Small bugs usually hate citrus, so citrus oil sprays are common in homemade repellents. Mix equal parts water with witch hazel (a half cup of each works well). Witch hazel is an alcohol-based astringent that is commonly used in DIY repellents.
How do you make bug spray with witch hazel?
- Steep 2 tbsp each of chopped fresh mint, basil, and lavender leaves in 1 cup boiling water until cooled. Strain, add 1 cup witch hazel and shake.
- Boil 1 cup water, add a few cloves and 3-4 tablespoons of dried herbs including peppermint, catnip, and lavender. Mix, cover, cool, and strain.
What smell will keep bugs away?
Peppermint . Peppermint essential oil might just be the holy grail of natural pest repellents to leave around your home’s entry points, as it can help keep away ticks, spiders, roaches, moths, flies, fleas, beetles, and ants. Use sachets of this oil near your doors and windows or try making a diffuser or spray.
What can be used as bug repellent?
- Citronella. Using almost anything that contains citronella can work to repel flies and a lot of other pests. ...
- Peppermint Oil. Using peppermint oil is popular these days. ...
- Tea Tree Oil. ...
- Vanilla Extract. ...
- Garlic.
What does witch hazel do in bug spray?
What does Witch Hazel do in bug spray? Witch hazel is an alcohol extract of the shrub Hamamelis. This astringent has been used on the skin for centuries to relieve bruises, sprains, minor injuries and irritations , including insect bites. This is the first we’ve heard that witch hazel might discourage mosquitoes.
Do dryer sheets repel bugs?
Most dryer sheets contain the ingredient linalool, which can be found in plants like lavender, basil, and coriander, all of which naturally repel common garden pests. Similar studies found that this ingredient is also useful for repelling bugs like mites, weevils, beetles, and German cockroaches.
What scent do mosquitoes hate?
- Lemon eucalyptus oil.
- Lavender.
- Cinnamon oil.
- Thyme oil.
- Greek catnip oil.
- Soybean oil.
- Citronella.
- Tea tree oil.
What smell do gnats hate?
Or, you can switch up your favorite scent with something they don’t like. Try Lighting citronella candles, using lemon or vanilla sprays . While gnats are a fan of sweet-smelling fruit, they can’t seem to stand vanilla, lemon, or even lavender. A little spritz can at least keep them at bay.
What can I use instead of witch hazel in bug spray?
Isopropyl Alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol is similar to witch hazel but should be diluted with equal parts water in this homemade mosquito repellent recipe. Combine the alcohol and water in a spray bottle, add about 25 drops of your favorite pest-fighting essential oil such as catnip, shake it up, and spray it on.
Does Vicks Vapor Rub repel mosquitoes?
The smell of the menthol in it will repel the insects away . ... You can also rub it on any mosquito bites you may already have and it will relieve the itching.
What do bugs hate the most?
Plus, most bugs hate the smell of citrus essential oils (such as, sweet orange, lemon, grapefruit, & bergamot). Ants, cockroaches, gnats, head lice, moths, silverfish, spiders, ticks, and weevils all detest scent of sweet orange essential oil.
Does vinegar keep bugs away?
In addition to being a great cleaning agent, vinegar is effective in deterring many types of pests . ... The insects will be drawn to the smell of the vinegar, but once they touch it, the soap will make it impossible for them to escape.
What is a natural way to repel bugs?
Lemongrass, citrus, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, citronella, catnip, and lavender oils all possess properties that repel bugs. The oils can be used individually or combined to make a simple anti-bug potion. Mix about 1 cup of water with 25-30 total drops of oil into a small spray bottle.
What smell do water bugs hate?
Most bugs don’t like the smell of many essential oils, especially peppermint oil . Mix 7-10 drops of peppermint oil in a cup of warm water and spray it around the cracks and crevices inside the house where water bugs might get in. When they encounter the smell, many of them will be driven away.
How do you keep mosquitoes from biting you without bug spray?
- Lemon Eucalyptus. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified lemon eucalyptus, an EPA registered repellent, as an active ingredient in mosquito repellent. ...
- Catnip Oil. ...
- Peppermint Oil. ...
- Lemongrass Oil. ...
- IR3535. ...
- Use a Fan. ...
- Eliminate Standing Water.
What is the best homemade mosquito repellent?
What is the best homemade mosquito repellent? The best homemade, natural mosquito repellents use either one or a combination of the following natural essential oils: cinnamon oil , citronella, geraniol, Greek catnip oil, lemon eucalyptus, lavender, neem oil, soybean oil, tea tree oil, and thyme oil.
