Just when I thought I’d start my Spring clean with my trusty eco friendly, green products, I have been bombarded with ants. Not any old ants but flying ants! These basically look like flies so having them fly around seems dirtier and much more bothersome than your usual ants ( I know these can be a nightmare too).
Well, because I’m 6 months pregnant and because I keep a non-toxic home anyway, I have refused to use ant powder or any other poisonous method. Life is never simple!
Instead my 5 year old daughter and I sprinkled chilli flakes, cinnamon and black pepper as they don’t like anything spicy and won’t cross the line. Unfortunately, I am allergic to citrus and vinegar but you can use both of these to deter the beats too. Don’t like either of them and it’s easy to wipe down your surfaces with vinegar (a good natural cleaner) to get rid of them.
Many ants have a natural aversion to cucumber peel, bay leaves and garlic too. You probably don’t need to use all the above, we got carried away!!! My husband came home to find my daughter fully entertained and giggling away as if it was a magic spell. Whatever you can find in your fridge or spice cupboard should do the trick!
The most important places are the entry points so try to find these and put your deterrents there, before they drive you crazy.
Today I am delighted to say that as I approached the kitchen cautiously, with hoover in hand (we hoover them up as soon as we see them) there were none to be seen! We all cheered with delight and ate our breakfast in peace.
However, as I sighed with relief I got a text from a friend saying she had to cancel seeing me as she has been bitten 100 times (no exaggeration apparently)!!!
She woke up bitten from head to toe after a night of sleeping with the window open and has had no choice but to take antibiotics and use steroid cream. I am a believer in ‘prevention is better than cure’ so I’ll be spraying my body in natural insect repellent tonight. Either use some citronella oil if you have it at home or I love Buzz Away Spray. It contains all natural ingredients and is reasonably priced at around £6. Click here to find out more.
Enjoy these Summer nights without the Summer gnats!!!
Author: Steven Chasen
Here at Eco Hip we have a simple philosophyTo offer you the best natural products around, so that you can maintain a chemical-free home, body and spirit.For 15 years we have been striving to give people the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from this lifestyle, using our knowledge and experience to guide you through the process from start to finish. We believe that there is a complete synergy between what is best for you and what is best for the environment.Do you ever stop and think about what goes into the products that we use on a daily basis?Did you know that everyday products such as toiletries and cosmetics are filled with harmful petro-chemicals, parabens, GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), DEAs, MEAs, TEAs, artificial colours, fragrances and fillers. The list goes on…Why aren’t there stricter regulations concerning these products?Are the waste products of industry being dumped and sold in our personal care and cleaning products?Who is stopping this and telling it how it is?We feel that we have a responsibility to both our customers and to the world around us to ask ourselves these questions every day. That is why we only sell the most responsible and sustainable products.Responsibility to ourselves – All our products are free of toxic chemicals wherever possible and endorsed by Ecocert and the Soil Association.Responsibility to others – We promote Fairtrade produce to stop exploitation and benefit those communities.Responsibility to local communities – We use local suppliers and products wherever possible in order to support the local economy and reduce our carbon footprintResponsibility to the environment – All our products use minimal packaging and recyclable materials. Responsibility to the future – We use sustainable materials and ingredients wherever possible.Responsibility to animals – We do not use any products that have animal ingredients or are tested on animals. Our products are certified as cruelty-free and are endorsed by BUAV and PETA.There doesn’t have to be a trade off between affordability and healthy living either. The choices we make now will impact our future, and we want to ensure that the investments you make now will save you money in the long-term.Sustainability doesn’t just have to connote the environment, but your own household too.In the age of information overload that we live in, we know that shopping online can sometimes be overwhelming, so we carefully source our products, selecting only the highest quality ingredients and most innovative designs, so that you don’t have to.Ecohip is more than just another online shopping website. The Ecohip mindset is all about challenging conventional thinking and finding a new way of looking at the world, believing that smalls steps can gradually add up to make a big difference.
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