Whether it be roaches, ants, fleas, or mosquitoes, pests have a knack for finding their way into our homes, especially during the warm summer months. To combat them, many reach for conventional pesticides and repellents, which unfortunately contain ingredients that are concerning to pets and people. To keep your home and family safe and pest-free it’s best to switch to non-toxic methods and products. Luckily, essential oils are surprisingly really good at deterring bugs and pests. Read on to see which essential oils work best and how you can use them.
Peppermint Essential Oil
With its strong scent, peppermint essential oil is a powerful pest repellent for just about everything, but especially when it comes to ants, spiders, and mice. One of the reasons why peppermint oil is so effective is that it contains menthol, which elicits that cooling sensation when breathed in — which is something pests can’t stand.
How to use:
For ants and spiders: Combine 1 cup of water with 8 drops of peppermint oil, and 4 drops of lemon essential oil in a spray bottle. Spray crevices, window sills, and doorways to keep ants and spiders away.For mice: Add 5 drops of peppermint oil per cotton ball and place cotton balls around points of entry where you have noticed mice or droppings.Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Similar to peppermint’s minty scent, eucalyptus essential oil has a strong camphorous scent that sends bugs both in the home and garden running. To be most effective, it works best when mixed with other ingredients as a spray.
How to use:
For cockroaches: Mix 10 drops of eucalyptus oil with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle and shake. Spray along baseboards and corners in the bathroom or kitchen where you’ve seen roach activity.For aphids: Mix 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil with ½ teaspoon of liquid castile soap and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle and shake. Spray on outdoor plants that have aphid infestation to eradicate.Rosemary Essential Oil
You’re probably familiar with seeing rosemary in cooking, but its benefits extend far beyond the kitchen. When it comes to pest control, rosemary essential oil can ward off flies, ants, gnats, and more. Plus, it has a comforting woodsy scent.
How to use:
For flies: Cut a piece of sponge and place it in a small glass jar. Add 10 drops of rosemary essential oil and 5 drops of peppermint essential oil to the sponge and place the jar (without the lid) in the kitchen or areas where there are flies.For mosquitoes: Mix 10 drops of rosemary essential oil with ½ cup of witch hazel and ½ cup of water in a spray bottle and shake. Spray on outdoor furniture and gear to keep bugs away.Lavender Essential Oil
While lavender essential oil may be calming to us, it’s a nightmare for bugs like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. Use it to prevent creepy crawlies from getting on your pets and family.
How to use:
For fleas: Add 5 drops of lavender essential oil to 1 tablespoon of natural pet shampoo, lather, and massage into the pet's wet coat and rinse thoroughly with water. Special note: Never apply essential oils directly to your pet’s skin as they can cause an adverse reaction in some cases. For ticks: Add 5 drops of lavender essential oil to ½ teaspoon of jojoba oil and massage onto your ankles, legs, and arms before hiking or going into woodsy areas to repel ticks.Cedarwood Essential Oil
Derived from the bark of the cedarwood tree, cedarwood essential oil is effective at both killing and repelling insects, especially moths. It has a deep woodsy scent and can also be used to soothe bug bites in skincare.
How to use:
For moths: Combine 15 drops of cedarwood essential oil with 2 cups of rosewater in a spray bottle and shake. Spritz in areas such as closet corners and attics where moths are present.For bed bugs: Combine 20 drops of cedarwood essential oil with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle and shake. Spray bedding, pillows, and mattresses and other areas where bed bugs reside.Tea Tree Essential Oil
Used for centuries in folk medicine, tea tree essential oil has many applications from skincare to repelling pests. However, one thing you probably haven’t heard when it comes to tea tree oil, is its potent effect on lice. In fact, in one study of school children, it eradicated lice in 100% of the participants. As school begins to go back in session, be sure to keep a bottle of tea tree essential oil handy, in case you need it for the kiddos.
How to use:
For lice: Add 5 drops of tea tree essential oil to 1 tablespoon of shampoo. Massage into the scalp and let sit for 5 minutes. Rinse and repeat as necessary.For mosquitoes: Add 4 drops of tea tree essential oil and 4 drops of lavender essential oil to your diffuser with water (as directed). Place the diffuser on the patio or outdoor area to keep bugs away.Pests are never something you want to contend with, however when you have natural repellents and remedies, it’s a lot easier to keep them away for good. Next time you’re dealing with an ant infestation or swatting at mosquitoes, try putting essential oils to work. For more ways you can use essential oils to keep bugs away, take a look at the article: Best Essential Oils to Repel Mosquitoes.
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