Spring is finally here! By now you may have started to see the first signs of winter coming to an end such as warmer weather, flowers blooming and even the return of a few unwanted guests that have been hiding away all winter long. Spring brings out the pests, which makes the beginning of this season the perfect time to prevent an infestation before it begins, and doing so doesn’t have to mean exposing your household to dangerous toxins. Fortunately, Stay Away® by EarthKind® offers natural pest repellants that are both safe and effective.

If you are afraid of spiders, here’s a creepy thought- during the spring is when the spider population multiplies! Spiders mate in the fall and their baby eggs hatch in the spring. To prevent spiders and their babies from infesting your home, Kari Warberg Block, pest prevention expert and founder of EarthKind® , recommends the following:

• Use a spray made of half a cup of water, half a cup of vinegar, two tablespoons of liquid dish soap and 20 drops of thyme oil. The scented mixture has been used to prevent them from attaching their silk to sprayed surfaces.
• Invest in a natural spider repellent, like Stay Away® Spiders. Made with Citronella, Lemongrass and Rosemary, Stay Away® Spiders disrupts a spider’s sophisticated senses, keeping them out of treated areas with a scent pleasant to people, but offensive to the insects  that spiders eat. No food, no spiders! Use one pouch anywhere webs or spiders are noticed, such as basements, closets and attics, increasing the number of pouches until desired results are obtained.

A recent entomological survey of North Carolina homes found spiders in 100 percent of them, including 68 percent of bathrooms and more than three-quarters of bedrooms. If you live in an area with a warmer climate, chances are you have at least one creepy crawler lurking around your home.

Not afraid of spiders? Finding a moving box of rice inside your pantry might be enough to make your skin crawl. The pantry moth is considered to be the true definition of the word pest. These pests can affect everyone no matter where you live or how clean your home may be. Pantry moths live in dry food products throughout the United States such as cereal, flour, grains and even pet food. It only takes one female to enter your home and she can quickly cause an infestation with her ability to lay 300 eggs at a time. Once the eggs hatch, they will feed on and infest all the dry food in your pantry. Kari has the following tips to prevent pantry moths from making themselves home in your food this spring:

• Check all packages inside and out for small holes, cocoon webbing, or off-white moth larvae.
• Store foods in airtight glass, metal, or plastic containers.
• Place a non-toxic Stay Away ® Moths pouch in your pantry to prevent any moths you may have brought home from reproducing. Stay Away® Moths works by using a unique blend of essential oils that smell offensive to moths, but pleasant to people. It’s safe for your family, the environment and your food.

Stay Away® products are available for purchase online and at your local Lowe’s and  in select ACE locations nationwide.