The scent of dryer sheets can also help repel stink bugs, says McLean, so it may help to keep these around areas of your home where stink bugs might enter or dwell.
Dryer Sheets Dryer sheet odor offends stink bugs, so rubbing dryer sheets on window screens or at home entry points can be a great way to keep bugs at bay.
Garlic is a deterrence to stink bugs. Many essential oils have also been shown to repel stink bugs. According to a 2013 study published in the Journal of Applied Entomology, pure clove oil, lemongrass oil, spearmint oil, and ylang-ylang are some of the best essential oils to ward off stink bugs.
Again, dryer sheets often contain linalool, which is derived from lavender and other flowers, and beta-citronellol, which comes from citronella. These compounds do have some insect-repelling properties.
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Here in America, these pests are most destructive to tree fruits and vegetables, which costs farmers millions of dollars each year. The only major weakness stink bugs have is vulnerability to the cold.
Fill a wide mouth jar with soapy water (add some vinegar for extra killing power), move it into position beneath a stink bug, and most often it will drop right into the suds and drown.
The list of native natural enemies that attack brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) includes other species of insects, spiders, and even some birds and mammals. For instance, birds to a certain extent, feed on BMSB adults[1], and small mammals such as rats may feed on BMSB eggs[2].
Research has shown that a couple of chemical compounds commonly found in the sheets (linalool and beta-citronellol) will deter the gnats and mosquitoes from hanging around, making this a reasonable and easier-to-use alternative to spray-on bug repellent.
Layer Dryer Sheets Around Your Space
If you're looking for a way to keep mosquitoes away but don't want to smell like a freshly washed load of laundry yourself, you can tuck dryer sheets into the cushions of your patio furniture, under tablecloths and plants, or use them as coasters.
Some individuals attempt to use dryer sheets as a DIY bed bug treatment, believing that the scent might discourage bed bugs. However, little scientific evidence supports their effectiveness in repelling or eliminating bed bugs. Relying solely on this method is unlikely to fully address an active bed bug problem.
In these cases, a stink bug bite is not poisonous, even though it may hurt. More often than not, someone may get an allergic reaction to the compounds released by stink bugs, according to Healthline. Some may experience a runny nose or a rash, known as dermatitis, if they come in contact with a crushed stink bug.
Both nymphs and adults feed on plants and fruit. Stink bug adults will continue to feed and reproduce during summer. Depending upon the species and where they live, the pests may create more than one generation per year (up to 400 eggs during their lifetime). Adult stink bugs tend to live between 6 – 8 months.
Natural Stink Bug Repellents
Essential oils like spearmint, lemongrass, and ylang-ylang have been shown to keep stink bugs away, so diffusing these oils around your home or mixing them with water in a spray bottle can effectively ward off these pests.
Plants like lavender, garlic, and catnip are among some of the best options for keeping stink bugs away from your home. Plant these nearby and most insects will avoid paying you a visit.
Dryer sheets (also known as fabric softener sheets) are a smart alternative to baking soda. But it's important to consider that unlike baking soda and shoe trees, dryer sheets tend to conceal rather than neutralize odors. For that reason, we recommend using them only to address mild odors.
Essential Oils
Spearmint oil has a strong aroma that's pleasing to us but not appealing to the stink bugs. Lavender is also a popular choice; it can add a clean and pleasant scent to the house while keeping the stink bugs away. Lemongrass, neem and ylang-ylang oil will also work.
Try these methods –which have been used successfully by homeowners and entomologists –to keep Stink Bugs at bay: Rub screens with dryer sheets –the more pungent the better. Some homeowners have found this can reduce Stink Bugs entering a home by up to 80%.
Dryer sheets can be an inexpensive, safe and humane way to keep squirrels away from your plants. Rodents have a strong sense of smell, so the more fragrant variety you can find the better!
The use of certain brands of dryer sheets led to an almost 50 percent decrease in the number of fungus gnats inside the testing radius. Other university studies demonstrate the effectiveness of dryer sheets to repel certain insects, including mites, food-infesting beetles, German cockroaches and weevils.
As mentioned, dryer sheets can lead to residue buildup in the interior and vents of your dryer over time, which may pose issues like: Reduced airflow and ventilation. Overheating. Longer drying times.
I also leave mothballs and dryer sheets scattered around the entrances to the garage to prevent any mice from creeping in if we have the garage doors open for any length of time.
Brown marmorated stink bugs overwintering in a home attic. Researchers have learned that extremely cold temperatures can limit BMSB populations. (
Bugs hate the smells associated with repellency, such as lavender, citronella, vinegar, peppermint, and geranium. These oils are considered a natural way of driving away bugs from your home without harming you, your family, and other animals.