I have tried various things for various critters.  We haven't really had a problem with ants as much tho.  We had a problem with fleas last year - there are about 20 wild cats that cross our yard :(

I have used borax soap (not boric acid) sprinkled with table salt in the carpets.  I let it sit for a few hours when we went out and the cat was outside.  I then vacuumed and it did help get rid of the little buggers.  Salt dehydrates adults and from what I have read, the borax hits the larvae stage.

Now I use garlic in my yard, it smells like an Italian restaurant for an hour or so but it works well to prevent many bugs and annoyances.  If it would keep the wild cats out I would be even happier.

I'm still learning greener/healthier ways. So I'm not sure how cool this is, but presently in my basement bedroom I used a few moth balls up in the drop ceiling to help ward off spiders, earwigs and the like. For the most it really seems to be working. I've only had a couple spiders make it past my bedroom door. They didn't last very long. Moth balls are kinda not good to inhale (aside from the fact they stink!) and are best to be put places pets can't get to them.

I've heard... basil and something mixed with it can also ward off the bugs. I can't remember exactly what it was though.

Thank you so much for your comments.  I never knew that you could use garlic in your yard to help with pests.  I am going to try to do this and see what results I get from it.  I didn't know that moth balls could get rid of spiders. 

You guys really have some neat ideas.  Love the feedback!

We had coffin ants a while ago, and if you stood in their territory they'd climb your leg and bite you.  I stuck a funnel in one of their holes and poured bowling water down it. Waited a minute or so, and then poured white vinegar down the hole, and we haven't had them since.

For ants in the house, I clean the counters so there is no food or sugar residue, and then spray the counter with vinegar and leave it. The vinegar ruins their scent trail.

Mary

marynate.blogspot.com

We have a big problem with ants, especially because we live out in the wooded area part of town!

Our city does not allow pesticides or any thig like that. We have strict by llaws. We use the natural, green products that are non-toxic that our local hardware store sells.

I am not certain which brand we use,we usually purchase the in house brand.

 Love that! 

If it worked on wild cats I'd try it to keep the tom cats out of our garage - they seem to like to visit it now that we have a cat living in our garage. 

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Dawn said ...
Now I use garlic in my yard, it smells like an Italian restaurant for an hour or so but it works well to prevent many bugs and annoyances.  If it would keep the wild cats out I would be even happier.

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I think we do something different every time.  Evidently nothing works!  ;)

We would be set, huh? They all atarted here because they were from a couple unfixed abandoned cats in the neighborhood.  The population grew quickly and they like to come up on our deck and "spray" to mark their territory for my female.  My cat only gets annoyed when she sees them since she is fixed!

They are cute, but annoyances at the same time.  We just had more kittens born, I saw them 2 yards over today.  There is a really cute all white one, I am telling myself and family that no we are not taking in another cat (and I keep reminding everybody too!)

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OneMommy said ...
If it worked on wild cats I'd try it to keep the tom cats out of our garage - they seem to like to visit it now that we have a cat living in our garage. 

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Vinegar works well on fruit flies too.  We used to use that years ago when I worked in the supermarket.

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Paige said ...
Crazy ants this year! Vinegar seems to be working!

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