If you have ever seen tiny, whitish gray insects in your cupboards, you know mealybugs have found their way into your home. These insects reproduce every few days, which is why they are so hard to get rid of, and they can attract other insects like ants because of the honeydew trails they excrete. With a safe, homemade treatment, you can keep mealybugs out of your cupboards and save you from an expensive problem.
Remove dishes and any other items in your cupboards so that you can effectively clean the surfaces and get to any hard-to-reach cracks and crevices. Mealybugs are only 1-4 mm long, so it is very easy for them to lay eggs or hide in these areas.
Pick up any visible mealybugs to get rid of existing adults and prevent them from reproducing. If you prefer not to use your hands, opt for a vacuum that can reach inside easily.
Pour isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle or on a rag and scrub the inside of your cupboards, making sure to touch every inch. The alcohol kills mealybugs and eggs on contact. Repeat steps one to three every 10-14 days until the bugs and eggs are gone.
Inspect nearby hiding places, such cracks in the floorboards, where mealybugs could potentially take refuge. Use your hands to pick up the bugs or treat with alcohol, and include these areas during your regiment of cleaning every 10-14 days.
Treat potted plants (if applicable) with a diluted alcohol solution and new soil. Move them away from your cupboards. Move plants to an isolated area, such as a tub, and mix equal parts of isopropyl alcohol, water, add a few drops of liquid soap and pour this into a spray bottle so that you can gently mist your plants. Further, remove old soil and carefully inspect the roots of your plant. If you see small, yellowish spots, these are crawling mealybugs that can be treated with the alcohol solution before you add fresh soil. This mixture does not hurt your plants, and fresh soil ensures that you get rid of any hidden mealybug eggs.
Continue to monitor your indoor areas for new intruders, and use steps 1-5 to immediately get the mealybugs out.