Let us look at some easy ways to use essential oils to get rid of some “hard to deal with” insects that can be annoying at times.
Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is very popular and has always been used to get rid of bugs and mites that infest the home, especially bed bugs. The pungent aroma of this oil is unbearable to the mites so it automatically drives them away whenever it is present and it keeps them away.
How to use: Sprinkle a few drops across the corners of the bed frame and the mites and their eggs will be destroyed. But that’s not all, it will leave a pleasant smell that will appeal to you for days.
Orange oil
If you are thinking of organic pesticides then Orange essential oil is the best choice. It is so potent that it doesn’t just kill individual insects but it causes devastation to them by wiping out colonies and prevents re-infestation.
There is a component in orange oil which is called D-limonene which is harmless to humans but lethal to most bugs or insects. It is so powerful that it melts the waxy outer coating on their exoskeleton causing dehydration and asphyxiation.
How to use: Dilute the orange oil in water using 1/4 cup water to 15 drops of orange oil and place in a spray bottle. Because of the potency and effectiveness of this oil in killing bugs, you should be careful if using it in your garden as it can also kill some of the good garden bugs and pollinators. So spray with caution.
Peppermint oil
This is good for making mosquito repellent and can keep away other flying insects. How to use: wet a piece of cloth or a cotton swab and spread the oil on windows, doors, and baseboards to keep the annoying insects at bay. They will not come near such a scent.
Rosemary oil
This oil is an effective and robust repellant that will assist in keeping away many different insects such as Mosquitos, flies, and fleas.
Rosemary oil is also great for hindering worms like the cabbage looper caterpillar whose voracious appetite for juicy vegetable foliage can easily destroy complete crops of fruit vegetables such as, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and even some root vegetables if left uninterrupted.
Lemongrass Oil-Mosquito Repellent 
Want to sit at ease on your patio, veranda, or deck without disturbance from these annoying pests? Mosquitos will, by all means, shun the presence of lemongrass. The scent of the plant alone makes them stay clear of the areas where lemongrass is grown.
The oil is by far more concentrated with flavor than the plant so you can be sure that they will leave you alone if you have a repellant made with this oil.
How to make it?
In a small spray bottle place one cup of rubbing alcohol and 8 drops of lemongrass essential oil. Give it a good shake and use it in the areas of your skin that are exposed.
Big Bug Repellent
Make a good bug repellant for the big bugs as follows: In a spray bottle of ten ounces of warm water put three tablespoons of dish soap and seven drops of peppermint oil and give it a good shake. Then spray in the small corners and cracks that spiders, cockroaches, and other bugs may be hiding.
The best essential oils for bugs are as follows:
Ants: Peppermint, Spearmint, Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit
Mosquitoes: Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Thyme, Cinnamon, Rosemary, lavender, lemongrass
Flies: Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Melaleuca, Rosemary
Spider: Peppermint, Spearmint
Ticks: Oregano, Thyme
Fleas: Peppermint, Lemongrass, Spearmint
Cockroaches: Peppermint, Eucalyptus, tea tree oil
Snails: cedarwood, pine
Beetles: peppermint, thyme
Aphids: Peppermint, Spearmint, Sandalwood
Silverfish: Clove, Peppermint
Love Bugs: Peppermint
Squash Bugs: Neem Oil
Alternative ways to use essential oils
You can also diffuse clove oil, Citronella, Lemon Eucalyptus, or Lemon Verbena essential oils to repel flying insects.
Clove oil is pretty strong so it is best to dilute it with another oil of your choice. Simply place clove oil in a candle burner or essential oil diffuser. Mix 2 – 3 drops (or less) with another 2 – 3 drops of oil that you like and add them to the water recipient. Keep it on for only 30 minutes and make sure the room is well-ventilated!
Point to note: When using essential oils for direct skin contact, it is recommended that you use a carrier oil to dilute the essential so as to prevent any form of skin irritation as the potency of essential oils may cause such- they are very concentrated in their original form.
Carrier Oils are oils that are used to dilute essential oils, making them more skin-friendly.
Carrier oils include coconut oil, almond oil, avocado oil, olive oil, and so on.
How To Eradicate Silverfish In Your Home
Silverfish or fish moths are tiny insects with carrot-shaped bodies, they are often white, brownish-grey, or bluish-silver in color. They are nocturnal creatures so they come out at night only to search for food. Therefore, just like termites, they can go undetected for a long period, and cause destruction on your belongings.
These silvery insects feed on starch and animal protein; consequently, they are especially attracted to damp clothing and paper. Once they have gained a footing in your house, they get to work, silently destroying clothes, papers, books, leather items, and even wallpaper. OKC pest control has even heard reports of people finding them in unopened food packages!
Silverfish are most commonly found in laundry rooms, kitchens, damp cabinets or cupboards, basements, and attics as they prefer cold, dark, and damp places.
Here we will explain four (4)ways to solve your silverfish problems.
1. Essential Oil Combo
For this, you will need:
1 cup of water
1 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon boric acid
8 drops of Tea Tree Oil
8 drops of Lavender Oil
Combine all the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray in all infested areas to eradicate silverfish.
2. Use Clove Essential Oils
You can also rub clove essential oil over cracks and crevices in your walls or foundation to keep silverfish away.
In a spray bottle, you could mix half cup of rubbing alcohol and 15 drops of clove essential oil. Shake well and use it in areas prone to silverfish buildup.
3. Use Cloves to Repel
Cloves contain eugenol, this is a compound that is highly beneficial in preventing tooth decay in us humans, it also serves as a highly powerful natural insecticide.
Whole cloves have an expressly strong smell that effectively repulses silverfish. This property of cloves can be used to an advantage to prevent and eradicate silverfish infestations in your house.
Here are a few ways to do it
Place a small bowl of cloves in areas that show signs of silverfish invasion. You may also place small bowls containing cloves in your basement or attic, or any other damp and dark areas that are vulnerable to silverfish.
Alternatively, you can place small muslin pouches containing cloves in these said areas. You may also place the pouches in your wardrobe or bathroom cabinets to keep silverfish at bay. Replace the spices every 7 to 8 days to keep the clove smell strong and effective.
4. Use Borax
You may have heard of borax as an efficient stain remover; however, did you know that chemically borax is the salt of boric acid and is equally effective at eliminating silverfish?
Borax is highly toxic for silverfish, the issue is how to make them consume it. The solution is to mix borax with powdered white sugar (confectioner’s sugar is good) and place it in an area convenient for them.
Warning!!! Be careful however if you have any pets or babies in the house. Never place this mixture in their sight of where they can reach it, we do not want any accidents.
How to do it:
Just mix 3 tablespoons of borax and 3 tablespoons of powdered white sugar in a small bowl until evenly combined. Place in areas that are prone to silverfish infestation. They will eat and say goodbye world. Saturate the same areas for at least a week or until all signs of silverfish are no more.
Use Essential Oil To Get Rid Of Bugs And Make Your Home Smell Wonderful
Eessential oils are very potent and powerful oils extracted from the leaves, roots, bark, and flowers of plants. They are concentrated with the strength of the plant and therefore need to be diluted to do certain things in the home. In that case, we can use many essential oils to get rid of all sorts of bugs and this article gives some of those ways.
Materials
- Essential oils
- Spray bottle
- Rubbing Alcohol
Instructions
To get rid of ants, use any of the following mixed in a spray bottle 20 drops to a half cup vinegar and half cup water: Peppermint, Spearmint, Lemon, Orange, and Grapefruit.
Make a spray for Mosquitoes using any of these in the portion of 20 drops to a cup of rubbing alcohol: Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Thyme, Cinnamon, Rosemary, lavender, lemongrass
All of the oils below can be mixed using 20 drops per half cup of water. But to make the mixture a bit more unpleasant for the insects you may add 1/4 cup vinegar or rubbing alcohol.
Flies: Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Melaleuca, Rosemary
Spider: Peppermint, Spearmint
Ticks: Oregano, Thyme
Fleas: Peppermint, Lemongrass, Spearmint
Cockroaches: Peppermint, Eucalyptus, tea tree oil
Snails: cedarwood, pine
Beetles: peppermint, thyme
Aphids: Peppermint, Spearmint, Sandalwood
Silverfish: Clove, Peppermint
Love Bugs: Peppermint
Squash Bugs: Neem Oil
When applying any of these in the garden use only water and dish soap. Use 20 drops to one cup of water and two teaspoons of dish soap.
