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.
Both apple cider vinegar and white vinegar are a good base for an insect repellent, as they deter flies and, combined with specific essential oils, will deter mosquitoes and ticks as well. Oils that have excellent repellent properties include geranium, lemongrass, citronella, rosemary and lavender.
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.
Pouring vinegar into your water feature is another way of eliminating mosquitos. The vinegar alters the pH balance of the water so that it's not conducive for mosquito reproduction. It will also ensure that any mosquito eggs that have already been laid don't hatch, as well as killing off any existing mosquito larvae.
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.
Vinegar (or acetic acid) is the ultimate product of the fermentation process in fruit, which is why fruit flies are attracted to vinegar odor.
Peppermint. Peppermint essential oil might just be the holy grail of natural pest repellents to leave around your home's entry points, as it can help keep away ticks, spiders, roaches, moths, flies, fleas, beetles, and ants. Use sachets of this oil near your doors and windows or try making a diffuser or spray.
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.
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.
Light candles or lanterns.
Help keep mosquitoes away from your patio and porch by lighting candles or lanterns that contain one or more essential oils known to repel mosquitoes. These oils include: Citronella. Clove.
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?
It's all about certain chemicals found in the dryer sheets, specifically linalool, geraniol and beta-citronellol, all of which have mosquito-repelling properties. Unfortunately, the concentration of these ingredients is low, enough to make your clothes smell better, but not enough to make mosquitoes evacuate the area.
Vinegar is also incredibly effective in driving away insects, such as mosquitoes. Vinegar has a very intense and penetrating smell that is very unpleasant for mosquitoes. Therefore, if these insects smell or come into contact with this liquid and aroma, they tend to avoid it.
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.
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.
Distilled vinegar does not kill or repel roaches, making it completely ineffective. Distilled vinegar will help keep your kitchen clean, giving cockroaches less to snack on. However, roaches can live for months at a time without any food at all, and they will eat almost anything to survive.
Add 10 drops of lemongrass oil and 10 drops of rosemary oil to 60 ml of a carrier oil (olive oil or coconut oil) with boiled water and vodka to your spray bottle to make a great homemade mosquito repellent spray that works best.
White Vinegar
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.
Vinegar. The pungent smell of vinegar is also a natural way to repel mice and rats. These pests cannot stand the sharp scent of vinegar, which means it can be used as an effective rodent repellent.
Vinegar, particularly apple cider vinegar, has a strong scent that repels mosquitoes. Creating and spraying a vinegar solution or placing vinegar-soaked cotton balls around your outdoor area can help keep mosquitoes away.
Create a fly and wasp repellent.
Upstairs Downstairs Cleaning says that you can use full-strength Pine-Sol as an insecticide or a 4:1 Pine-Sol to water solution spray for staving off wasps and other stinging insects—just steer clear of honeybees!
Another easy tip for how to keep bugs away from patio furniture is to burn citronella. It's particularly effective at discouraging flying nuisances, like mosquitoes, from pestering you while you're outside. One of the easiest ways to use citronella on your deck, patio, or other outdoor space is with candles.
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.
Citronella, lemongrass, sweet orange, lemon eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, and cinnamon are just a few of the oils known to repel summer bugs.