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There are a few main causes of bed bugs. You can pick up bed bugs through traveling since these pests can hide in the seats of buses, taxis, airplanes, and other vehicles as well as seats at restaurants, hotels, and other public places. Bed bugs can also travel on purses, backpacks, luggage, and other bags. Another main cause of bed bugs is multi-unit housing, such as apartment complexes or college dorms.

To kill fruit flies outdoors, you'll want to make a homemade insecticide or find a plant-safe, nontoxic product. Fill a garden sprayer with your chosen solution and apply it on your plants and around the base of your home's exterior. Take care to limit your exposure to insecticides, as they can irritate skin and eyes. Always rinse garden fruits and vegetables before eating them.

The safest ways to treat bed bugs are non-chemical, such as using diatomaceous earth, essential oils, and heat and cold treatments. Heat treatments are also one of the most effective methods because it kills bed bugs at all levels of life stages: eggs, nymphs, and adults. However, you still need to take precautions by removing items that can be susceptible to heat damage. You also need to remove plants and pets from your home during treatment.

Roaches have a strong sense of smell and are repelled by a variety of potent aromas. Scents that can help deter them include citrus (such as lemon and orange), herbs like peppermint, mint, basil, thyme, and oregano, spices like bay leaves, cinnamon, clove, and garlic, as well as lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, tea tree oil, and vinegar.

You can use these scents in several ways to create an unwelcoming environment for roaches:

• Plants: Place mint or lavender plants in your home or garden.

• Powders and Leaves: Sprinkle garlic powder or place crushed bay leaves and citrus peels in high-risk areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and entry points.

• Sprays: Create a diluted solution with scents like lemon or vinegar to spray in your home. These can also be used in cleaning products or as room fresheners.

• Essential Oils: While essential oils of these scents can be used, be cautious as they can be toxic to pets if inhaled.

It is important to note that while these smells can help keep roaches away, they typically do not kill them and may not be enough to drive out an existing infestation entirely. For best results, combine these scent-based deterrents with regular cleaning. Be sure to clean up all food spills, crumbs, and dirty dishes promptly, and keep trash cans covered with a tight-fitting lid to remove potential food sources.