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Strong scents like peppermint, rosemary, lavender, citronella, and others can repel woodpeckers—as pungent smells can overpower their senses. For that reason, you might consider making a homemade spray with one or a combination of these scents to spritz around areas of your home where woodpeckers frequent.

An outdoor mister can help repel certain bugs like mosquitoes, flies, and other pests. However, not all pesticides can be applied using a misting system. Mosquito treatments are particularly effective when applied this way because the insecticides that are inside of the water droplets dispersed through the area land in the places where mosquitoes (and their larva) are most likely to congregate.

In addition to a clean home, fleas dislike oils made from plants that are naturally bug-resistant or poisonous to bugs. That includes myrtle, mint, eucalyptus, and especially cedar oil. Common household remedies like baking soda, garlic and apple vinegar don’t have any effect on fleas. Don’t spray essential oils directly on your own skin or your pets (and their bedding, because it can be a skin irritant. Stay away from tea tree oil. In pure form it can be very toxic to pets. Always ask your vet if you have any questions.

Some people find that treating their yards with natural substances can help to repel ticks. In fact, pest extermination companies often offer all-natural lawn treatments to repel ticks. Household ingredients like oregano oil, clove oil, thyme, and citronella ward off ticks and are natural ways to get rid of fleas.