- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- moms today articles
- moms today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Keep Bugs at Bay
The Natural Way to Stay Insect Free
By Andrea Candee
Those bothersome moths moved right into your clothes closets and food pantry without invitation – or did you unwittingly invite them? Residues of odors and stains on clothing attract moths to your closets.
Open bags of cereals, grains and flours are comparable to putting out the welcome mat. The easiest way to deal with the food items is to refrigerate them during summer months. Clean clothing before storing. Additional protection can be provided by placing muslin bags in your closets filled with combinations of dried, aromatic herbs and essential oils such as tansy, peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, cedar, sage, thyme, cinnamon and clove.
In centuries past, aromatic herbs were strewn on the floors of homes to repel insects. Instead, branches of herbs can be hung in doorways, arranged creatively in containers or crumbled into potpourris, creating pleasant pest-repellent aromas. Essential oils can waft throughout the home in electric or candle diffusers. Cotton balls infused with essential oils can be strategically placed.
Let us peacefully co-exist with the insect world without polluting ourselves and our fragile environment by using Nature's bountiful gifts.