Are you afraid to flip on a light switch in the kitchen for fear of what might “scurry” off? Do you keep a fly swatter by your bedside “just in case?” It is hard to imagine any homeowner living a totally pest-free existence all of the time. Every bug has two missions in life: Find food and make more bugs. That makes any home a potential buffet and nest. To keep pests out of your home, you have to be proactive but that doesn’t have to mean bombing your home with chemicals. Here’s what you need to do to keep those pests away from the natural way:

Cockroaches

A cockroach does a lot of traveling between walls, downpipes and through all kinds of nasty environments. They are bringing all those germs and bacteria with them when they find their ways into your home. Any crack or crevice can be an entry point. This is why you want to go through your home and make sure everything is sealed up. That includes any openings around pipes. In your kitchen, be sure there aren’t any gaps between your cabinets and walls. That is especially true for the cabinets under the sink and below the counter.

Cockroaches are always on the prowl for crumbs and other food scraps. That is why you want to make sure you keep your kitchen clean and that includes dirty dishes in the sink. Don’t leave anything out for them.

Ants

It is rare to see a single ant. If they are alone, then chances are those are scouts checking out what’s for dinner. It would take them long to single the other “troops.” When a trial starts, it is hard to combat. That is why you want to prevent the ants from coming inside in the first place. Sprinkling boric acid or flour around your kitchen door can stop the march. You can also spray vinegar or citrus juice.

Spiders

Most spider bites happen at night when you’re sleeping. That is not very comforting. The good news is that most spiders that would come into your home wouldn’t be considered “deadly.” Still, you want to avoid getting bitten. Spiders will build their webs just about anywhere. This is why you have to be on top of your dusting and not just at ground level but up in the corners of your ceilings, too. Spiders are sensitive to certain aromas. Eucalyptus, cinnamon, lemon peel, and vinegar are the scents that would repel them the most.