Discover the Most Effective Homemade Bug Spray

health care, protection and people concept - woman spraying insect repellent or bug spray to her hand at park
© Syda Productions/Shutterstock.com

Written by Angie Menjivar

Updated: October 6, 2023

Share on:

Advertisement


The bugs are out, you don’t want them around, but you also don’t trust store-bought bug sprays. You can enjoy the great outdoors, remain bite-free, and use a product you make yourself. Discover the most effective homemade bug spray (and share it with your loved ones!).

What Bugs Do You Have to Worry About?

Whether you’re just trying to enjoy evenings outside at home or you’re visiting a new environment, you should know what kind of bugs you’re working with. Many can locate you just by your exhale. That’s right, the carbon dioxide you exhale attracts them which makes you a target when outdoors. Other times it’s the heat of your body or even the color of your clothes.

You might be dealing with mosquitoes, which can carry dangerous diseases. There may be fire ants or flies in the area or the tiniest of gnats which are hard to spot. There may also be lice and ticks, depending on where you’re roaming. Each of these creatures is repelled by different scents but instead of making a bug spray for each different type of bug, you can create an all-purpose bug spray that works for all!

mosquito on an arm

Mosquitoes are known for being carriers of some of the most dangerous parasitic diseases.

©Surachai Pung/Shutterstock.com

Discover the Most Effective Homemade Bug Spray

To create the most effective homemade bug spray, you should have several ingredients on hand. They include:

  • Witch hazel
  • Skin-safe essential oil (lemongrass)
  • Apple cider vinegar

Plus, you should have a glass spray bottle where you can prepare your concoction. Mix two cups of witch hazel along with ½ teaspoon of lemongrass essential oil. Make sure that it’s safe for topical use! Then, add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Together, these three simple ingredients create a powerful homemade bug spray you can spray on your skin to remain protected while you enjoy the outdoors.

A hand-labeled bottle of apple cider vinegar next to an apple

Apple cider vinegar is a key ingredient in an effective homemade bug spray.

©focal point/Shutterstock.com

Bug Spray for the Home

You have an effective homemade bug spray you can use on your skin, but you may also want to have one you can use inside your home or in outdoor areas where you will be spending time. You also need a glass spray bottle to create this type of bug spray. Additionally, you’ll need:

  • Citronella essential oil
  • Lavender essential oil
  • Oil of lemon eucalyptus
  • White vinegar
  • Distilled water

To put this together, mix between 15 drops of each essential oil with two ounces of white vinegar and two ounces of distilled water. To combine all ingredients, shake the bottle gently. Then, spray the areas you want to keep bug-free!


Share this post on:
About the Author

Angie Menjivar is a writer at A-Z-Animals primarily covering pets, wildlife, and the human spirit. She has 14 years of experience, holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology, and continues her studies into human behavior, working as a copywriter in the mental health space. She resides in North Carolina, where she's fallen in love with thunderstorms and uses them as an excuse to get extra cuddles from her three cats.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.