Studies find that some dryer sheets do have characteristics that repel insects. However, the insects that are most likely to be repelled by dryer sheets are some mites, beetles, weevils and German cockroaches. Bounce dryer sheets are known to repel fungus gnats.
Most dryer sheets contain the ingredient linalool, which can be found in plants like lavender, basil, and coriander, all of which naturally repel common garden pests. Similar studies found that this ingredient is also useful for repelling bugs like mites, weevils, beetles, and German cockroaches.
The bugs that are theoretically most likely to shy away from the dryer sheets are certain mites, food-infesting beetles, and weevils, German cockroaches, and, according to one study, fungus gnats.
Dryer Sheets: Mostly False
Linalool is an alcohol derived from plants, and it gives dryer sheets their distinctive scent. In sufficient concentrations, linalool can indeed be used as a pest repellant, but your average dryer sheet doesn't contain enough of it to actually work on roaches.
Also, if you decide to buy dryer sheets for repelling, get scented ones, such as Bounce's scented sheets. The strong(ish) scent of a dryer sheet increases the chance of repelling mosquitoes, but that's only in theory.
Mosquitoes Have Natural Enemies
Ceiling fans help keep mosquitoes away from hotel patios and outdoor cafes. In large, open areas, resist the temptation to plant tall windbreaks: Allow the air to circulate freely, bringing cooling breezes and helping keep mosquito populations at bay.
Common organophosphates used by mosquito control professionals in the United States include malathion and naled.
Roach Repellents
Peppermint oil, cedarwood oil, and cypress oil are essential oils that effectively keep cockroaches at bay. Additionally, these insects hate the smell of crushed bay leaves and steer clear of coffee grounds. If you want to try a natural way to kill them, combine powdered sugar and boric acid.
So what smell do roaches hate? Oregano, rosemary, mint, eucalyptus, lemongrass and catnip are great herby options. Citrus oils work brilliantly too.
Dryer Sheets to Repel Mosquitoes, Spiders and Rodents: Myth
Dryer sheets are rumored to protect against much more than static cling. But there is no scientific research to back up these claims.
A few publications claimed that keeping Bounce on your body or near you could repel mosquitoes, however, there's little research that supports this claim. Studies find that some dryer sheets do have characteristics that repel insects.
Mosquitoes hate citronella, lemon eucalyptus, basil, and garlic. Ants and flies dislike mint, basil, and bay. Tiny gnats (such as No-See-Ums) are repelled by citronella, lemongrass, and rose geranium. Ticks and lice avoid lemon eucalyptus and geranium.
Procter & Gamble, who makes Bounce dryer sheets, issued a statement saying this same thing. And in terms of killing bed bugs, most academic resources, including Rutgers University, state that dryer sheets are not effective.
Spiders and flies: Many of our readers have confirmed that dryer sheets will repel both spiders and flies. Keep a few extra sheets in clothes hampers and around the laundry area and you can kiss all those spiders goodbye.
Sugar. Sugar is by far the most attractive substance to a cockroach. They love sugar and can smell it from anywhere. This means you'll want to keep your sugar containers, fruits, and other sweeteners sealed in air-tight containers that are up off the floor.
Pine Sol, like many household cleaners, such as bleach, is capable of killing a cockroach on contact. In the pest control world, we call these contact insecticides.
Tea Tree Oil. Many homeowners report that roaches don't like tea tree oil. You can combine 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water with a few drops of tea tree oil and apply the mixture with a spray bottle to deter cockroaches from specific areas.
Neem. Neem has been used as a desi natural remedy for a lot of things including pests over the years. Neem oil or powder contains potent components that can kill cockroaches. To use it in oil form, mix a small amount of neem oil with water in a spray bottle and spray it in places where you have spotted these pests.
Coffee grounds make an effective mosquito repellent because of the strong smell. The coffee grounds will mask the scents on humans that attract mosquitoes - if they can't smell you they can't find you! You can also burn it to create an even stronger aroma - the same way citronella candles keep mosquitoes away.
Clean cattle tanks and watering troughs regularly to prevent mosquitoes from multiplying. Mosquitofish may also be added to provide control. Remove or destroy troughs or tanks that are not in active use. Good agriculture results from the efficient use of water, and efficient use of water reduces mosquito populations.