I’m sure by now you’ve heard about the bed bug epidemic that’s sweeping Europe, and if its not bed bugs, then you may have noticed your house plants have started to become the perfect breeding ground for tiny bugs as the winter months are moving in.
In case you’re worried you may have some new unwanted visitors in the home, we have got some useful tips and tricks from Lisa Bronner, green cleaning influencer and granddaughter of Emmanuel Bronner, on how to treat unwelcome critters!
Lisa Bronner’s Tips on treating Bed Bugs
“The treatment for bed bugs is heat and removal. There is not a deterrent spray and chemicals are not the primary way to eliminate them once they are there.
Some tactics I’d suggest:
- Wash anything washable in hot water and dry on as high a heat as the fabric can stand. Wash them regularly.
- Treat upholstery and carpet with a steam cleaner.
- Declutter areas and remove unnecessary soft furnishings like bed skirts and extra pillows to eliminate places they can hide.
- Vacuum and dust frequently.
- Freezing also kills them, so if you have a chest freezer, you could bundle things like pillows or blankets in a plastic bag and put them in there for a day.”
Lisa Bronner’s Tips on protecting house plants / outdoor plants from bugs
What you need:
- A spray bottle
- 1 Tbsp. (15mL) Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap
- 1 L water
“I recommend a food-ish scent just in case the plants absorb some of the essential oils. Peppermint, Citrus, and Unscented are all great options. If your water is particularly hard, consider using distilled or filtered so that mineral deposits don’t build up on leaves.
Combine the soap and water in a spray bottle. Spray plants thoroughly. Be sure to spray stems, and under the leaves where bugs hide. Although my research indicated that a soap spray will not harm beneficial insects like bees and ladybugs, you can be sure not to bother any by giving the plant a quick shake before spraying”
A ‘Green It Yourself’ Guru, Lisa has all the answers when it comes to creating natural cleaning products for the home and that are safe for the family.
Later this year, Lisa Bronner is set to launch her debut book ‘Soap & Soul’ which goes into further depth around green cleaning, family safe ‘Green It Yourself’ (GIY) recipes, as well as how cleaning is good for the soul.
Keep checking our blog to see updates on the launch, and in the meantime, you can visit her blog which is full of tips and tricks
Dr. Bronner’s is a family business committed to honouring the vision of our founder Dr. E.H. Bronner by making socially and environmentally responsible products of the highest quality, and by dedicating our profits to helping make a better world. “All-One!”