We are inundated with toxic chemicals in this country. They are in all of our products from laundry detergent to toothpaste to shampoo. From room sprays to body lotion to toilet cleaner. Many people are realizing that their exposure to toxins on a regular basis is causing short term and long term health problems. As a result, people are beginning to pay more attention to the products that they use in and around the home and they are choosing natural solutions instead.
I have two young children and a dog. My son is an explorer and gets into everything. Because of this, I have had to make changes to the products that we use in our home. One of my favorite natural ways to deter pests is by using essential oils. High quality essential oils are safer, cheaper and more effective than their synthetic lab-created counterparts. If I spray my peppermint solution around the kitchen to get rid of ants, I don’t have to worry too much about my son getting into it. At worst, he touches it and rubs his eyes and they burn for a couple of minutes (if you ever get peppermint in or around your eye DO NOT flush with water. You must apply a carrier oil)
Snakes: Clove, Cinnamon, Glass Spray bottle
Snakes normally mind their own business until you intrude on their territory. Occasionally you might find a random snake in your kitchen (yes, that actually happened to me- a baby copperhead) or another high traffic area.
Clove and Cinnamon Oil are effective snake repellents. These should be mixed together in a spray bottle and sprayed directly on snakes for maximum effect. Use caution as snakes will often run in the opposite direction of the spray. This mixture can also be used in a diffuser indoors as a fumigant, as well.
If you find you need to repel a snake and get him going in the opposite direction, mix 5 drops of Clove essential oil and 5 drops of Cinnamon essential oil in a glass spray bottle with 4 oz of white vinegar.
Ants: Peppermint, Lemon, Glass Spray Bottle
These suckers are tricky. At certain times of the year, they love to find their way into our home, specifically in the kitchen. The most common reason that ants invade is because they have found access to sugar, uncovered foods and crumbs. When they do, they go back to their nest, send a message to other workers, and suddenly swarms of these ants will come into your house to pick up food for the rest of their colony.
To repel them, get a small glass spray bottle and add 2oz of water, 15 drops of Peppermint and 5 drops of Lemon. Spray on counters, in cabinets and on the window sill.
Ticks: Oregano, Thyme, Citronella, Glass Spray Bottle
Ticks are tiny blood-thirsty insects that are members of the arachnid (spider) family. There are hundreds of varieties of ticks. Many carry bacteria and viruses that can cause serious illnesses such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.
To help keep ticks away, there are several essential oils that you can try.
Oregano: It contains cedrol, which was shown in one study to kill 100 percent of the ticks it came into contact with when used at a high dosage. It also contains carvacrol which is effective at killing the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
Never apply Oregano Essential oil directly to the skin. It is a super hot oil that must always be diluted when used. You can add 5 drops of Oregano to 1 ounce of carrier oil. Dip a cotton ball in the mixture and apply to the skin. You can also add the mix to a glass spray bottle and spray clothing and hair.
Thyme + Citronella: Oil of citronella is a widely used biopesticide that has been registered as an insect repellent with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since 1997.
One study that analyzed 11 essential oils found that a combination of thyme and citronella essential oil was the most effective against ticks.
To apply, add 10 drops of citronella oil plus 5 drops of thyme oil into 6oz of water, and spray on skin or clothing. You can also add 6 drops of Citronella and 3 drops of Thyme to 2oz of carrier oil and apply to skin.
Roaches: Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Glass Spray Bottle
Sneaky scavengers, cockroaches are disgusting and like to creep around in the dark of night. They have even been known to carry certain diseases like Typhoid, Polio, and Dysentery. Ewwww.
What Attracts Cockroaches to Your Home
- Dirty dishes in the sink.
- Crumbs on the floors or counters.
- Garbage.
- Pet food on the floor.
- Excess moisture.
- Leftover food in empty cans or containers.
To repel them, get a small glass spray bottle and add 6oz of water, 10 drops of Eucalyptus and 10 drops of Tea Tree.
It is also helpful to soak a few cotton balls in the mixture and place them strategically around your home– under the sink, under the frig, bathroom cabinet etc.
Fruit Flies: Lavender, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lemongrass, Glass Spray Bottle
Fruit flies are small, gnat-like nuisance flies that hitch a ride into your house on produce or sneak in through window and door screens. They breed quickly in moist environments like sink drains.
Fruit flies are attracted to ripe fruits and vegetables. They breed in sink drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, trash containers and damp cleaning tools like rags and mops.
If you suddenly find your kitchen littered with these annoying bugs, there are a couple of things that you can do.
First, you can help repel them (and regular flies) by combining 5 drops Lavender, 4 drops eucalyptus, 5 drops peppermint and 3 drops lemongrass to 3oz of water in a glass spray bottle. Spray around the kitchen and any other necessary area in your home.
Second, you can catch fruit flies in a trap by adding 4oz of Apple Cider vinegar to a bowl with 1 drop of Dawn dish soap. The flies will be attracted to the aroma, but will become trapped by the surface tension created by the soap in the liquid solution.
Mosquitos: Citronella, Tea Tree, Peppermint, Lemongrass, Glass Spray Bottle
According to National Geographic, scientists consider mosquitoes to be among the deadliest creatures in the world. This is because of their ability to spread dangerous, blood-borne viruses (and fungi) from one victim to the next. Fun fact: Male mosquitoes don’t bite but females need blood to reproduce.
Serious and common viruses that are spread by mosquitoes include:
- Dengue
- Zika
- West Nile
- Malaria
- Yellow Fever
- Japanese Encephalitis
To help deter mosquitos at your next pool party, mix 12oz of water with 15 drops Citronella, 15 drops Lemongrass, 10 drops Peppermint and 10 drops Tea Tree in a spray bottle and spray around bushes, trees and shrubs in your yard.
Spiders: Peppermint, Glass Spray Bottle
Most common house spiders pose little threat to humans. While they may bite if they feel threatened, most bites are typically either harmless or cause only minor irritation. However, certain types of venomous spiders like the black widow and brown recluse, like to hang out in crawl spaces and dark damp places in your home. You definitely don’t want these guys anywhere near you.
If you know where the spiders are entering your home you can put a line of Peppermint along the crevice to keep them out.
If you aren’t sure where they are entering your home, you can mix 15 drops of Peppermint with 12oz of water in a spray bottle. Spray around areas that you think might be attractive to spiders.
You can also put 3-5 drops of Peppermint on a cotton ball and place them around your home.
Fleas: Lavender, Peppermint, Lemongrass, Glass Spray Bottle
If you have any furry friends at home, chances are you’ve been concerned about fleas at one time or another. These parasitic insects feed on the blood of their host, most often dogs or cats, but can also bite humans. Using essential oils to prevent fleas is a natural and safe method to protect your home, yourself, and your pets!
To help keep nasty fleas off your sweet pets get 12oz of water in a spray bottle and add 15 drops of Lavender, 15 drops of Peppermint and 15 drops of Lemongrass. Spray your pet once per week.
You can also add 2 drops of each to your pets shampoo bottle to help repel fleas.
Mice: Peppermint, Lemon, Citronella, Eucalyptus, Glass Spray Bottle
I never saw a mouse in my house until we moved to the country. In the past 4 years I have seen mice in our garage, our family room and even in my bedroom!! HORRORS. They are especially fond of entering our home during the winter months.
Here are some foods that attract mice:
- Sweet Fruits and Berries.
- Pet Food.
- Nuts.
- Nearly Any Kind of Meat.
- Grains and Seeds.
- Plants.
- Dinner Leftovers.
In order to repel mice and keep them at bay, the best way that I have found is to put 3-5 drops of Peppermint Essential oil on a cotton ball and toss them all over the house. The balls will last for 2 weeks.
Alternatively, you can create a spray with peppermint oil, lemon oil, citronella oil, and eucalyptus oil. Add 15 drops of each essential oil to ⅔ cup of Rubbing alcohol or water in a glass spray bottle.
The next time you need to get rid of pests in or around your home, try natural solutions that are safe for your family.
