Insects will stay away with one item that repels bugs and neutralises odours

As we welcome the warmer weather during the spring, embracing it can pose some particular annoyances from a range of and To keep them at bay and deter them from your home, one has shared some of her natural home remedies.

Chantel Mila, more commonly known as Mama Mila on social media, shared some of her favourite , including using While essential oils may be a go-to for many, Chantel also praises coffee as a good deterrent. In a recent TikTok video, she demonstrated how filling a glass full of coffee beans - or grounds - can help mask unpleasant smells and repel insects.

Coffee works as a natural deodoriser by masking any unwanted odours with its own strong scent. While it doesn't neutralise or eliminate bad smells entirely, it can overwhelm it with its own, in turn making it less noticeable.

This makes it effective as a short-term solution.

Guy Halverson from pest control company Truly Nolen explained tothat coffee contains a number of compounds which act as a natural insecticide. He said: "Coffee grounds contain compounds such as caffeine and diterpenes, which can act as a natural insecticide. They have a strong scent but become even more potent when burned.

"The strong, powerful scent contributes to a smoldering effect that will fight off pests. They also work by masking the scents that attract bugs, this makes it harder for the bugs to locate their targets."

While Chantel used a glass full of coffee beans, there are other coffee solutions you could try too. You could create a barrier using coffee grounds in areas like doorways or windowsills; or make a coffee spray using grounds and water and apply where appropriate throughout the home.

However, coffee grounds aren't an effective deterrent for all types of insects. While they can repel pests which have a strong sense of smell - and are deterred by strong scents - they are not as effective for bugs like cockroaches, and can even potentially attract mosquitos.

The research is limited, but if you're looking to ward off mozzies, it's advisable to use natural repellents like plants and essential oils, or even incense and candles.

A.H David, the owner of Pest Control Weekly, told Home & Gardens that coffee is a great way to get rid of ants. He explained: "Coffee grounds can get rid of ants due to their strong scent and acidity.

"Specifically, sprinkling used coffee grounds around the perimeter of problem areas can disrupt the ants' scent trails, making it harder for them to navigate and significantly reducing their presence.

"Ants communicate the location of a food source through pheromone trails, so disrupting these with this smell ants hate can throw off their communication and navigation, preventing others from being attracted to your home."