Here are some safe, practical home remedies you can use to fight fleas, ants, and cockroaches:

1) All-purpose insect repellent & trail-breaker spray (ants & light roach repellent)

Ingredients (small spray bottle, ~500 ml / 16 oz):

• 1 cup (240 ml) distilled or tap water

• 1 cup (240 ml) white vinegar

• 1 teaspoon mild dish soap (acts as surfactant)

• 10–15 drops peppermint essential oil (repels ants/roaches)

• 5–10 drops lemon or eucalyptus essential oil (optional)

How to mix & use:

1. Combine water and vinegar in the spray bottle.

1. Add the dish soap and essential oils, gently invert to mix (do not shake vigorously).

2. Spray along baseboards, window sills, door thresholds, behind appliances and other entry points. Wipe after 10–15 minutes if surface would be damaged by vinegar.

1. Reapply every 3–7 days or after cleaning. Use more often in heavy infestation days.

Why it works:

• Vinegar (acetic acid) breaks the scent/pheromone trails ants use to navigate; it also repels roaches.

• Peppermint/essential oils confuse insects’ smell receptors and discourage them from returning.

• Soap helps the solution stick and can physically suffocate small insects on contact.

Safety & limits:

• Vinegar can damage stone or waxed surfaces — test a small area first.

• Many essential oils are toxic to cats (esp. tea tree, eucalyptus, some peppermint blends) — avoid use around cats or consult a vet.

• This is repellent/trail-breaking; heavy roach colonies will need baits or professional control.

2) Carpet & bedding flea treatment — Salt + Baking soda + Food-grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fine table salt

• 1 cup baking soda

• ½ cup food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) — NOT the pool grade

How to apply:

1. Vacuum thoroughly and empty bag/container outside.

2. Mix salt + baking soda + DE in a jar with shaker lid.

3. Lightly sprinkle the powder mixture over carpets, rugs, pet bedding, and furniture crevices. Brush in gently with a broom or carpet brush so it coats fibers.

4. Leave 24–48 hours (minimum 12–24 hrs) then vacuum thoroughly and dispose of vacuum contents safely. Repeat weekly for 3 weeks or until fleas drop.

Why it works:

• Salt & baking soda

  dehydrate flea eggs and larvae.

• Diatomaceous earth is a microscopic-sharp powder that abrades the insect’s waxy outer layer, causing dehydration and death. It works mechanically (not chemically), so insects don’t build resistance.

Safety & limits:

• Use only food-grade DE. Wear a mask when applying so you don’t inhale fine dust. Avoid eyes.

• Keep DE off pet fur (it can irritate) — treat carpets and bedding, then vacuum; for pets use vet-approved flea treatments.

• This reduces flea populations but won’t solve heavy infestations on its own — you must treat pets and outdoors areas too.

3) Ant & cockroach household bait (borax/boric acid based) — place safely

Ingredients (bait paste):

• 1 tablespoon borax or boric acid (powder)

• 3 tablespoons white sugar (or peanut butter for protein-attracted cockroaches)

• Enough water to make a thick paste

How to use:

1. Mix borax + sugar, add a few drops of water until you have a thick paste.

2. Place pea-size amounts of paste inside small screw-cap jar lids, bottle caps, or refillable bait stations. Put them along ant trails, near cupboards, behind appliances and in corners.

3. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Replace bait every 3–7 days until activity stops.

Why it works:

• The sugar attracts the insect; borax/boric acid is a stomach toxin and slows the insect’s movement so it shares the bait with nestmates, leading to colony reduction over days.

Safety & limits:

• Borax/boric acid are toxic if swallowed by children, pets, or wildlife. Always use inside bait stations or lids, and never place loose powder where pets/kids can access.

• Not an instant kill — expect a few days to see effects. Avoid if children/pets will lick surfaces.

4) Exterior yard & entry-point control for fleas & roaches

Simple yard spray (mild, natural):

• Mix 1 liter water + 2 tablespoons mild dish soap + 1 cup white vinegar + 20 drops cedar or eucalyptus oil. Use a garden sprayer to treat shaded areas, under porches, leaf litter, and along foundation cracks. Repeat weekly in wet/warm months.

Why:

• Removing leaf litter and shaded moisture removes flea and roach habitat. Natural oils repel many pests; soap helps solution stick.

Safety: avoid spraying flowering plants that bees visit; read oil labels for environmental cautions.