Cockroaches when hungry will eat just about anything; pastes, glues, solid soaps and starch based paints and foods. Also, having cockroaches crawling around your cosy nest is a rather unpleasant sight. So how do you tackle these pests?
 

Here are some preventive measures you could use
	Keep food in sealed containers or in the refrigerator. Do not leave any food lying outside.
	Paint cabinet shelves and drawers with enamel and keep them clean.
	Rinse all recyclable containers clean and air them out every few days.
	Put garbage in tightly covered containers and store it outside.
	Wash dishes, tables, kitchen counters and stove tops every day, preferably after every meal.
	Store flour, sugar, cereals and crackers in tightly covered plastic or metal containers.
	Clean out junk and clutter from storage shelves, drawers and closets.
	Get rid of unused furniture, appliances, food and clothing.
	Fill in cracks and seal openings around pipes, in the walls and inside the cupboards.
	Clean drains.
	Keep all areas clean and dry.
To get rid of existing cockroaches
	Use any of the repellents available in the market.
	Alternatively you could mix boric powder in wheat flour and knead it to a dough. Roll out tiny balls of this dough and keep them in places frequented by the insects. Caution: Keep them out of the reach of small children
To avoid cockroaches from gaining a re-entry into homes
	Swab the floors of the entire house daily. Swab the floor of the kitchen preferably twice, once in the morning and once at night after the last meal has been wrapped up.
	Add phenyl to the water used for swabbing (in case of marble tiled floors use white phenyl).
	Do not stack used utensils in the sink overnight. If possible clean utensils and sink in the night itself.
	Clean bathrooms and toilets daily.
	Naphthalene balls in bathrooms and kitchen repel cockroaches. Use them liberally.
	Don't keep damp clothes in the bathroom for long hours.
	Wash your home with water and soap once a week to rid it of all unpleasant creepy crawlies.

You could try any of the repellants available in the market alternatively you could mix boric powder in wheat flour and knead it to a dough. Roll out tiny balls of this dough and keep them in places frequented by the insects.

Caution: Keep them out of reach of small children

To avoid cockroaches from gaining a re-entry into homes:
• Swab the floor daily.
• Add phenyl to the water used for swabbing (in case of marble tiled floors use white phenyl).
• Do not stack used utensils in the sink overnight. If possible clean utensils and sink in the night itself.
• Clean bathrooms and toilets daily.
• Naphthalene balls in bathrooms and kitchen repel cockroaches.
• Don't keep damp clothes in the bathroom for long hours.
• Wash your home with water and soap once a week to rid it of all unpleasant creepy crawlies.
 

Apart from flies, ants are the other species of insects that haunt your kitchen. Here are some really cools ways of keeping them away:

• Some essence of peppermint on a piece of cotton wool is supposed to be a good ant-deterrent.
• You could also try sprinkling bicarbonate of soda or boric powder in shelves.
• Sprinkle powdered cloves on shelves and in drawers.
• To destroy anthills, pour boiling water into them (cruel alternative, so avoid unless absolutely necessary).
• A saucer full of cloves and paraffin would make them run.
• Mop kitchen shelves and cabinets with a cloth dipped in "neem" oil and water mixture. Add five drops "neem" oil to half a cup of water.
• Wipe your kitchen with a cloth dipped in vinegar.

Once the ants thus disappear, try and follow the tips given below to avoid the future incoming ants.

• Swab the floors daily.
• Add phenyle to the bucket of water you would use for swabbing.Do note that if you have marble tiled floors then use white phenyle.
• Do not keep utensils for cleaning in the sink for next day morning. If possible clean the utensils and sink in the evening itself.
• Clean your bathrooms, toilets and kitchen daily.
• Don't keep wet clothes in the bathroom for hours together.
• Once in a week pour water thoroughly and clean the house. By doing this not only the kitchen room but the entire house gets cleaned.
• Keep the overall environment clean and make sure that food particles (often dropped carelessly while snacking) are swept away immediately.
 

Vermin, they can ruin your lives and property. Today we have no Pied Piper who can drown these wretched pets, but yes, we do have some sure fire methods that can settle them for good. In case your house/property is under attack by mice, these should help:

• Check and plug all holes outside your house including the smallest ones (a mouse can crawl through space as small as the tip of the little finger!). These are ideal places for mice to hide and breed.
• Do not leave any food material, including garbage in the open. Once mice are starved they will definitely leave the house in search for greener pastures.
• Poison pellets and traps work well to get rid of mice. Ideally use pellets that force mice to come out in the open and die.
• Do not handle dead vermin with bear hands. They are known to carry deadly diseases! Wear gloves while handling them!
• This may sound simplistic, but no trap can beat the work of a cat. So get a feline companion who will get rid of the trouble makers.

Mice are not a reflection on your sanitary concepts. These mammals breed at a super rate – over 13 litters a year, so getting rid of one won’t work!