By Jennifer Updated: . First published: . This post may contain affiliate links. 4 Comments
It’s Summertime- that means, GET OUT THE NATURAL BUG SPRAY!
I love summer time, don’t you? The sun shining down, the fresh air, outdoor parties, daylight savings time and with all of that fun comes the mosquitoes, deer flies, no see ‘ems, and other pesky insects looking for their next meal… you!
When you think of bug spray, what normally comes to mind?
I think of Deet, or Off. I think that is probably what the average consumer thinks of as well. This summer, instead of reaching for chemical laden insect repellents, why not create your own all natural bug spray with essential oils?
What we put onto our skin is absorbed into our skin, bottom line, so let’s go the natural route using pure unadulterated essential oils.
When it comes to making your own bug spray, the stronger the solution, the greater the effects.
Have you ever noticed that? If your Deet has less than 7% solution, you are more likely to get bit. When it comes to making your own natural bug spray, you have control over the solution and you can make it stronger, if so desired.
The basic formula is 12 to 25 drops of essential oils to 1 ounce of carrier. Adding 12 drops of essential oils per 1 ounce would be a 5% essential oil solution and 25 drops per ounce would give you a stronger 10% solution. The stronger the solution, the better.
You are going to need essential oils and carrier oils to make these recipes. Let’s look at the products I high recommend.
Essential oils I use and love to make natural bug spray:
1. My hands down favorite brand is Rocky Mountain Oils (also known as Native American Nutritionals). These are seriously the BEST brand I have ever used. They are strong. And I mean strong. I have seen some amazing things happen when using this brand. 2. GEO carries a great line of essentials oils and I have always had success with their oils. They are adding new blends frequently and are definitely worth a look! 3. I am really enjoying Plant Therapy essential oils as well. They are easy on the budget as well as being a high quality oil.
Carrier oils and non-oils I personally use with great success:
Coconut Oil
Almond Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil
Avocado Oil
Distilled Water
Aloe Vera Gel
Witch Hazel
Back to this natural bug spray recipe collection! You ready for all these awesome ways to repel insects? Here you go!
All Natural Bug Spray Recipe #1
10 drops citronella essential oil oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops lemongrass essential oil
5 drops eucalyptus globulus es
1 oz. of your choosen carrier
Put essential oils in an empty spray bottle. Add the carrier. Shake well and spray on as needed.
All Natural Bug Spray Recipe #2
10 drops purification essential oil
5 drops lemongrass essential oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil
5 drops melaleuca alternifolia essential oil
1 oz. of your chosen carrier
Put essential oils in an empty spray bottle. Add the carrier. Shake well and spray on as needed.
All Natural Bug Spray Recipe #3
5 drops thieves essential oil
5 drops lemon essential oil
5 drops purification essential oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
1 oz. of your chosen carrier
Put essential oils in an empty spray bottle. Add the carrier. Shake well and spray on as needed
When summer comes, we not only need recipes for repelling insects, we also need ways to keep bugs out of our home. Here are a couple of different recipes that are good to help keep insects out of your home or office.
Using either recipe #1 or #2, put the drops on a cotton ball and place them in areas of your home where you know the insects are entering.
Have you ever made your own natural bug spray? Do you have a recipe you can share with us?
Be sure to check out all my other great natural pest control posts as well. I will teach you how to get rid of ants, keep mosquitoes at bay, keep earwigs and silverfish away for good, keep moths out of your pantry and closets, prevent a spider invasion and more!
Mix 1 part oil of lemon eucalyptus or lavender essential oil with 10 parts witch hazel in the bottle. (For each drop of oil, use 10 drops of witch hazel.) Shake gently to mix. Spray to apply.
Vinegar, particularly apple cider vinegar, has a strong scent that repels mosquitoes. Creating and spraying a vinegar solution or placing vinegar-soaked cotton balls around your outdoor area can help keep mosquitoes away.
Bugs hate the smells associated with repellency, such as lavender, citronella, vinegar, peppermint, and geranium. These oils are considered a natural way of driving away bugs from your home without harming you, your family, and other animals.
In fact, several products that attract fruit flies employ a vinegar attractant and a trap to help capture and control fruit flies. A container containing vinegar and dish soap can function as a trap since the vinegar lures flies to enter the trap and the dish soap will cause the flies to sink inside the trap and die.
Repair any holes in drywall and caulk gaps around floor molding where insects can invade your home from neighboring units. Patch holes and loose edges on window and door screens. And be sure to keep windows and doors closed if they do not have screens. Repair gaps around pipes, air conditioners, and dryer vents.
One of the homemade mosquito repellents, lemon oil and eucalyptus oil, is ideal for making into a natural mosquito spray, says Zahid Adan, garden pest expert. 'I mix 10 drops of lemon oil, 10 drops of eucalyptus oil, and four ounces of water before adding it to a spray bottle,' he explains.
Citronella (Cymobopogon nardus) is an ingredient in many repellents. This oil is also high in citronellal and geraniol, both of which repel bugs. Products that have the right amount of citronella can be as effective as DEET when properly combined with other essential oils.
This apple cider vinegar mosquito repellent is said to keep mosquitoes from coming into your yard for several weeks, but once you notice an increase in the number of pests again, you can re-apply the repellent without hesitation.
Mosquitoes are turned off by several natural scents, including citronella, peppermint, cedar, catnip, patchouli, lemongrass, lavender and more. You can add some of these plants to your landscaping to fend them off.
One of the easiest homemade bug sprays, simply mix one cup of white vinegar, at Walmart, with three cups of water. You can also add half a teaspoon of dishwashing soap to help the solution adhere. Shake thoroughly and apply to the affected areas.
Use one part vinegar (apple cider or white) to three parts water to create a sprayable solution. Add a few drops of mild dish soap to help the solution stick. Add to a sprayer bottle and apply to the base of infested plants. Treat the leaves directly if heavily infested.
2.5 tablespoons of liquid dishwashing soap (preferably Dawn or Lemon Joy) and not automatic dishwasher soap Mix with 2.5 tablespoons of vegetable oil per gallon of warm water. Make only what is needed for one day's treatment. An insecticidal soap like this is generally not harmful to plants, animals or humans.
Apply to areas where pests hide, paying special attention to cracks and crevices. Apply to baseboards, corners, storage areas, closets, around water pipes, doors and windows, in attics and eaves, behind and under refrigerators, cabinets, sinks, furnaces, stoves, under shelves, drawers and similar areas.
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