Homemade bug sprays are a popular alternative to synthetic insecticides, as they can be made using natural ingredients. These homemade insecticide recipes are easy to make and effective, making them a great way to control insects around the house. Insecticidal soap is a popular bug spray for treating various pests, and there are several pre-made bug-repellant options available.
To create a natural, DIY bug repellent, you can use simple, organic ingredients like liquid soap and water. Here are four recipes for natural bug repellents that use witch hazel and other ingredients from the pantry. All of these repel mosquitos, flies, and other insects that “bug” you without chemicals.
To make a 16-ounce bug spray recipe, mix 1 part oil of lemon eucalyptus or lavender essential oil with 10 parts witch hazel in the bottle. Shake gently to mix and spray to apply. For a 16-ounce glass bottle, add 4 ounces witch hazel, 15 drops each of citronella and lavender, distilled water, apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, and vodka (if using). Pour the mixture through the funnel into a large pot and add cayenne and cayenne seeds.
To make a skin-safe bug spray, fill a spray bottle with 2 ounces of witch hazel, 2 ounces of distilled water, and 10-15 drops of essential oils. Mix one cup of white vinegar with three cups of water and add half a teaspoon of dishwashing soap to help the spray stay on your skin.
In summary, homemade bug sprays are an effective and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic insecticides. By using natural ingredients and experimenting with different methods, you can find the perfect bug repellent for your needs.
📹 3 Ingredient DIY Mosquito Repellent
In this latest video you will see how simple it is to make a cost effective, natural mosquito repellant (an original Paul Harvey recipe) …
What smell will keep all bugs away?
Eucalyptus and Citronella oils are insect-repelling plants that can be used to repel insects. Eucalyptus oil, derived from the leaves of a eucalyptus tree, has a yellowish-brown color and smells of grass and trees. It is effective against flies, mosquitoes, and other insects. Lavender oil, popular in perfumes and fabric conditioners, can be used to make a spray, diffuser, or air freshener. Planting lavender in your yard can also help drive pests away and make your place more beautiful.
Rosemary, an aromatic plant, adds flavor and aroma to cooking and can be used to add flavor to barbecue meats. Its grilled scent deters bugs and pests in your surroundings and can be planted in your garden to control insect infestations.
What is the fastest way to get rid of bugs?
Diatomaceous Earth (DE), made from crushed fossilized single-cell algae, is harmful to insects with exoskeletons like bed bugs, flies, stink bugs, spiders, beetles, and earwigs. Within 48 hours of contact, DE causes dehydration in bugs. Neem Oil, a product of the Neem tree, kills over 200 insect species but doesn’t harm humans or wildlife. Spraying neem oil on indoor plants helps control aphids, thrips, and white flies.
What is the best homemade bug killer?
This homemade natural bug repellent uses essential oils to repel ticks, ants, mosquitoes, basil, and clove bugs. It contains 40 drops of cedarwood oil, 40 drops of eucalyptus oil, 40 drops of peppermint oil, 20 drops of basil oil, and 20 drops of clove oil. The recipe also includes 4 ounces of apple cider vinegar or witch hazel, distilled or filtered water, and filtered water. The repellent works by repelling ticks by repelling them from getting bit within five minutes.
The recipe does not include vodka, so it is not recommended for use. The spray can be bottled and is cheaper than store-bought natural bug spray. The recipe is not intended to make the insect bites less itchy, but it is a natural and effective way to repel ticks.
Does Dawn dish soap and vinegar repel bugs?
Mixing water, vinegar, and dish soap can create traps to rid your garden of pests. This mixture is harmless to plants, animals, and kids. Ants use pheromones to communicate, leaving a trail of scents that directs the colony to food sources. The overwhelming smell of vinegar disorients ants, blocking their ability to read pheromones. Without pheromone trails, ants become functionally blind, lacking direction and order. This method can be used to keep your garden pest-free.
What can I spray to keep all bugs away?
Commercial bug sprays and repellants often contain essential oils like rosemary and citronella. To create a homemade essential oil bug spray, mix water and essential oil in a spray bottle, add 30 drops of either oil, and spray the outdoor space. This repellent not only repels pests but also adds a pleasant aroma to your outdoor sanctuary.
To prevent bugs from infesting your outdoor space, remove stagnant water sources such as kiddie pools, gutters, flower pots, buckets, rain barrels, puddles, and muddy areas around patios. Minimizing these areas can help reduce the number of bugs in your outdoor living space.
Add a patio fan to keep your outdoor space cool during warmer weather and discourage flying bugs from landing on and around your furniture. The air flow from a fan makes it difficult for bugs to fly in your patio area, making it a more effective way to repel insects.
What is a good natural repellent for bugs?
Natural insect repellents, such as Castor oil, Cinnamon, Citronella, Cloves, Garlic, Peppermint, Rosemary, and Sesame oil, are used to repel harmful or annoying bugs without containing toxic chemicals. These repellents are crucial as they help prevent diseases and parasites carried by certain insects, which are a global public health concern. They also act as plant regulators and nitrogen stabilizers.
Can you use vinegar and Dawn as insecticide?
Vinegar, while not a strong fly repellent, can attract fruit flies and roaches. Products using vinegar as a bait and trap can trap flies by attracting them and sinking them inside. However, vinegar’s scent masks the odor of other cockroaches, as they communicate through smell. Vinegar is also known to repel ants, mosquitoes, and spiders, but its effectiveness may be short-lived and ineffective. To ensure effective pest control, contact your Orkin Pro for customized treatments. Overall, vinegar’s potential for repelling various pests is limited, and it’s essential to consult with a professional pest control professional for personalized solutions.
Does vinegar kill bugs?
Vinegar, an aqueous solution made of water and acetic acid, is a potent insecticide that can kill many pests. It is commonly used as a contact insecticide, spraying directly onto spotted bugs. The pH level of vinegar is typically 2. 5. White distilled vinegar is commonly used as a cleaning agent and has antimicrobial properties. It can deter bugs, especially spiders, from entering homes and stop ants from marching on surfaces. Vinegar can also be combined with essential oils like tea tree oil, lemon rind oil, or orange peel oil to increase its effectiveness.
However, vinegar offers short-term and limited effects when fighting against bugs, as it cannot penetrate hard casings that protect bug eggs. It is not effective as a stand-alone treatment for serious infestations and cannot repel pests out of a property. Overdoing vinegar spray may result in soaking the entire bedroom with its pungent corrosive smell. Combining vinegar with lavender, lemongrass, cinnamon, clove, peppermint, and tea tree oils can help repel bed bugs.
What do bugs hate the most?
Bugs dislike the smells associated with repellency, such as lavender, citronella, vinegar, peppermint, and geranium. These oils are natural ways to drive away bugs from your home without harming you, your family, and other animals. You can purchase sprays containing these repellants or make your own by mixing vinegar and water and spraying the mixture in your entire home. Some repellants work by confusing pests, such as ants and spiders, making it harder for them to return. However, it’s important to understand that what works on one pest may not work on another, so it’s crucial to find a specific repellent to deter a specific pest from entering your home.
What smell kills all bugs?
Citronella, lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint are essential oils that repel bugs due to their unpleasant smells and insecticidal properties. These scents are scientifically proven to repel bugs and are commonly used in bug control. DIY bug repellents can be made using these essential oils, providing a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative to chemical repellents. Citronella is a natural plant-based repellent known for its ability to repel insects, particularly mosquitoes.
📹 How to Make Homemade Bug Spray
Homemade Bug Spray Ingredients: •1/2 cup witch hazel •1/2 cup apple cider vinegar •40 drops essential oils (eucalyptus, …
Hey Paul. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I moved into my new property a home that I built. Little did I know that I have a pond beside me. Last summer, we couldn’t bear sitting on the lanai. This year. I waged a war on mosquitoes. In April 2024 I saw a article online where a gentleman was showing how he killed millions of mosquitoes. I basically bought four black pails. Then went online on Amazon and bought the mosquito dunks. I placed all four pails on the perimeter of the property. I then purchased mosquito barrier and I have sprayed three times. The mosquito dunks in the pales is basically killing the ecosystem of the mosquitoes. It’s like neutering, a dog and cat. We have had over a dozen barbeques in our backyard by the poolside. And all I hear is where are the mosquitoes. Something you may want to try. I am going to go and purchase your items tomorrow and I will get back to you on my report, as the mosquito barrier that I purchase is very expensive. But it does work.
NOT A JOKE! We have crazy nasty mosquitoes in Phoenix right now. I made this yesterday using the mist sprayer from Harbor Freight, and sprayed my entire large patio, driveway, and front walk. I then got a bit cocky and went out last night on the patio shirtless, scared out of my mind, but nothing happened. I stayed on the patio near the house at the dining table, and thoroughly enjoyed myself mosquito-free. GAME CHANGER! Thanks Paul Harvey! “PAGE TWO…”
OMG! It worked! My front porch and patio has been terrible for months now. I’ve been trying all kinds of things including coils, thermacells, multiple insecticides, citronella torches, lotions, bug zapper light and was still being eaten alive. I saw this article and had everything already on hand. Used Miller High Life beer, Sam’s Club Epsom salt(so cheap there… $9.98 for 14lbs) and Colgate mint mouthwash(same blue color as what he used). I’ve been sitting out here for an hour after hosing down my porch and patio area and their perimeter and I haven’t seen one single mosquito. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for sharing! LOVE IT! I’m in the Tampa Bay Florida area. I hope it lasts!
Okay. I had mosquitoes EVERYWHERE. Even in broad daylight. Under the deck, above the deck, the porch. The garage. I couldn’t go anywhere without swatting. It was literally hindering my productivity and I was covered in bites. I sprayed the entire perimeter of the house yesterday, under the gutter, and under the deck and porch and inside the garage etc. I spent ALL day outside yesterday and only saw 5 mosquitoes the entire day. They’re virtually gone. And it even rained yesterday three times! Usually that makes it worse. They’re gone!! Side note I found mint Epsom salts, I know mint is a pest deterrent so I went with that. I just wonder how the beer fits in to this, what about it makes it work? 🤔
Couldn’t you simply just spray it on yourself / your clothes? Seems like that’d be perfectly safe to do (don’t get it in your eyes though) and would accomplish the same thing, and in that way, you’d also be able to really stretch out your supply of it. Also for some people, it may actually make them smell better. ( ;
My friend I live in South America and I’m looking for something to put on my skin come I could spread a parameter until the cows come home and I’m still gonna have mosquitoes coming out of my ears period. What are you going to do when there’s no electricity no money no telephone? It’s Time To Face Reality but what you have is reasonably cheap comma Thank you man but I have to have something to put on my skin period period South America is cheap but It ain’t America period the bugs a gigantic but I’m from Louisiana grew up on the bayou. We used to use skin so soft but it’s expensive Now like everything else and what are you going to do when the bankers bring you down to nothing unless you go digital and they track you like a dog. It’s time to think and barter. Your bank account and everything you own then the only thing left is your creator Jesus Christ. Grow barter, and trust your Creator like God intended from the beginning. This life is but a breath and ETERNITY is a long time..? He’s a miracle God, I can tell you from experience but you have to surrender 100%..He died for you, so you can trust Him and have Eternal Life. We’re at the last battle between good and evil. If you can’t see that you’re blind. God bless you, all listening with the Truth the Life and the Way.
While I was reading your comments I noticed you are using the Golden Rule and know the world is crazy, so are you a born again Christian? I am for 18 years down in N. Atlanta, and I don’t drink either. My website has been trying to wake up Christians and unbelievers to the end times and the rapture since 2017, and I really don’t believe there will be mosquitoes in heaven. Blessings.
Will this mosquito brew stain pressure treated wood? I’m just wondering if I should spray on the grass surrounding our deck or on the deck edges. I am definitely going to give this a try in addition to using mosquito dunks to help curb their breeding. I may try spraying the perimeter of our back yard with this concoction but our yard fairly large at 80 ft wide by 100 ft deep. We back up to a forest and the mosquitos are so bad this year (even in the afternoon), that it is tough to be outside at all. Spraying ourselves with OFF insect repellant helps but it simply doesn’t last very long.
Hey! Thanks for the article. Sincere question here: What is the rationale of using the different ingredients as the beer is a lure and the mouth wash is a repellant? Don’t they have conflicting functions? Either it should be mouth wash only (repellant) or beer (lure) + epsom salt (to kill)? Thanks for your reply. Breg
Hi, I am living in the tropics. Getting Epsom salt is not easy, so I ordered it from USA anyway for my garden and bodycare (really expensive because of the extra delivery). The mouthwash costs about 7 dollar here. A can of beer costs like 50 cents, so this is the only cheap one. I think, you can replace the mouthwash by a solution with peppermint essential oil or even selfmade mint in alcohol, because it is the mint that is important. What I really don´t get, is the meaning of the beer. Beer attracs bugs. If I leave an half empty bottle over night, I always find it full of flies and bugs in the morning. So I really try to find out if I could replace the beer with water and alcohol and replace the mouthwasch with a mint-alc solution (like I use for my body against moscitos.) Also inside use with that sticky mouthwasch and beer would not be recomendable. 😀 Has anyone tried to modificate this reciept?
Just found this article, I plan on going to buy the ingredients tomorrow and try this. My yard is full of mosquitoes from all the shrubs and trees we have. I tried going to the garden to get something and i had to run back inside and spray myself with bugspray. Went back outside and that didn’t really help 🤦🏿♀️🤦🏿♀️. Now i am here looking for a solution.
I’m going to try this. So for three cups of epsons salts, and 16oz of mint mouthwash, you added 36oz of flat beer? is this correct??? So If I wanted to double it I could do 64oz of flat beer, six cups of espons salts, and 32oz of mint-correct? Thank you so much for helping us out. I pray that this works.
The beer has alcohol in it. The mouthwash has mint and alcohol in it. Mint repels a lot of bugs and alcohol will kill mosquitoes if sprayed on them. What I don’t get is the Epsom salt, what does that do? The only thing I can figure is it absorbs the mint so it might last longer. Thoughts on the Epsom salt???
WOW. I did the mix. I sprayed around the house, walls, carpet, doors entrances, garage, patio, bathroom etc. The mosquitoes started getting less and less, and by my surprise we always have lots of flies every year, and now they are not here. I was wondering this repellent worked then? I think it did. Thanks for sharing your marvelous repellent
I like to hang out in a parking lot where these feral cats live and there’s this huge drain hole with thick metal bars in this old grate over it and I think it’s breeding ground for mosquitoes…….. I was contemplating purchasing an electric racket to use and you know what I’d probably get drained and tired from holding it and swatting these jokers…….this spray seems to be the best idea ever…….
I know this is a old article but i have so much question 1. Is measurements important since i can find a small among from where i live 2. Does any alcohol could replace beer 3. Can it be use indoor and or people/cloth 4. Epsom salt is hard to fine in my nearby place could it be replace by other salt I would really appreciate if you answer this thank you 🙏🙏
I was actually gullible enough to believe this article and went out and got all these items. Instructions are simple I followed them exactly, and sprayed the perimeter over and over, that no working I sprayed everything. It was likely the biggest mosquito year ever at my house and this spray did nothing, or certainly didn’t help or slow them down.
Going out tomorrow to get the goods. Not sure what’s happening here in MN but in all my 30 years I’ve never seen an infestation of mosquitoes. My entire house is covered with baby mosquitos, I can see hundreds flying around. I literally got attacked waking to my garage. I have to say, I’m a little frightened….. so, anxious to try this out tomorrow!!!!
I’m allergic to peppermint 🫤 Gonna go have beer 🍺😋 Came here because I just tried the vanilla extract w/water in a spray bottle & a pinch of cinnamon so I would smell like a wonderful snack. Well! They 🦟🦟🦟 I was just trying to mow my lawn here in SoCal. These mosquitoes are out all damn day! More in the morning and evening but geez! Grenada has day-biters 🦟
Instead of mint mouth wash, I think using straight Mint oil would be an alternative. Also instead of stale beer try vodka. It’s just the chemical compounds mixing together. I’m not sure why salt would be used in a garden. Normally salt will kill vegetation, or so I thought. IMO I would use some Witch Hazel (for stickiness so the rain won’t wash it away as quickly), Mint oil, vodka, and distilled water. Most bugs hate mint and I’ve heard peppermint is even better…but this just my theory. God Bless you and your family!
I love Rosemary essential oil! I make a sunscreen/bug spray mix. I’m protecting my skin naturally from the sun while repelling the bugs. It works fabulous. I’ve also used lemongrass, peppermint, tea tree and other essential oils as bug repellants as well. I add it in my sunscreen after the sunscreen has cooled completely.