Pet-Friendly Ways to Keep Pests Out of Your Apartment

Keeping pests out of your apartment can be challenging, especially when you have pets or kids  and need to avoid harmful chemicals found in many commercial pest-control products. Fortunately, there are plenty of safe and effective ways to deter common household pests while still keeping your furry friends safe. 

Here are just a few pet-friendly solutions to keep common household critters like ants, flies, bugs, fruit flies and gnats at bay — safely!

5 pet-safe methods of bug control in apartments

How to keep ants away

Ants are attracted to food sources and can quickly become a nuisance — especially around pet food bowls. 

To keep them away without using toxic pesticides, try sprinkling diatomaceous earth along entry points and common ant trails, since the natural powder is safe for pets but deadly to insects. You can also use white vinegar and citrus peels to disrupt their scent trails, preventing them from returning to a food source or alerting others to its whereabouts. To prevent ants altogether, keep pet food bowls clean and seal all food containers to help keep infestations from starting at all.

Pet-safe methods for getting rid of flies

Flies can be persistent, especially in warmer months when they’re attracted to all sorts of fruits, flowers and foods. To deter them, consider using pet-friendly essential oils like lavender, peppermint or eucalyptus mixed with water in a spray bottle — the strong scents throw off the flies’ sense of smell and can cover up the odors that attract them in the first place. Placing basil plants near windows and doors can also help keep flies from entering, since they’re also fairly aromatic plants that will mask other smells. If you’re really having an issue with a fly infestation, a DIY fly trap using apple cider vinegar and dish soap in a jar can effectively reduce their numbers without harming your pets.

How to control bugs without harming pets

General household bugs, such as roaches and beetles, can easily be managed with pet-safe solutions and easy prevention measures. Food-grade diatomaceous earth works well against crawling insects, and keeping your apartment clean, fixing leaky pipes and taking out the trash regularly will also help prevent them from becoming an issue at all. Cedarwood oil, which is safe for pets, can be applied near baseboards and cracks to repel bugs naturally without damaging your apartment.

Getting rid of fruit flies safely

Fruit flies are often drawn to overripe produce and sugary residues like fruit, veggies, sugar, honey and flowers. Although they’re hard to avoid entirely, you can control them by storing produce in the refrigerator and wiping down your cooking surfaces regularly. If they’re already a problem, you can catch and destroy them using a simple trap made of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap in a bowl, which will attract the tiny flies and drown them in the vinegar. And just like with regular flies, placing fresh basil or bay leaves in your kitchen can act as a natural deterrent and can mask the odor of strong scents that attract the flies in the first place.

How to eliminate gnats in a pet-safe way

Gnats thrive in damp areas, making them a common problem near sinks, cupboards, showers and houseplants. 

To keep them at bay, avoid overwatering plants and use a layer of sand on top of the soil to deter breeding in the top layer of soil, and a homemade trap with apple cider vinegar, water and dish soap can help capture gnats without harming your pets. Neem oil is also a popular choice for keeping gnats and flies at bay, but make sure to use it appropriately to avoid pets accidentally ingesting too much. Keeping drains clean by flushing them with baking soda and vinegar can also prevent infestations from starting!

Preventing pests while ensuring your pet’s safety is all about maintaining cleanliness and using natural deterrents. By incorporating these pet-safe methods, you can keep your apartment free from unwanted critters without exposing your furry friends to harmful chemicals!

Good luck!

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Featured photo by Jithin Vijayamohanan on Unsplash

Second photo by Олег Мороз on Unsplash