Does it work, and why? Lore claims the insects and birds see the blue as the sky and don't come beneath it. According to a history of blue paint on Sherwin-Williams.com, today's blue paint is probably not a true deterrent for insects and birds but it once was – back when blue paint was made with lye.
The myth came about when porch ceilings used to be painted with milk paint containing lye, a substance known for deterring bugs, so the hue mistakenly gained a reputation as a pest-repeller. While there's no guarantee that a blue porch will keep bugs and ghosts at bay, you can be sure it will attract attention.
Haint Blue Porch Ceilings are said to keep wasps and other bugs from nesting in the corners of your porch!
Are There Paint Colors That Repel Insects? Because bugs see colors on the UV spectrum, they cannot register hues of green or blue. Painters even use blue paint to repel bees and wasps. Painting your porch ceiling in a blue tone could repel wasps, leading to fewer wasp-eating spiders around your home!
Repelling Haints
The blue color was meant to ward off “haints” or evil spirits who might want to harm the house or the family inside. Many people argue that painting your porch ceiling blue actually keeps insects away.
It became less known for scaring ghosts away, but more known for keeping wasps and birds away. It has been known to keep them from nesting since they believe that the blue represents the sky. Some people even call it dirt dauber blue.
Blue symbolizes Autism Month and Police respect. Shining a blue light is a nationwide recognition of the Police Officers who have died in the line of duty. This is also known as, Project Blue Light. Check out our Light It Up Blue for Autism Month blog to learn more about how you can support those with Autism.
So, which color should you choose? According to experts, spiders hate blue. Choosing blue for your home's interior and exterior may be a creative way to repel spiders. Alternatively, consider painting ceilings or walls blue to create a less appealing environment for these pests.
In fact, in laboratory tests, it was found that mosquitos preferred black, red and blue the most as opposed to lighter hues such as tan, yellow, and white.
Lore claims the insects and birds see the blue as the sky and don't come beneath it. According to a history of blue paint on Sherwin-Williams.com, today's blue paint is probably not a true deterrent for insects and birds but it once was – back when blue paint was made with lye.
Add natural bug repellant plants
Some plants, like lavender, marigold, citronella grass, rosemary, and basil, naturally repel bugs. Lavender is particularly popular as a natural, people-and-pet-safe pest control plant. The aroma of lavender is too strong for small insects and discourages them from flying near the area.
In order to repel evil spirits from plantations, porch ceilings were painted a soft blue. The color was meant to mimic water in an effort to keep any haints or spirits at bay.
Blue. Historically, light blue is the go-to porch ceiling paint color—and for good reason. It mimics the natural sky and makes a covered porch feel open and inviting. However, it's important to find a shade that speaks to you and your house's locale.
So while green attracts spiders, it repels their food sources. The color that spiders tend to hate is light blue. People don't just paint their porches light blue for the aesthetic. Painting your porch ceiling in this shade is a pretty effective way of keeping spiders away.
Vinegar and water – Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water and use a spray bottle to dispense. Spiders and other insects are repelled by vinegar and can prevent spiders from establishing their webs in the area.
Sherwin-Williams Niebla Azul Haint Blue Ceiling
SW Niebla Azul (Sample) is another gorgeous haint blue paint color that we love to pair with dark blue exterior color schemes. It is darker and bluer than SW Tradewind, with an LRV of 53.
Lights emitting higher UV or blue light might attract more insects, and in turn, spiders. Brightness and Duration: Brighter lights or those left on for extended durations can attract a higher number of insects. Dimmable LEDs or lights with timers can be adjusted to minimize their allure.
Bugs naturally are attracted to vibrant colors such as orange, yellow, or white. Colours such as blue and green will not register as vividly when viewed in the ultraviolet spectrum, which deters bugs away from those colored items.
Blue explores depth and has a contemplative nature about its energy. It instills a sense of serenity and calm, as well as stability and confidence.
Seal up your home to keep spiders from entering through cracks and crevices. Cover vents with fine mesh insect screens. Apply caulk around wires, cables, faucets and electrical components that run to the outside. Replace or fix torn window screens and caulk up gaps around windows.
Spiders avoid people, animals, and most insects – except for the one's they're about to eat of course. As stated above, most spiders are relatively small. That makes them especially vulnerable. Many birds and animals may try to eat spiders, or at the very least, they'll probably interfere with the spider's food source.
Spiders are most active at night, and they're often on the hunt for their prey (insects) while we're fast asleep. In general, you'll see an increase in spider sightings during late summer and early autumn.
The tradition of painting porch ceilings blue was originally started in the Southern United States by the Gullah people who believed that ghosts (known as “haints”, pronounced 'haunts') were not able to cross water and by painting one's ceiling blue, they would be able to keep the haints away from the house (there are ...
Purple porch lights are typically used to raise awareness about domestic violence. The color purple has been adopted by various organizations that work towards ending domestic violence and supporting survivors.
Strategically timed exposure to blue light can help treat several sleep disorders. Circadian rhythm disorders occur when a person's circadian rhythms are not in alignment with their environment. Light therapy, and blue light in particular. View Source , can help realign the body's circadian rhythms and improve sleep.