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!
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.
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!
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