Which Essential Oils Get Rid of Which Pests?
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Tired of dealing with ants on the counter, mosquitoes buzzing at your ears, or flies hovering around your food? A homemade pest repellent spray can be a quick and easy solution, without necessarily requiring a trip to the store.
With just a few common ingredients that you might already have, you can mix up a spray that keeps common pests at bay. Here are three different ways to do it.
What you’ll need:
Each of these bug sprays use water, a base like vinegar or witch hazel, and essential oils that pests really can’t stand. They also include a small amount of liquid soap to help everything mix together:
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup white vinegar or witch hazel
- 15–20 drops essential oils (see recipes below)
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap
- A clean spray bottle
Choosing your essential oils
Different pests respond to different scents. You can adjust your blend based on what you're trying to repel:
- Mosquitoes: Citronella, peppermint or lavender
- Ants: Tea tree or peppermint
- Flies: Eucalyptus, lemongrass, or clove
- Spiders: Peppermint or citrus oils
You can combine 2–3 oils for a more well-rounded spray.
Three different bug spray recipes
Here are three easy, targeted spray blends using different essential oil combinations:
🦟 Anti-mosquito blend
Great for: Skin, patios, outdoor furniture
- 10 drops citronella
- 5 drops peppermint
- 5 drops lavender
🐜 Ant & spider barrier blend
Best for: Baseboards, under sinks, doorways
- 10 drops tea tree
- 7 drops peppermint
- 3 drops orange (or lemon)
🪰 Fly-repellent room spray
Perfect for: Kitchens, dining areas, trash cans
- 8 drops eucalyptus
- 7 drops lemongrass
- 5 drops clove
How to make your DIY bug spray
- Combine water and vinegar (or witch hazel) in your spray bottle.
- Add the essential oils. Choose your blend and drop them directly into the bottle.
- Add the liquid soap. This helps the oil and water mix.
- Shake well. Always shake before each use.
Label your spray if you're storing it, and keep it in a cool, dry place.
How to use it
Always test patch your DIY pest spray first, just to be on the safe side!
We don’t recommend using these on plants. Instead, spray directly onto surfaces where pests tend to show up, like window sills, door frames, under sinks, or around patios.
For outdoor use, spray around entry points or sitting areas. You can spray it directly onto your skin too.
Final thoughts
These DIY pest sprays are easy to make, customizable depending on the pests you’re dealing with, and surprisingly effective when used regularly. It’s a simple way to stay on top of everyday pest problems.
What essential oils did you use? Comment down below.
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