18 Common Items in Home to Solve Pest Problems in Garden

Sheri Dorn is a versatile homesteader and culinary artist with a strong focus on organic and heirloom gardening. Holding a Master's degree in Culinary Arts, she combines her love for cooking and gardening in a unique way. Sheri is an active contributor to online gardening communities and enjoys quality outdoor time with her family and pets.
Learn About Our Editorial Policy

2-Minute Read

Here are the most potent Common Items in Home to Solve All of Pest Problems in Garden you can use! Cheap and easy!

If you are looking for an easy and cheap ways to keep you plants safe in home and yard, then do not miss this list on the most Common Items in Home to Solve All of Pest Problems!

Check out the best organic pest control methods here


Common Items in Home to Solve All of Pest Problems

1. Vinegar

Common Items in Home to Solve All of Pest Problems 1
familyhandyman.

Vinegar can act as a natural weed killer. If you have weeds sprouting up between your plants, you can use a spray bottle filled with vinegar to target and kill them.

Be careful not to spray vinegar on your other plants because it can harm them as well.

In the spray bottle, combine equal parts of white vinegar and water. For example, you can use 8 ounces (236 ml) of vinegar and 8 ounces of water. Adding a few drops of liquid dish soap to the vinegar-water solution can help the solution stick to plant leaves and pests more effectively. The soap acts as a surfactant and improves the spray’s coverage.

Before using the vinegar spray on your entire garden, test it on a small section of the plant or a few leaves to check for any adverse effects. Some plants may be sensitive to vinegar, especially if used in high concentrations.

Some common pests that vinegar can help to kill or deter include aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and whiteflies.

Find How Vinegar Improves Seed Germination (Proven by Science) here

2. Dish Soap

A simple mixture of dish soap and water can be a great way to manage a variety of soft-bodied insects, such as aphids and mites. The soap dissolves their exoskeleton, causing them to dehydrate and die.

  • 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap (use a mild, biodegradable soap without bleach or additives)
  • 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil (such as neem oil, olive oil, or canola oil)
  • 1 quart (4 cups) of water

In a clean spray bottle, combine 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap with 1 quart of water. Use a mild dish soap to avoid harmful chemicals that may damage plants.

Spray the dish soap solution directly on the leaves and stems of the affected plants and on areas where pests are present. Focus on the pests and their hiding spots, as well as areas where they are causing damage.

Here are 15 Top Dawn Dish Soap Uses in the Garden

3. Garlic

Common Items in Home to Solve All of Pest Problems 3
growfully

Garlic is a natural deterrent for many pests, including beetles, root maggots, and aphids. You can make a homemade garlic spray by blending two bulbs of garlic with a small amount of water and then steeping it overnight.

Strain it and add more water to make a gallon of garlic solution, and then spray it on the infested plants.

Here is How to Make and Use Garlic Water Pesticide for Plants

4. Hot Peppers or Hot Sauce

Hot peppers or hot sauce can be used as a natural and non-toxic method to repel and deter certain garden pests. They contain compounds called capsaicinoids, which give them their heat and pungency.

Ingredients:

  • 2-4 teaspoons of sauce
  • 1 quart (4 cups) of water
  • 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap

Instructions:

Mix all of these together in a spray bottle.

  • Before using the hot pepper spray, test it on a small area of the plant to ensure it doesn’t cause any damage or burning.
  • Spray the hot pepper solution directly on plant leaves, focusing on areas where pests are active or are likely to feed.
  • Reapply the spray every 7-10 days, or after rain, to maintain its effectiveness.

This solution is effective against a variety of pests, including Aphids, Caterpillars, Spider mites, Whiteflies, and Thrips.

Here are the Best Organic Pest Control Approaches Every Gardener Should Know

5. Beer

Common Items in Home to Solve All of Pest Problems 5

Beer can be used as a natural and effective way to control certain garden pests, particularly slugs and snails.

Materials:

  • A shallow container (like a jar lid, saucer, or plastic cup)
  • Beer (cheap beer works just fine)

Instructions:

  1. Select the Container: Choose a shallow container that slugs and snails can easily crawl into. A jar lid, saucer, or plastic cup works well.
  2. Bury the Container: Dig a small hole in the soil so that the top edge of the container is level with the ground. Alternatively, you can place the container on the soil surface.
  3. Pour Beer into the Container: Pour beer into the container until it’s about halfway full. You don’t need to use expensive beer; cheap beer works perfectly fine for this purpose.
  4. Check the Trap: Check the beer trap daily, preferably in the morning or evening when slugs and snails are most active. You’ll likely find these pests in the container, attracted by the beer’s scent. They will crawl into the beer and drown.
  5. Empty and Refill: Dispose of the trapped slugs and snails, and refill the container with fresh beer as needed.

Here are 10 Uses For Beer In the Garden

6. Baking Soda

Baking soda can be an effective fungicide. A solution of baking soda, water, and dish soap can treat powdery mildew, a common plant disease.

Baking soda can also be used as a deterrent against certain soft-bodied insects. It may not directly kill the insects, but it can create an unfavorable environment for them.

For instance, baking soda can help repel aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies when applied as a dusting powder or in a spray solution.

Here is the best homemade soap recipe to kill pests

7. Egg Shells

Common Items in Home to Solve All of Pest Problems 7

Collect and clean eggshells from your kitchen and let the eggshells dry thoroughly. Crush the eggshells into small pieces or powder using a mortar and pestle or a food processor.

Sprinkle the crushed eggshells around the base of vulnerable plants or create a perimeter around garden beds. This will act as a barrier that pests like slugs and snails will find difficult to cross.

Eggshells also add beneficial calcium to the soil as they decompose.

Here are 11 Excellent Ideas for Using Eggshells in the Garden

8. Coffee Grounds

Sprinkle dry coffee grounds around the base of plants or on the soil surface in areas where pests are active or likely to feed.

Alternatively, you can mix the coffee grounds with water to create a coffee ground “tea.” Let the mixture steep for a few hours, then strain out the grounds. Spray the coffee ground tea directly on plant leaves and around the garden to repel pests.

Coffee grounds can act as a deterrent for slugs and snails. The rough texture of coffee grounds irritates these pests, preventing them from crawling over them. The strong scent of coffee grounds can help deter ants from certain areas.

Will Coffee Grounds Kill Weeds? Find out

9. Cinnamon

Common Items in Home to Solve All of Pest Problems 9

Cinnamon is a natural substance that can be used as a non-toxic method to deter and repel certain pests in the garden.

Ingredients:

  • Ground cinnamon powder

Instructions:

  1. Sprinkle cinnamon powder around the base of plants or in areas where pests are active. Focus on vulnerable plants or those susceptible to pest damage.
  2. Reapply the cinnamon powder as needed, especially after rain or watering, to maintain its effectiveness.

Cinnamon is most effective against soft-bodied pests like ants, aphids, and gnats.

Here are 13 Unbelievable Cinnamon Uses in the Garden

10. Milk

This has to be the number one Common Items in Home to Solve All of Pest Problems! Milk can be used as a natural and non-toxic method to help control certain pests and diseases in the garden. The proteins and enzymes in milk can have antifungal and insecticidal properties, making it useful in managing certain issues.

Ingredients:

  • 1 part milk (whole milk or skim milk)
  • 2 parts water

Instructions:

  1. Mix the milk and water in a clean spray bottle. For example, if you use 1 cup of milk, mix it with 2 cups of water.
  2. Shake the spray bottle well to ensure the milk is thoroughly diluted in the water.
  3. Spray the milk solution directly on the affected plant leaves, covering both sides of the leaves.
  4. Reapply the milk spray every 5-7 days, or as needed, to manage aphid infestations.

Here are 8 Milk Uses in the Garden Proven by Science

11. Cooking Oils

Common Items in Home to Solve All of Pest Problems 11

Cooking oil is effective against a wide range of garden pests, including aphids, mites, whiteflies, and caterpillars.

Ingredients:

  • 1-2 tablespoons of cooking oil
  • 1 quart (4 cups) of water
  • A few drops of liquid dish soap (optional, to help the oil mix with water)

Instructions:

  1. Mix the oil with water in a clean spray bottle. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap if using, as it helps the oil to mix with water more effectively.
  2. Shake the spray bottle well to ensure the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
  3. Spray the oil solution directly on the affected plant leaves, covering both sides of the leaves. Focus on the pests and their hiding spots.
  4. Reapply the oil spray every 7-14 days, or as needed, to control pest infestations.

12. Hydrogen Peroxide

A solution of hydrogen peroxide and water can kill pests. The extra oxygen molecule in hydrogen peroxide breaks down upon contact, which can be lethal to some pests.

A common ratio might be 1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide to 10 parts water for a spray. You can spray this solution on the affected plants, but avoid using it in bright sunlight to prevent leaf burn.

Here are 17 Unbelievable Hydrogen Peroxide Uses In Garden You Should Know

13. Cornmeal

Common Items in Home to Solve All of Pest Problems 13

Cornmeal scattered around the garden can kill ants and some other types of insects. They eat the cornmeal, which swells in their stomach and kills them.

14. Wood Ash

Sprinkle a thin layer of wood ash around the base of your plants or in the areas where pests are a problem. The wood ash creates a barrier that pests may be less likely to cross, helping to protect your plants.

The abrasive and drying nature of wood ash can discourage soft-bodied pests like slugs and snails from crossing treated areas.

Here are 22 Helpful Wood Ash Uses in the Garden

15. ListerineCommon Items in Home to Solve All of Pest Problems 15

Listerine, the mouthwash product, contains alcohol, essential oils, and other chemicals that may have some insecticidal properties.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of Listerine mouthwash (use the original, amber-colored variety)
  • 3 cups of water
  • A few drops of liquid dish soap (optional)

Instructions:

  • Get a clean spray bottle that can hold at least 32 ounces (946 ml) of liquid. Make sure the bottle is thoroughly cleaned and rinsed before use.
  •  In the spray bottle, combine 1 cup of Listerine mouthwash with 3 cups of water. If desired, add a few drops of liquid dish soap to help the solution stick to plant leaves and pests more effectively.
  • Spray the Listerine solution directly on the leaves and stems of the affected plants and on areas where pests are present. Focus on the pests and their hiding spots, as well as areas where they are causing damage.

Listerine may have some deterrent effect on soft-bodied insects like aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites due to its alcohol content and essential oils.

Check out these Amazing Listerine Uses In Garden That Work

16. Yellow Sticky Tape

shutterstock/Ngukiaw

Yellow sticky tape, also known as yellow sticky traps or insect sticky traps, is a simple and effective method to trap and control flying insects in the garden. The bright yellow color attracts the pests, and the sticky surface prevents them from flying away, ultimately leading to their capture.

  • Identify areas in your garden where flying insects are active or where you have noticed pest infestations.
  • Hang the yellow sticky tape horizontally at the plant’s height or at the level where the pests are flying. You can use stakes, dowels, or hooks to suspend the tape.
  • When the tape becomes covered with trapped insects or debris, replace it with a fresh piece or clean the existing tape.
  • Yellow sticky traps are particularly effective against flying insects like aphids, whiteflies, fungus gnats, thrips, and leafhoppers.

17. Potato PeelsCommon Items in Home to Solve All of Pest Problems 17

Another Common Items in Home to Solve All of Pest Problems, slices of raw potato can be used to control fungus gnats. The potato slices attract the gnats, which will lay their eggs on them.

After a few days, remove the potato slices and dispose of them. The eggs will be removed with the potato slices, and the gnats will no longer be a problem.

Here are 6 Surprising Potato Peel and Slices Uses in the Garden

18. Talcum / Baby Powder

decorhomeideas

Talcum or baby powder can be used as a natural and non-toxic method to repel insects from your garden. It is particularly effective in keeping ants, plant lice, and Japanese beetles away from your plants and home. By sprinkling talcum powder directly over and under the infested areas on the leaves, you can create a barrier that pests find unappealing.

One of the significant advantages of using talcum powder to combat pest problems is that it helps in deterring ants. Ants are known to promote aphid infestations by protecting and transporting aphids to new plants. By repelling ants, you can indirectly control aphids, as they are less likely to spread to new areas under the protection of ants.

Here are 12 Amazing Talcum Powder Uses in the Garden

Recent Posts

Join our 3 Million Followers:

[easy-followers hide_title="yes" new_window="yes" nofollow="yes" show_total="no" total_type="text_before" columns="3" template="roundcolor" nospace="no" hide_value="no" hide_text="no"]

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here