Prepare: Dealing wth pests

Sure, right now, if there are ants or bugs in the house, we can call the exterminator. But what about the Day After? Terminix or Orkin are not coming out to the house anytime soon.

There are ways to get rid of pests in the home which you can try now.

Ants - There are different types of ants. The worse ones are after your food, not the fire ants in the yard. Here are some tips..
- Borax mixed with sugar. Borax can be bought in bulk, or you can use laundry detergent such as 20 Mule Team. Put some in an old jar lid, mix in some sugar. The ants will eat it and die.
- Grow the herb tansy. Boil tansy in water, pour liquid into spray bottle. Spray around areas or place the herb on shelves. Mix in some pennyroyal oil for greater effect.

Fleas - wash the animals regularly. Mint or pennyroyal based detergents or oils applied to the coat help. Garlic and brewers yeast added to food may create odors on the dog which drive off fleas. Keep animals who are infected outside and away from other animals and people until they are clear.

Roaches - these buggers follow people. When the SHTF, they will be more active as commercial exterminating and pesticide use falls off and sanitation becomes an issue. Don't let your home become a breeding ground.
- Boric acid works. Put it on the top shelf as roaches go up and come down to feed and forage.
- Catnip is a natural repellent to roaches. Don't let the cats know about it!
- Diatomaeceous earth, the "do all" product kills roaches. Dust a cabinet with it.
- Soapy water kills roaches. Keep a spray bottle around and kill them where they are.

Rats and Mice - I have personal experience with these fiends.
- Go the hardware store now and get a big mess of rat and mouse traps, the old fashioned kind. I have a drawer full.
- Get a cat. Works everytime. The smell of a cat will drive mice out of a house.
- Set a trap for them. A bag of garbage. Wait with a pellet gun or bow and arrow. I bagged a big bugger last year in my alley this way.
- I don't use poison on rats or mice. They die in the most inconvenient places like behind the walls or in the chimney.

Keep walls and cracks caulked up. That means get a couple of good caulk guns and plenty of caulk at the hardware store now.
Keep the house clean. Food and trash attract insects.
Stop infestation before it starts.
You can stock up on pesticides now, but they will wear out over time and run out. Investigate natural remedies now while the internet is still available.

Good luck