How to keep bugs and insects away from kitchen

Cleanliness in the kitchen is crucial, for its affects the health of the entire family. The major battle, apart from the elimination of physical dirt, is against pets which bring with them a dreaded array of diseases. But in our concern for the elimination of bugs, we must take due precautions that the pesticides we use, do not cause more harm than the pets themselves. We include here a few commonly uses natural alternatives to chemical warfare.

• The kitchen should be kept clean at all times, and as far as possible, be free of exposed food or leftovers once the cooking is done, especially overnight. Leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator, or be properly covered and put away in an aired box.

• The kitchen must be well ventilated to ensure there are no moist corners, as this encourages breeding of pets.

• If necessary, install a screen or mesh (nylon is easier to use than metal) to keep out dirt and flies (or any other insect).

• To eliminate cockroaches, place a rag soaked in a shallow bowl of beer and leave overnight in the kitchen. It will attract and kill many cockroaches that haunt your kitchen.

• Another option is to place pellets made of boric powder and flour and leave them in strategic corners overnight. A light dusting of borax around the fridge and gas stove will also effectively control insects and cockroaches.

• To repel ants sprinkle mint leaves all around. If ants persist, squeeze lemon juice over points of entry and also leave pieces of lemon peel. Ants, we are told, will also retreat from lines of talcum powder, chalk, charcoal dust and red pepper.

• To keep weevils out of rice and flour, keep small cloth bags of pepper in the grain bins. And use cloves instead of moth balls in the kitchen.

• Tulsi plant around doors and windows help repel flies and mosquitoes.