The end of summer means one thing... ants. Lots of thirsty, thirsty ants. They come from every crevice to try and steal a drop of water and carry away Nala's food. And, before ants we had ticks. Thankfully Nala has never had fleas, but this would take care of that too.
Natural, zero waste, bug repellent that's effective!? You betcha. And, it's safe to eat. This is a total win. Like TOTAL win.
This recipe utilizes diatomaceous earth. Now, you'll want to get food grade diatomaceous earth. It's made up of the fossils of tiny aquatic organisms known as diatoms. Over long periods of time, diatoms accumulate in the sediment of rivers, streams, and the ocean.
Diatomaceous earth kills bed bugs, cockroaches, ticks, fleas, spiders, ants, crickets and the list goes on. And it's completely non-toxic! Brush it through your dog's fur, sprinkle it in your garden, run it along your baseboard or in your cupboards - you don't have to worry about your animals or children's safety.
It's not a chemical reaction that kills the critters. Diatomaceous earth looks like glass under a microscope. It's very sharp to small creatures and produces a lot of cuts across their exoskeleton which will lead to them drying out.
For the most part, diatomaceous earth repels creatures. If you draw a line with the DE the ants will walk around it, not through it. And, if they can't get around it - they don't go through it.
Now, if you live near SF, Rainbow Grocery does sell it in bulk. Check with your co-op they will probably sell it in bulk near the detergent. If you don't have a co-op nearby, check with an animal feed supply store. They often sell pet food in bulk with other things like diatomaceous earth.
Natural Bug Repellent
- 1/4 Cup of Diatomaceous Earth
- 5-10 Drops of Peppermint Essential Oil*
*Optional: The peppermint really helps the ants to stay away. They hate the smell of peppermint.
Mix in a small bowl. Sprinkle wherever you're having a pest issue.
When ticks are a problem, mostly in June, I sprinkle two or three cups all over the backyard once a week. It eliminated our tick problem.
It's completely safe for fish, the water, and other animals. You can feel good about leaving it in your yard. I don't think you could say that about Raid.