with your vet before trying them.)

Citrus

Spraying a lime, grapefruit, or lemon solution on areas prone to pests can act as a natural deterrent against spiders, ants, and mosquitos. In addition, the acidic properties of these fruits are known to help mask an ant’s scent trail, which keeps others from following behind it. As a bonus, it will keep your home smelling great.

You can make a homemade repellent by simply mixing one part citrus juice with three parts water. Then spray it around your door frames, windowsills, and other common entry points for pests, reapplying as necessary to retain its effectiveness.

Solutions

White vinegar: To rid your home of ants without harsh chemicals, make a 50-50 solution of vinegar and water and spray it directly on visible ants and hot spots, such as food cabinets and outside entry points like windowsills and doorways. However, do not spray vinegar on grout or natural stone; its acids will destroy the material.

Baking soda and powdered sugar: The goal of this combination is to eliminate the queen of an ant colony. Combine equal proportions of baking soda and powdered You can make a homemade repellent by simply mixing one part citrus juice with three parts water. Then spray it around your door frames, windowsills, and other common entry points for pests, reapplying as necessary to retain its effectiveness. sugar in a bowl, and sprinkle it close to places frequented by ants. They’ll carry the combination back to their colony where they’ll ingest it, leading to dehydration and death.

Garlic spray: The sulfur produced by garlic repels mosquitoes, flies, and ticks. For easy home application, peel and cut several garlic cloves and let them soak in a bowl of water for a few hours. Then transfer the garlic water to a spray bottle and spray in areas where you notice these pesky pests.

Oils

Eucalyptus oil: Try shooing away bugs like flies and mosquitos with a ten-to-one solution of witch hazel/water and this essential oil. Spray it around your home, and consider mixing a few drops into your shampoo or body lotion to help keep bugs away from you when spending time outdoors. (Be sure to test it on your skin first.)

Peppermint oil: To eliminate creepy crawlers like spiders and mosquitos from your home effectively, add some of this oil to cotton balls and place them strategically where they gather. You could also add about ten drops to a spray bottle filled with water, shake, and spray in areas where you know they exist. Either way, this method will leave your home smelling fresh and minty. (Note: for both these oils, use caution with small children and check with your pediatrician to be safe.)

Spices

Cinnamon: Ants won’t cross a cinnamon line because they detest the spice’s smell, and if they inhale it, they’ll suffocate and die. Pests like cockroaches, wasps, spiders, and fruit flies also dislike the scent of cinnamon. Simply sprinkle the spice directly on surfaces for an easy way to deter all these pests.

Cloves: Eugenol, the compound found in cloves, produces an intense aroma that can make for an effective mosquito repellant; for an added preventative punch, some people like to stick the cloves in a lemon half. Be sure to be very careful if you choose this method, however, as both eugenol and lemons can be toxic to pets in high doses.

Plants

Fresh herbs: Putting potted herbs like lemongrass, basil, mint, or rosemary near or on your windowsills will help keep mosquitos away since they have an aversion to strong-scented herbs.

Lemongrass: You can use lemongrass as a natural skin repellent since its leaves contain citronella. Convert the leaves into a paste by grinding or mincing them, then apply it directly to your skin. Before doing so, though, consider testing it on a small area of your skin to be sure you don’t have an allergic reaction.

Getting rid of bugs in an eco-friendly manner can keep you and your family from being exposed to toxic chemicals. By taking these simple steps, you can help make a difference in the fight against bug infestations while also protecting the environment.