Endless sunshine and warm weather — sounds like a dream, right?
Well, not when the insects, bugs, and other crawlies are all out in force and ready to invade the home. Ants on every surface in your kitchen, spiders in your bathrooms, and mosquitoes just about everywhere — to put it mildly, that’s certainly not pleasant.
Luckily, there’s an easy fix. With the help of some essential oils, you can keep all the creepy-crawlies at bay. And, below, we’ll share some of the best essential oils that can help to repel bugs and banish them from your home.
Let’s take a look.
Citronella essential oil is extremely popular for its insect-repelling qualities. As a matter of fact, the aromatic grass has even been registered as a plant-based insect repellent in the United States since 1948.
The essential oil is particularly effective against mosquitoes — including Aedes aegypti, which are known to spread dengue fever and the Zika virus. Beyond that, it could also ward off fleas, mites, and flies.
For a bug-free house, you can diffuse a few drops of citronella essential oil and let it do its thing. Alternatively, dilute the oil with some water in a spray bottle and spray the surfaces in your home.
Probably the most well-known essential oil out there, the versatile lavender essential oil also helps to protect your home against bugs such as mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, moths, and flies.
In fact, its insect-repelling qualities are so potent that many store-bought mosquito repellents have lavender essential oil as one of their top ingredients.
Diffuse a few drops of lavender essential oils to keep your home free from bugs. Alternatively, you can make your own DIY spray by mixing about four drops of the oil with some water in a spray bottle. You can also leave a few drops of lavender oil in an open container inside a drawer to repel moths and keep other insects away.
The plus side? Everything is going to smell amazing!
Now, many people are aware that vetiver essential oil is a very powerful natural mosquito repellent when diffused into the air in your home.
However, not as many know that the essential oil is an effective deterrent for termites, too. Vetiver oil has been shown to have long-lasting activity in decreasing termite tunneling.
When you’re using vetiver essential oil, bear in mind that the oil is very potent and has a sedative effect. So, a little goes a long way. But, on the plus side, it’ll also help to promote a relaxed environment in your home!
If you haven’t tried tea tree essential oil to get rid of the critters, you’re missing out! This powerhouse oil is great at clamping down the growth of various bugs — including fleas, leeches, lice, ticks, and mosquitoes.
All you have to do for a bug-free home is blend ⅔ cups of water and 8-9 drops of the essential oil in a spray bottle and get to work. Bonus: tea tree oil works great as a natural cleaner, too!
Have you used any of the above essential oils to ward off bugs in your home? Let us know!
