Last summer, I planted citronella plants in flower pots on my deck to keep the mosquitos away. It worked beautifully, so for this month’s contest, let me know what all-natural pest control solutions you’ve found work well. Send me your ideas and you’ll be entered to win a $50 Gift Card from Lowe’s!

It’s definitely unnerving to see a line of ants marching across the kitchen floor. But you don’t need to hire an expensive professional exterminator or spray toxic chemicals to banish nuisance ants from your home.

Mix a teaspoon of liquid soap and water in a quart-size spray bottle and spray areas where the ants are active. This will drown the ants and destroy the chemical trails left by worker ants so it will prevent more ants from invading your home. Vinegar and water should also do the trick.

The Natural Resource Defense Council recommends making your own ant traps from a mixture of borax, sugar, and water. Be careful with these if you have young children or pets because it’s not safe to ingest. Ants can’t digest cornmeal properly so that’s another way to get rid of them – sprinkle it around holes or ant trails.

If all else fails and you decide to go for pesticides, use baits in closed cases instead of sprays.

(From Yahoo! Green. Click here for more from this article.)

Depending on the size of your home, you may have a guest suite, extra bedroom, or even just a pullout sofa bed or futon in your home office. Regardless of how spare or opulent your guest space, it’s important to determine if it’s comfortable and functional for overnight guests. And the best way to figure that out is to spend a night – or a weekend – in the area yourself! We’ve put together a list of things that make for a welcoming, pleasant space for guests. Why not spend a few nights in your guest room to see if yours makes the grade?

In today’s virus-ridden world, a computer keyboard that can be submerged in soap and water may be the key to your family’s health. Computer accessory manufacturer Unotron specializes in washable, antimicrobial keyboards and mice, to protect you and your loved ones from spreading germs and bacteria. They’re also completely waterproof, so no more worrying about your kids spilling their soda and making your keys sticky, since Unotron’s keyboards can be easily washed with detergent and water.

With the holidays quickly approaching, it’s time to spruce up those guest rooms for your favorite friends and family. Tell us your best ideas for updating your guest room and you’ll be entered to win a $100 gift card to Pottery Barn, Target, CB2 or Home Depot.*

One tip we have for updating your guest room is to spend a night there. You’ll quickly discover what things need to be added for your guests’ comfort.

Be a “guest expert” by sharing your own idea with us. We’ll post the best ideas in our “Ask the Expert” section. Every person who submits an idea will be entered to win a $100 gift card, just in time to give yourself a gift!

To enter, simply comment below or send your ideas to contests@thehome.com. If you have photos of your idea, feel free to send those as well, via email. All entries must be submitted by January 15, 2009 to be eligible to win.

We can’t wait to hear from you!

*Winners will receive one $100 Gift Certificate from their choice of Pottery Barn, Target, CB2 or Home Depot.