Natural Homemade Insect Repellent
Do you want to get rid of annoying bugs without having to resort to harsh chemicals? Try making your own Homemade Insect Repellent with natural ingredients like citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary and lemongrass essential oils, tea tree oil, natural witch hazel and apple cider vinegar. By creating a natural insect repellent, you can say goodbye to bugs for good! Read on to find out how to make your own homemade insect repellent and start enjoying your outdoor activities bug-free.
When it comes to pest control, it’s tempting to just reach for a can of bug spray and call it a day. But did you know there are natural ways to keep those pesky critters at bay? Yep, you don’t have to douse your house in chemicals to get rid of insects. Instead, try using natural repellents like peppermint oil, diatomaceous earth, or even a good old-fashioned fly swatter. Not only will you be doing your part for the environment, but you might just find that Natural Pest Control is more effective than you thought.
Every time the humidity rears its ugly head, the bugs come back out. And it seems like that’s been happening so much this year. That means a LOT of bug bites if you want to actually step outside and do something outdoors!
My kids and I have discovered hiking and have found it’s something that we ALL like to do! But hiking means bugs. I have a bunch of these little spray bottles just the right size for our packs we carry – they are also perfect for my kids at camp!
What Repels Insects Naturally?
There’s nothing worse than trying to enjoy a summer evening outside while being bombarded by pesky insects. Luckily, there are a ton of natural remedies to keep them at bay. Lemongrass, lavender, and peppermint are all plant-based scents that insects can’t stand. You can easily make your own bug repellent spray by mixing essential oils with water and a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba.
Adding garlic to your diet or consuming apple cider vinegar daily can also help keep bugs from biting. And if all else fails, investing in a good old-fashioned bug zapper is always a satisfying (albeit slightly gruesome) solution. So go ahead and enjoy your time outside bug-free!
Why Does Vinegar Keep Bugs Away?
Have you ever wondered why vinegar is a staple in a lot of bug-repelling solutions? It turns out that the pungent smell of vinegar is unappealing to most insects. Not only that, but vinegar changes the pH balance of the skin, making it more acidic and therefore less attractive to bugs looking for a place to feast on. So next time you’re enjoying a cookout in the great outdoors, consider setting out a bowl of vinegar to keep those pesky bugs at bay. Just be warned – you might have some curious neighbors wondering why your picnic table smells like a giant bag of chips.
Why is it Important to Use Insect Repellent When Outdoors?
There’s nothing quite like being outside on a beautiful day, feeling the sun on your skin and the breeze in your hair. But as much as we humans love the great outdoors, it turns out that insects love it even more. And while some bugs might be harmless (or even cute- looking at you, ladybugs!), others can be downright deadly.
That’s why it’s so important to use insect repellent when you’re outside, whether you’re camping in the woods or just hanging out in your backyard. Not only can insect bites and stings ruin your day, but they can also transmit diseases like Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and Zika virus.
I’ve seen first-hand what lyme disease can do to an active child and it’s not fun, both mentally and physically. It’s just so much easier to just spray on some bug spray quickly before going outside than risk getting bit by bugs that can forever change your life.
What the Risks of Using Chemical-Based Insect Repellents?
Let’s face it, nobody likes mosquitoes or other pesky insects buzzing around and biting them. But before you reach for that trusty can of chemical-based insect repellent, it’s worth considering the potential risks involved. While these products might provide some relief from pests, they can also have harmful effects on both our health and the environment. Chemicals such as DEET, which is commonly found in insect repellents, have been linked to skin irritation, headaches, and even seizures in some cases.
Additionally, these chemicals can be harmful to wildlife and ecosystems if they end up in our water sources. So before you spray yourself down, maybe try some more natural alternatives like essential oils or citronella candles – your skin and the environment will thank you!
How do you make natural insect spray?
This homemade insect repellent allows you to protect your family from bugs and insects without having to use DEET. Why no DEET, you ask? Well, according to ConsumerReports.org, “Deet is a true repellent: It protects not by killing mosquitoes or other insects but by preventing them from landing on skin or clothing in the first place. How exactly the chemical achieves this feat has been a bit of a mystery to scientists.”
While many health organizations will say that DEET is safe or that “the overall incidence of deet poisoning is very low” the truth is that scientists actually have NO IDEA how exactly DEET repels insects from biting humans. That’s a red flag right there isn’t it? If we are putting chemicals on our kids, we really should know exactly how it works and what it does.
It’s really irresponsible to use DEET on the knowledge that “most cases of DEET poisoning are mild.” Most cases?! That means that SOME cases of DEET poisoning are NOT mild.
So here we go with the natural homemade insect repellent spray recipe that we can feel confident works and will repel bugs while not harming our kids in any way.
What is the best natural insect repellent?
According to this study, lavender, geranium and eucalyptus have the power to repel insects naturally.
Geranium oil should not be used on babies and young children due to the delicate nature of their skin.
In this 2011 study, citronella was shown to have a 96.88% protection from mosquitoes for 4 hours.
I love Rocky Mountain Oils because of their quality 100% pure essential oils that require no minimum purchase and always gives FREE shipping! Plus they always have specials going on!
Rocky Mountain Oils’ essential oils are verified by a third-party, independent lab. GC/MS tests verify purity and quality of the oils sold so you can look at the bottom of the bottle to find your individual batch code and then input that number into our website to pull up the GC/MS test results.
Rocky Mountain Products can be returned for any reason, even if opened, for up to 90 days. RMO also pays for our customers’ return shipping expenses to make our ordering process completely risk-free.
RMO includes three different icons for recommended use on each bottle for easy reference: Diffuse, Topical Application and Household. So you can look at the bottle and know in what way it’s intended for use.
Homemade Insect Repellent
Tired of bug sprays full of harsh chemicals? Make your own homemade insect repellent for a natural way to keep pests at bay.
Materials
- 10 Drops Citronella Essential Oil
- 10 Drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
- 10 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 10 Drops Lemongrass Essential Oil
- 10 Drops Tea Tree Oil
- 2 Ounces Natural Witch Hazel
- 2 Ounces Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Teaspoon Vegetable Glycerin, optional
Tools
- 4 Ounce Dark Glass or PET Plastic Spray Bottle
- Funnel, optional
Instructions
- Place essential oils in a glass spray bottle with witch hazel and ACV and shake to combine.
- Add vegetable glycerin if using. This is optional but helps everything stay combined.
- Shake before each use as the oils and water will naturally separate some over time.
Notes
You can also use geranium, cedarwood, tea tree or peppermint oil!
