I’m in love with my homemade bug spray. I think it’s safe to say that I have a strong dislike, nay a hatred of all creepy, crawly bugs and so began my war with them. I do realize that they are beneficial to the garden and the ecosystem so if they’re outside I’ll leave them be, but, if they enter my humble abode it’s on like Donkey Kong. Just the mere mention that one is near me will make me run like Usain Bolt. NOT KIDDING. That has led me on a quest to ban them from my house. With fall fast approaching, there is no time like the present to prepare. This excellent homemade bug spray is safe for the kiddos and pets and makes the house smell fresh and invigorating.
Homemade bug spray for the home
Here in Portland, we have a problem with sugar ants. This concoction works well on keeping them out of your house along with mice and spiders.
This post may contain affiliate links. I do not promote any products and services that I do not use myself. All opinions are 100% my own.
Tools and ingredients:
- Plastic spray bottle (I used a 12 oz bottle)
- Steam-distilled or boiled water (to prevent mold if you don’t use all the spray at once)
- Dr. Bonner’s 18-1 hemp Peppermint castile soap
- Peppermint essential oil ( I like the now brand and the AN brand)
- funnel (optional)
Add 1 1/4 of cup water to the bottle, then five drops of Dr. Bonner’s soap and 20-50 drops peppermint oil. I add up to 40 drops because I don’t want ANY bugs in my house. You could get away with as little as 20 drops. Shake the bottle and spray all along baseboard’s, around doors, on window sills and generally, anywhere the little buggers like to hide or gain entry. I also spray all over my garage and especially in my basement.
If you are worried about mice, use a cotton ball with 5-10 drops of oil and place it in the corners where they like to hide.
It is not essential to add the soap, but it helps to make the spray a finer mist, so it distributes more evenly. You will notice on the picture below how the water without the soap “beads” up whereas the one with soap is a fine mist (same sprayer head was used for both at the same distance).
Just a little step to prepare for fall when the spiders find refuge inside our homes to stay warm. This homemade bug spray is my battle armor against the tiniest enemies. Sorry to all you bug lovers… I hate bugs!
***Bonus tip— Add ten drops of peppermint oil onto a wet swifter pad for moping and cover your entire floor with the oil. I do this weekly because of the sugar ants. Since I have used both the spray and the mopping, I went from seeing 100’s of ants a day to now 0! I have not notices any adverse side effects from mopping with the oil on any of my hardwoods.***
Want to make other awesome DIYs with essential oils? Here are some of my easy and useful essential oil DIYs like my amazing DIY granite and degreasing cleaner, hand sanitizer, toilet bowl cleaner, and poo pourri spray.
Love the fact that it is made with non-toxic ingredients and not bought from companies that make toxic bug sprays and test on animals even though it kills the bugs or deters them. Great idea!
Well Thank you so much! I was raised to respect all animal life and am finding that the older I get the more important those things are to me. 🙂
It is really just a deterrent so that the bugs don’t enter the house in the first place.
I can’t wait to try this out! I know Lemons work for flies but it doesn’t look like it works for other bugs!
It has been tried and true for me since I started using it over a year ago. Hope it works just as well for you and thanks for reading!