In our September issue’s Question of the Month (p. 14), PMP contributors Dr. Austin Frishman, Frank Meek and Pete Schopen weigh in on the most outlandish pest home remedies they’ve heard. But several of our other contributors had crazy stories to share, as seen below. We’d love to hear from you, too, in the comments section!
Stuart Aust: Some of the most outlandish home remedies people have told me include:
- Putting slices of cucumbers or mint teabags out for ants in the pantry, kitchen or point of entry.
- Mixing baking soda with sugar for ants and cockroaches.
- Blending raw eggs with water and spraying the mixture around the yard to deter deer. (I wonder how this would smell after a few days!)
I have not tried any of these home remedies, nor would I recommend them. But I have been asked about them. I always respond, “If you try them, let me know.”
Paul Hardy: I learned this a few years ago in Alabama: Rooster (snuff) is used for inside insect control, and is applied as a fine dust in areas where insects are seen crawling. This may, in fact, work! In the South, tobacco growers used it under pier houses for insect control, especially fleas.
Dr. Doug Mampe: Heavily dusting carpeting, furniture and wood floors with a borate dust to control fleas. The dust layer was more than 1/8 in. deep in many places. Many pounds must have been applied.
Kurt Scherzinger: Using hedge apples or walnuts for spider control. They won’t work because over time they rot, and will only attract more insects — and then spiders.
Mark Sheperdigian: Anything involving gasoline cannot be a good idea.
Dr. Stephen Vantassel: Planting some flower that was supposed to keep this or that pest away.
About the Author
Heather Gooch is the editor-in-chief for PMP magazine. She can be reached at hgooch@northcoastmedia.net or 330-321-9754.
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