Pest season is here, and the UK's rising temperatures can encourage unwanted visitors to come inside. Cockroaches in particular can spread diseases, trigger allergic reactions and contaminate food, but the cost of removing an infestation can set you back up to £300.

However, pests will stay away from your kitchen if you use a £1.49 hack, according to a storage expert. Chris Hutton of Adams Self Store shared the affordable and natural solution to keep cockroaches away, along with tips on how to identify and remove an infestation if one occurs. The budget-friendly hack involves making a lavender mixture, because the strong scent can overwhelm cockroaches, causing them to seek a different place to live. 

Sutton explained: "The smell of lavender interferes with cockroaches’ sensory system, disrupting their ability to navigate.

"Since they rely heavily on their sense of smell to find food and shelter, spraying lavender oil in areas where they frequent will deter them.” 

To create the deterrent, mix 10-15 drops of lavender oil with one cup of water and spray it in areas where cockroaches are likely to appear, like kitchens, bathrooms, and dark corners.

At Savers, a 10ml bottle of Lavender oil is £1.49, meaning you can make the solution multiple times too.

To prevent them from entering the house in the first place, you could also seal any gaps around doors, walls or windows with caulk and fix water leaks because cockroaches thrive in moist environments. 

If you get unlucky and do get an infestation, there are a few key signs to look out for according to Chris.

The first one is cockroach droppings, which are small black or brown specs that look like pepper or coffee grounds. A musty smell also follows cockroaches around which is caused by the pheromones they release.

Seeing a cockroach during the day is the ultimate red flag. Since cockroaches are nocturnal, spotting one in daylight suggests there are likely many more lurking in the shadows. 

He added: "If you notice any of these, try this natural hack before calling pest control."