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tailored tidbits

10 Natural Ingredients to Repel Insects

5/31/2017

2 Comments

 
With summer here, it’s the perfect time to spend more time out in the sunshine. It’s also the best time for the pesky bugs to be out, too. There are so many products on the market to repel insects from outdoor activities and to keep them from coming into your home, but so many of them contain strong chemicals such as DEET. YUK!

Have you thought of trying all natural ways to repel insects without needing to use any harmful chemicals? Many of these are already found in your home. Here are some ways to repel insects both inside and out… naturally! 
​

What Spices Certain Bugs Hate

Ants
  • ​Ants have a strong sense of smell and dislike cinnamon, garlic, and mint
  • Lay cinnamon sticks or garlic cloves on windowsills or under the kitchen sink to deter them
  • Plant mint along your home's foundation to repel them outdoors
Cinnamon
Garlic
Peppermint
Spiders, Fleas, and Ticks
  • Plant peppermint in pots on your deck or in your yard and garden to repel spiders, fleas, and ticks
  • To keep spiders from coming inside, place a drop or two of peppermint essential oil or pure extract  in the corners of door frames and windows where spiders have been seen
  • Crush fresh peppermint leaves and rub over your skin before venturing outdoors
Citronella
Calendula (Marigolds)
Lavender
Mosquitoes
  • Citronella, lemon, eucalyptus, lavender, calendula (marigold), and geranium all repel mosquitoes
  • Plant lavender and geraniums in pots on the porch or deck
  • Lay lemons cut in half near outdoor seating
  • Citronella essential oil can be used sparingly in drops around windowsills or outdoor seating areas
Bay Leaves
Fresh Lemon
Rosemary
Pesky Flies
  • Bay leaves and rosemary can be used in bowls around outdoor seating areas to repel flies
  • Lavender and mint will also repel flies
​
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Most Insects
  • Basil is disliked by most any insect!
  • Plant basil in pots and place on your deck or on the kitchen windowsill to chase bugs away
Added BONUS! Fresh basil is such a treat in many cooking dishes. Cut as needed to add flavor and color to your recipes.

Camping Tip
Place 3-4 shiny pennies in a plastic sandwich bag with about 1/2" water. Seal bag and tack on door frame of outside door. The reflection of the pennies in the water will chase flies away. This is a great trick for camping and your tent.

DIY Project: Bug-Repelling Lantern

Supplies:
  • 2 wide-mouth mason jars
  • 1 lemon, sliced
  • 1 lime, sliced
  • 4 fresh rosemary sprigs
  • 2 floating disc candles
  • 10 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil*
  • 10 drops citronella essential oil*
  • water

*Essential oils will work best, but you can try pure peppermint extract (1/4-1/2 t. in each jar) if you do not have the essential oils.

​Instructions:
  • Add 1/2 lemon + 1/2 lime + 2 rosemary sprigs in each jar
  • Fill each jar 3/4 full with water
  • Add citronella oil to the first jar
  • Add lemon eucalyptus oil to the second jar
  • Place a floating candle in each jar and light the candle to activate the scents!
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Want a Natural Solution? 

Our See Ya! line of outdoor products are made with a special blend of 9 essential oils that include citronella, lavender, lemon, and others. We've got three options to protect yourself this summer: soap, spray, or a lotion bar!
See Ya! Outdoor Lotion Bar
See Ya! Outdoor Soap
See Ya! Outdoor Spray
Shop Outdoor Collection
2 Comments
Harold F link
1/10/2021 07:45:41 am

Very nice bloog you have here

Reply
Zoe link
8/9/2022 02:20:14 am

What an exquisite article! Your post is very helpful right now. Thank you for sharing this informative one.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Melissa Simmons

    Welcome to Tailored Tidbits!

    If I'm not in the kitchen cooking up new items for my shop, I'm sewing fabric baskets, taking care of our honeybees, pitching in on the latest project at my son's, or planning a trip somewhere with my daughter. Here, I'll share a "day in the life" at Tailored Touches!


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