To deter pests from entering and inhabiting your home, it's important to keep it clean and hygenic. There are also natural ingredients and mixtures that are effective and simple to make when trying to remove insects, mites and rodents.

Insects such as ants often make their way to food sources, but can easily be prevented by surrounding the area with water. (For example, stand the legs of the table in cans of water.) To prevent ants from reaching the pet food, wipe the surrounding floor with kerosene on a cloth.To kill ants, use a paste made of borax and icing (confectioner's) sugar. Roaches can be baited with a mixture of icing sugar and plaster of Paris.

Dust mites can be controlled by placing a tissue with a couple of drops of tea tree oil in vacuum cleaner bags, which are 'fumigated' as you clean. Moths are also sensitive to tea tree oil, as well as lavender flowers and shredded newspaper.

Tea tree oil on a dampened cloth can be wiped around cupboards to deter rodents. Suspected points of entry can also be dabbed with tea tree oil.