Vinegar spray 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.
Acetic acid makes vinegar an excellent tool for pest control, repelling some of the most common backyard nuisances and even killing weaker insects. It's most effective against ants, spiders, and mosquitos. You can keep spiders from entering your home by spraying vinegar around your property's perimeter and entryways.
Vinegar is one of the best ingredients to make a pest control spray. It is effective in repelling ants, mosquitoes, fruit flies, and many others. Creating a mix is quite simple and is considered safe for humans and pets. Acidity of the vinegar is potent enough to kill many pests.
Make an All-Purpose Insect Repellent
Lemongrass or citronella oil, and 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar. 1 cup isopropyl alcohol, 1 cup water, ½ tsp. catnip oil. 1 cup alcohol or witch hazel and 10-20 drops of essential oils such as lemongrass, peppermint, or lemon eucalyptus.
Rosemary Mosquito Repellent
Combine 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup water, and 40 drops of rosemary oil in a spray bottle and shake well. "If you don't like the smell of rosemary, you can also try lavender," says says Harlow-Ellis.
Mosquitoes dislike the scent of certain liquids, such as vinegar, garlic water, or essential oils like citronella, eucalyptus, or lavender. Using these liquids can help repel mosquitoes.
As an alternative, many natural replacements for the DEET ridden repellents include apple cider vinegar. Mosquitoes dislike the smell and taste of the vinegar, and will leave you alone so you can enjoy your BBQ.
One calls for mixing mint mouthwash, Epsom salt, and stale beer and spraying it around your yard. Another uses apple cider vinegar, water, and an oil made up of citronella, peppermint, lemongrass, cedar wood, and geranium.
Remove Pests With Rubbing Alcohol and Soap
A mixture of one-half cup rubbing alcohol and 1 quart of liquid soap can make an effective pest-control spray to get rid of whiteflies, aphids, mealy bugs, scale insects, and thrips. Fill a spray bottle with the solution, then shake and spritz directly on your plants.
First is the potent smell, with white vinegar being incredibly attractive to gnats and flies. 'The acetic acid in vinegar mimics the smell of overripe fruits and fermenting substances,' he explains. 'As natural food sources for gnats, this smell draws them in and tricks them into falling into the liquid and drowning.
Does Vinegar, Dish Soap, Essential Oils Repel Flies? Vinegar attracts, not repels flies; however, a container with vinegar and dish soap will function as an attractant trap as the vinegar lures flies to enter the trap and the dish soap will cause the flies to sink and die.
Vinegar spray can serve as an organic pest control, specifically for spiders. While it is harmless to humans, it contains acetic acid which gives it a sour taste and odor which spiders are highly sensitive to. To use, mix equal portions of vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
Aunt Fannie's All Purpose Cleaning Vinegar 16.9 Ounces, Multipurpose Surface Spray Cleaner (Lavender)
Vinegar is safe for cleaning glass, appliances, and ceramic bathroom fixtures. A mixture of half vinegar and half water in a spray bottle is unparalleled. Do not use vinegar on hardwood floors or no-wax floors. Over time, vinegar's acidity will actually take away the shine and dull the floors.
Mix 1 tablespoon of biodegradable dishwashing liquid with 1 teaspoon of cooking oil in 1 litre of water. Spray over the foliage of plants, particularly on the underside of leave where the pests often live.
Vegetable Oil Spray
A homemade insecticide made from vegetable oil mixed with a mild soap (such as Dr. Bronner's Castile soap) can have a devastating effect on certain troublesome insects, such as aphids, mites, thrips, etc.
Mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender, citronella, clove, peppermint, basil, cedarwood, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass and rosemary. They also hate smells such as smoke, for further insight, see our exploration on, does smoke keep mosquitoes away?
Deter Insects
We may be fans of Vicks, but insects decidedly are not. Dab a bit on your arms, legs, neck, or other areas of exposed skin to keep bugs (including mosquitoes) at bay, however, it is not as effective at preventing bites as a commercial insect repellant.
Mosquitoes are turned off by several natural scents: cinnamon, peppermint, cedar, citronella, lemongrass, patchouli, catnip, lavender, and more.
How it works: The acidity in apple cider vinegar can help with bug bites by neutralizing the venom which eases pain, specifically itching and burning. It is also a natural disinfectant, so if you've been scratching your bite, vinegar can help.