Your home may have a lot more residents than you think. According to experts, the average American home is also the residence of over 100 different types of bugs. Although some of these bugs tend to be harmless, others can pose dangers to your plants and even your family. The lovely ladybugs you see around your garden can be gnawing on your produce and your children can be romping on flea-infested carpeting.

Some bugs, especially parasites, can be disease vectors. This means that their bite or presence can bring disease. Most famous examples of these types of insects include mosquitoes and ticks. Although you can call companies that specialize in controlling tick populations or eradicating ants, there are a few things you can try for yourself.

Below are five pest remedies to make from the safety of your kitchen. Each one can help you protect your property from pests and keep your loved ones healthy.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Fruit flies are a bane of anyone who loves fresh produce. These tiny insects buzz around fruit displays and garden plots, feasting on your fruit displays. What’s worse is that they can spread bacteria around as they crawl on your fruits.

You can trap them and eliminate them with a simple solution using apple cider vinegar. Chop an apple into very small slices and put them inside a bottle with a long neck or funnel top. Fill it about halfway with apple cider vinegar. The smell should draw fruit flies inside the bottle and keep them there, eliminating these buzzing bugs.

Deer Repellent

Deer can be harmful enough on their own, but they also tend to bring dangerous deer ticks. These tiny pests are the primary carriers of Lyme disease. Thanks to urban spread, your home can be close to a deer habitat. They can be drawn to your garden by your plants.

If you want to keep pesky deer away from your plants, and their ticks away form your skin, you can drive them away with only egg and water. Mix about 1 part fresh and well-beaten eggs with 4 parts water in a blender or food processor. Pour the mixture in a spray bottle and apply to the leaves of your garden plants. Keep the nozzle tip clear because the egg can block it.

Coffee Grounds

The aroma of the coffee seed can be attractive to people but noxious to many insects. This is thanks to a chemical compound developed by the coffee plant over the years. This particular aroma is strongest with the coffee grounds.

If you are experiencing outbreaks of ants or bugs, you can leave a small line of coffee grounds along the windows. If you think these pests are lurking in your potted plants or garden boxes, you can surround them with small deposits of coffee grounds. Finally, you can put the coffee grounds in empty tea bags and hang them around the windowsills to and let the smell waft around the home.

Eucalyptus and Vinegar

Food aromas and trails can be left behind by almost anyone. Your kids can drop a sandwich or your Pitbull puppies can scatter their snacks on the floor. These trails are perfect insects like ants to navigate their way into your own home. Instead of using harsh or potentially toxic chemicals to wipe up the spills, you can use an organic mixture right from your kitchen cupboards.

In a spray bottle, put about 10 drops of eucalyptus oil along with ¼ cup of white vinegar. Shake well before adding 2 cups of water. This spray not only dissuades ants but also helps diffuse bad odors.

Baking Soda and Salt Flea Killer

Your carpets and beds can be home to multitudes of insects such as fleas and bedbugs. It can be very difficult to root them out of these places without professional help. However, you can make an effective powder than could kill them and reduce the number of insects living in these areas.

In a bowl, mix equal parts salt with baking soda. Sprinkle this mixture evenly on top of your carpets and mattresses. Let them sit for about an hour. Use a vacuum cleaner to suck up the powder and enjoy your new pest free bed.

Pests don’t belong in your household but neither do extremely strong chemicals. Unless you have no other option, you can use these recipes to protect your home and your loved ones from dangerous pests without risking them through exposure.