What are the signature techniques Carolyn Scott recommends for natural pest control?

Hygiene first: Keep surfaces, floors, and bathrooms clean, dishes washed, food in sealed containers, trash tightly closed, and cracks or holes in walls sealed so pests have no food or shelter.

Remove breeding grounds by drying out damp, dark areas and decluttering hidden corners.

Prefer barriers and repellents over killing: meshes on windows, food‑safe repellents like vinegar for ants, bay leaves for roaches, basil, peppermint oil or citronella for mosquitos.

Use humane traps and proofing for rodents: catch‑and‑release traps plus rodent‑proofing the home (sealing entry points, decontaminating, fixing damage) instead of routine poisoning.

Call professionals only when there is a health or structural risk (bedbugs, termites), and choose the most eco‑friendly, least toxic option you can.