Natural Solutions to Repel Bugs This Spring with Essential Oils

Embrace Spring: Natural Solutions to Keep Bugs at Bay with Essential Oils

As spring unfolds, bringing longer days and warmer weather, we also welcome the arrival of pesky bugs. From spiders lurking in garages to ants invading kitchens and mosquitoes buzzing around, these unwelcome guests can be a nuisance. Fortunately, essential oils offer a natural and effective way to repel these pests. In this blog post, you’ll discover:

Natural methods to eliminate bugs around your home using essential oils
The top 10 essential oils proven to repel insects
A comprehensive list of essential oils that repel various bugs from A-Z (including ants, aphids, bed bugs, beetles, ticks, wasps, and weevils)

If you find yourself on the receiving end of a bug bite, don’t worry! At the end of this post, you’ll find essential oils that can soothe itching, along with DIY recipes for natural anti-itch rollerballs, salves, and sticks.

How to Naturally Eliminate Bugs Around Your Home Using Essential Oils

DIY Natural Bug Repellent – Access recipes for mosquito repellent, fly sprays, tick repellents, and more by clicking here.
Bug Repellent Rollerball Recipe – Click here for the recipe.
Bug-Away Lotion Bar Recipe – Find the recipe here.
“Bugs Be Gone” Diffuser Blend – Get the blend here.
Simple DIY Bug Repellent Candles – Learn how to make them here.
Natural Spider Repellent – Spiders can create elaborate webs around your home. To encourage them to relocate, mix 15 drops of peppermint essential oil with a cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray in areas where spiders are likely to enter or have already made their home, such as baseboards, doorways, and windows. Be careful not to oversaturate; aim for a light mist to avoid moisture accumulation which could lead to mold.
Keep Ants at Bay – Use a combination of cinnamon bark and powdered cinnamon, disrupting ants’ pheromone trails and preventing infestations.
Reduce Flies in Your Home – Create a spray with 8 oz of water mixed with 10 drops each of peppermint, lavender, orange, and patchouli. Spray around windows and doorways, or diffuse the blend to keep flies at bay.
Prevent Pantry Bugs – Wipe down pantry shelves with a solution of white vinegar and a few drops of essential oils like citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree, or peppermint.
Make a Bug-Repelling Diffuser Bracelet – Braid cotton fabric or leather, and apply a few drops of citronella, lemongrass, or lavender essential oils to keep bugs away.
Keep Pests Out of Your Home – Combine about 20 drops of your preferred essential oil with 4 oz of water and spray along entry points where bugs are spotted. Alternatively, place drops of essential oil on cotton balls and set them in targeted areas.
Fruit Flies – To trap these pests, mix an inch of apple cider vinegar with 10 drops of tea tree essential oil in a small bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and poke small holes. The flies will be drawn in but won’t escape.
Protect Your Garden – In a 32 oz spray bottle, mix 1.4 cup of liquid Castile soap, 1 teaspoon of sweet orange essential oil, and 1 teaspoon of cedarwood essential oil, filling the rest with water. Shake well and spray directly on pests.
Combat Roaches – Spray or diffuse tea tree or eucalyptus oil around your home. Fill an 8 oz spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and 20 drops of peppermint essential oil, spraying around doorways, windowsills, and under sinks to deter roaches.
Prevent Lice – Add a few drops of tea tree essential oil to your shampoo and conditioner for added protection.
Boxelder Bugs – Create a spray with 1 oz of dish soap and 1 quart of water, adding a drop of peppermint oil. Spray around your home’s perimeter.
Essential Oils for Bed Bugs – Combine 1 cup of vodka with 20 drops of lavender, 20 drops of eucalyptus, and 10 drops of tea tree oil in a spray bottle. Shake and spray around your bed, and consider taking this blend with you when traveling.

Dealing with Bug Bites? Try These Simple Essential Oil DIY Anti-Itch Recipes:

Bug Bite Stick (Itch Relief) – Find the recipe here.
Healing Salve – Click here for the recipe.
Itch Relief Rollerball Recipe – Access the recipe here.

Top 10 Essential Oils to Keep Bugs Away

Cedarwood
Cinnamon
Citronella
Lemon Eucalyptus
Lavender
Lemongrass
Peppermint
Sweet Orange (and other citrus oils like lemon and grapefruit)
Spearmint
Tea Tree

Cedarwood – The oil derived from cedarwood is a powerful natural insect repellent. It effectively deters pests like mosquitoes, flies, and silverfish. To keep moths at bay, place a few drops of cedarwood oil on cotton balls and store them in your closet. It can also help eliminate dust mites when added to your laundry routine.

Cinnamon – The strong aroma of cinnamon is known to repel various bugs, such as wasps, bed bugs, and spiders. Its effectiveness against mosquito larvae has even been highlighted in studies. Use cinnamon essential oil to disrupt ant trails and keep wasps away by mixing it with dish soap and essential oils for a targeted spray.

Citronella – Renowned for its mosquito-repelling qualities, citronella masks scents that attract bugs. It can be used to create floating candles for outdoor gatherings, providing not only ambiance but also pest protection.

Lemon Eucalyptus – This essential oil has been identified by the CDC as one of the most effective natural mosquito repellents. Its active component PMD provides long-lasting protection.

Lavender – Versatile and gentle, lavender essential oil repels a variety of pests, including mosquitoes, flies, and lice. It can be used in sprays and diffusers to create a pleasant environment while keeping bugs at bay.

Lemongrass – Similar to citronella, lemongrass is an effective repellent for many insects. It can be used in DIY lotion bars and traps to manage pests like fruit flies.

Peppermint – This refreshing oil is disliked by many insects. Its strong scent can be used to deter a wide range of pests, including spiders and cockroaches.

Sweet Orange and Other Citrus Oils – The limonene content in sweet orange oil is lethal to fleas and flies. Its pleasant scent also repels various insects, making it ideal for homemade sprays.

Spearmint – A child-friendly alternative to peppermint, spearmint is equally effective against a variety of pests. It can be incorporated into DIY bug-repelling bracelets and sprays.

Tea Tree – Renowned for its antifungal and antibacterial properties, tea tree oil is also a natural insect repellent. It can help keep pantry bugs at bay and is effective against head lice.

Essential Oils to Repel Specific Bugs

Ants: black pepper, cinnamon, citrus oils, clove, peppermint, spearmint, tea tree
Aphids: cedarwood, clove, coriander, fennel, lavender, oregano, palmarosa, peppermint, spearmint
Bed Bugs: cinnamon, clove, peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, thyme, tea tree
Beetles: cedarwood, orange, peppermint, thyme
Boxelder Bugs: peppermint, spearmint
Chiggers: cedarwood, lavender, lemongrass, orange, sage, thyme
Cockroaches: cedarwood, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lemon, orange, peppermint, thyme
Earwigs: cinnamon
Fleas: cedarwood, citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, orange, peppermint
Flies: cedarwood, lavender, lemongrass, orange, patchouli, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint, tea tree, thyme
Fruit Flies: basil, clove, eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint
Gnats: cedarwood, citronella, eucalyptus, orange, patchouli, peppermint
Head Lice: cedarwood, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, lemon, orange, patchouli, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint, tea tree
No-See-Ums: lemongrass
Mosquitoes: cedarwood, cinnamon, citronella, clove, eucalyptus, geranium, hyssop, lavender, lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, orange, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint
Moths: cedarwood, citronella, hyssop, lavender, orange, peppermint, spearmint
Roaches: cedarwood, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lemon, orange, peppermint, thyme
Silverfish: cedarwood, cinnamon
Spiders: cedarwood, cinnamon, citronella, cloves, lavender, orange, peppermint, spearmint
Stink Bugs: peppermint
Ticks: cedarwood, citronella, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, lemongrass, orange, rosemary, sage, tea tree, thyme
Wasps: black pepper, cinnamon, clove, geranium, lemongrass, peppermint
Weevils: cedarwood, eucalyptus, orange, patchouli, sandalwood

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always seek professional medical advice for health-related concerns. This website may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you click on certain links and purchase a product, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.