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How to Combat the Pests of NYC

Let’s face it: New York City is not the cleanest place in the world. It is a city with a population of over 8 million and a city without alleyways. All trash and recycling is piled in black, blue, or clear bags or tied with string and stacked along the curbs of the streets, waste collectors creeping along day and night to make room for the next batch. The consequences of this and population density (in Manhattan for example, there are about 69,467 residents per square mile ) is that there are a variety of pests that live among us, almost as if they were second-class citizens.

All of this is to say that it is not as frightening as it may seem. Here are some simple , mostly non-toxic methods that I have personally found useful in preventing and deterring pests (specifically roaches) from entering and becoming comfortable in the .

BLEACH, BAY LEAVES, & GARLIC

Bleach is a common home-cleaning staple, and can also be used for the killing of or prevention of roaches. Having worked in the restaurant business for many years, a common practice is to bleach all the drains at the end of service. Insects love sugars, and alcohol especially is loaded with sugar. Bleach has that distinctive smell to it and therefore is a strong deterrent.

Bleach will only kill, however, if used to soak the roach. It’s a good idea if you see roaches often to keep a spray bottle with bleach and spray them as you see them. Otherwise, they will just stay away. On the opposite end, garlic or bay leaves are also a strong repellents for potential invasions. Roaches hate the smell of both. You can use either fresh, crushed garlic or garlic powder.

ESSENTIAL OILS

Similar to what is mentioned about the smell of bleach, garlic, or bay leaves, some essential oils irritate roaches’ smell and they will avoid your home. Peppermint oil especially is a solid choice. Peppermint oil can be used on many plants as a natural insecticide. Use two parts water to one part white vinegar and add ten drops of peppermint oil for a spritz that can deter roaches. The spritz, like the bleach spritz, can also kill roaches if you douse them with it when spotted. Otherwise, they’ll just stay out of the way.

HOMEMADE TRAPS

For a more proactive approach, for those not afraid to deal with dead things, there are a couple different homemade traps that will kill roaches and lead to a sharp population decline. Baking soda and sugar is a great non-toxic trap. Sprinkle a mixture around where the roaches congregate or leave a bowl out in the same places. Roaches also love coffee grounds . Use old coffee grounds in a jar with a few holes to prevent roaches from crawling out. Repeat this over time until you notice no more roaches in the jar.

There are of course the conventional approaches to pest control, such as exterminators, boric acid, and manufactured sprays. These, however, can be toxic not only for humans, but for any pets or plants that occupy your home. Exterminators can be expensive. If you would rather take care of it yourself, just know that you have these cheap, non-toxic alternatives available for you.

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