Pest- and rodent-control tips from (TheFunPlace.com):

Ant control

* Spread some ground cinnamon where you think the ants are coming in to the house.

* Basil repels flies and mosquitoes. To deter ants, use catnip. Sprinkle it in their paths.

* Make a mixture of 2/3 cup water, 1/3 cup white vinegar, and 2-3 Tablespoons dish soap. Spray where the ants are marching.

Natural mosquito repellents:

* Splashing plain rubbing alcohol on yourself and allowing it to dry will deter mosquitoes from biting you.

* Rub Vick’s Vaporub® on your pants and legs to ward off ticks.

* Use half pure vanilla and half water for a mosquito and tick repellent.

* Dab lavender oil on your pulse points; it smells great on you but repels insects.

Mouse control:

* Place USED kitty litter from a litter box in small tubs in several places around the garage. Mice think, “It smells like a cat … I’m outta here!”

* Buy a mesh/net laundry bag that you would use for washing nylons and 5 boxes of moth balls. Put the moth balls in the bag and hang it in your garage near the door to get rid of mice, birds, and bugs.

* To prevent mice from gaining entry to your garage, stop up any openings with steel wood pads. Mice will not chew through these!

* Sprinkle ground cayenne pepper around the garage (inside & out), and especially near entry holes. Pests don’t care for the smell of it.