Skip to Main Content

Website Sign In

Homemade Pesticides

Homemade Pesticides
Natural Insect Repellent: Add 1 or 2 ounces of essential oil (tea tree, eucalyptus, cedar, peppermint or lavender) to a 12 or 16 ounce spray bottle. Add water and swirl. Spray on all exposed areas and clothes before going outside.
Soap Based Spray: Mix 2 tablespoons of liquid soap (i.e. ivory) with 1 gallon of water and put in a spray bottle. Very effective on mites, thrips and aphids. Great for use on indoor plants.
Oil Based Spray: Combine 1 cup vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of liquid soap. Use 2 1/2 teaspoons in 1 cup of water. Effective on eggs and larvae.
Pepper Spray: Mix together 1/2 cup chopped peppers, 1/2 cup chopped onion or garlic and 2 cups water. Place in a sealed glass jar and steep in the sun for 24 hours. Strain and place in spray bottle. Effective on most pests including grasshoppers and June bugs.
Ant Killer: Sprinkle 1 or 2 cups of grits around the mound. An ants body is mostly water and the grits will soak up this water until the ant dies.
Spider Spray: Combine 1 cap Lemon Joy dish soap, 1 cap Listerine, 1 cap ammonia, and 1 quart water. Spray on areas where spiders are coming in.
Mosquito Deterrent: Put some water on a white plate and add a few drops of Lemon Joy dish soap. This will attract the mosquitoes and they will drop dead.
Moth Repellent: Mix together 1/2 cup whole cloves, 3 or 4 cinnamon sticks broken into small pieces and 1/2 cup whole black peppercorns. Place inside cheesecloth or muslin sachets and hang in closets or scatter in drawers or boxes.