Top 3 Best Ways to Ward Off Annoying Insects in the UK this Summer

Fortunately, you might not have to resort to harmful chemicals just to get rid of annoying pests. A whole nutmeg buried in a sack of flour or even a piece of mint might be enough to scare off bugs.

Those who find that this isn't quite enough may want to try one of these three creative techniques instead.

The tech industry is always hard at work at developing solutions for difficult problems, so it makes sense that there are a number of high-tech gadgets on the market that are designed to deal with annoying insects. Perhaps the most common of these is the traditional electric bug killer, which allows you to take out insects simply by swatting them with an energized screen.

Before you buy one, make sure that the area you live in allows their use. They're very effective, but unfortunately some parts of the UK have very stringent laws. If you happen to live somewhere that they're classified as weapons, then you might want to try a bug light instead.

These don't necessarily work as well as hand zappers, but they should prove relatively useful if deployed correctly. Make sure that you position a bug light on the opposite side of your yard from where your guests normally congregate. Since insects tend to gravitate toward the lamps on a bug light, so you probably don't want to be near it while it does its job.

There's been some debate over the effectiveness of this kind of technology. Engineers agree that the handheld versions work very well, so you should normally opt for these instead of other technologies if at all possible.

An older study done in 1996 in the Untied States found that some bug lights didn't work very well because they don't emit carbon dioxide, which attracts biting insects. You might want to invest in a device that emits CO₂ to make sure that you're actually getting rid of annoying insects.

Those who have insect problems in their homes or flats may wish to try a few solutions that are a bit lower tech, however.

Electronic zappers have the benefit of not relying on any sort of chemicals to function. Assuming you'd prefer to avoid the use of harsh insecticides, you might instead want to supplement your high-tech gear with some common retail products.

Roach powder, known more formally as boric acid, is a dust that clings to cockroaches whenever they walk through a treated area. When they groom themselves, they usually inhale enough of the dust to perish.

You can dust it into any cracks or crevices that allow insects into your home from the outside. While you don't want to inhale or eat boric acid, it's otherwise quite safe and is certainly safer than an overwhelming majority of insecticide poisons that exterminators might attempt to use in your home.

Most roaches you'll come across are introduced species, but dark brown cockroaches are actually native to the UK. While they could survive for up to 100 days without food, they can't go very long without water. Take a few moments to clean up any potential sources of moisture that could help them survive in your home or flat.

If you notice any prominent leaks or areas where humidity condenses into liquid water, then you'll want to have it fixed. Doing so will rob roaches of their livelihood while also potentially reducing the risk of mold and other annoyances.

While these previous tricks might be good for keeping insects out of your home, you'll need to take some extra precautions when working outdoors. Tucking in your shirt might look a bit old-fashioned, but it's a great way to ward off bugs that might otherwise get into your clothing.

If the weather isn't too hot, then wearing long sleeves can be a good way to keep insects off your arms. Long pants will do the same for your legs. You'll also need to give some thought to dressing up the world around you as well.

Those who spend a lot of time in their gardens might want to try using a simple paste of garlic, hot peppers, lemon juice and salt to scare off garden pests. While you probably won't want to put this directly onto your plants, many pests will be scared off by the burning sensation that they get by coming into contact with it.

Experiment with all of these techniques. With a little luck, you'll be able to survive the summer without resorting to harsh chemicals.

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