How to use essential oils for pest control

 Did you know that you can use essential oils in your home, as a natural way to get rid of insects and spiders? IT'S TRUE! Now you can say goodbye to toxic chemicals and a big HELLO! to beautifully scented, pure essential oils. 

Apart from their effectiveness, the best thing about using certain essential oils to deter insects from moving in with you is that they’re safe to use around children and pets.

Which essential oils deter pests?

ANTS

You never find just one ant in your home, do you - there is always an army of the little tackers! 

Cinnamon essential oil is the single best deterrent of ants, but peppermint oil also works really well if that's what you've got on hand.

Cinnamon essential oil is potent and overpowering, which interferes with the neuroreceptors of ants. This stops them from sending signals back to their nest, and when ants can’t communicate, they simply leave the area and move on.

Add about 6 drops of cinnamon or peppermint essential oil to cotton balls and leave them in areas where the ants are entering your home: such as the door or window.

If preferred, you can make a spray by adding 10–15 drops of essential oil to 230ml of water or rubbing alcohol. You can then spray it in areas where the ants enter or all over the place, if you’re not entirely sure.

Remember that cinnamon is very strong, so you may want to work your way up to 15 drops slowly, so you’re not overpowered by the scent.

COCKROACHES

Fill up a spray bottle with 230ml of water or rubbing alcohol and 20 drops of peppermint essential oil. The rubbing alcohol is used to clean the area, while the peppermint oil will get rid of the cockroaches. Spray this solution frequently in trouble areas to deter cockroaches.

FLIES 

Combine a few drops of basil, clove, eucalyptus, lavender and peppermint oils in 230ml of water to create a powerful fly-be-gone spray. You can spray this solution all over your home to keep the flies away and stop them from wanting to come back in!

LICE

Add a few drops of clove oil to your shampoo, and massage into hair and then leave in to work for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly, and brush a lice comb through hair.

MOSQUITOES

Add a few drops of lavender and lemongrass essential oils to your diffuser to keep mozzies out of your house. Alternatively, you can use an essential oil-based insect repellent on your skin when you are outside.

MOTHS

Dip cotton balls in lavender and peppermint essential oils, and pop them in your cupboards and drawers to keep moths out of your clothes. You can also try using natural red cedar blocks, which repel moths from clothes and are a great natural alternative to moth balls.

SPIDERS

Add 10–15 drops of orange or peppermint essential oil into 230ml of water or rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. You can then spray this solution around doors, windows, corners and baseboards. You can also spray directly on the insect to immediately kill it.

Have you got any other insect-repelling tips? We'd love to hear them!