All Natural Bug Spray Recipe
We live in Northwest Georgia and the South is known for bugs. We’d prefer not to use a bunch of toxic chemicals in our house, so I researched and found a way to make an all natural bug spray recipe. It uses natural items that can kill insects like roaches and beetles.
The main active ingredient is clove oil. Clove oil breaks down the exoskeleton of beetles, roaches and other insects. It’s safe to use in your kitchen. Putting a little clove oil with cotton seed oil, dish liquid, and water makes a great all natural bug spray.
Here’s how I make it. Combine the following in a 27-32 ounce spray bottle:
- 2-3 tsp Clove Oil
- 2-3 tsp Cotton Seed Oil
- 2 Tsp Dish liquid
After adding the 3 main ingredients, add water to fill up the spray bottle. Add it slowly so you don’t get a bunch of bubbles.
Replace and tighten the nozzle and then lightly mix ingredients by turning the bottle up and down, but don’t get too vigorous with it or the soap will get too foamy.
I bought the clove oil and cotton seed in bulk. You don’t need any expensive high grade brands for this. You’re killing bugs, not using it in/on your body. By buying it economically in bulk, I have enough to make tons of bug spray to use indoors and out.
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I’ve used clove oil and cottonseed oil for a long time. It does work very well, but you have to spray often inorder to keep the bugs away/killed. I had a terrible inf station of roaches when I moved into an apartment. I tried everything! I read an article on using clove oil and cottonseed oil. I scoffed but then I tried it. Best thing I’ve got very tired for roaches!
Will this work on flees?
I haven’t tried with fleas. I’d be careful putting essential oils on pets. Melaleuca (aka tea tree oil) for example can kill a dog or a cat. So I’m not sure what these oils might do for an animal.
If i spray their bedding and my carpets will it kill the fleas on my dogs without spraying them directly?
I have never tried it on carpets. It is a heavy oil so it probably isn’t the best on surfaces you want to keep nice that aren’t easy to clean. Also, if your pets lay on the carpet, I wouldn’t use it on carpet. Some essential oils can be toxic to pets.
Did this really work cotton seed oil and cloveoil take work to kill bed bugs there driving me crazy.
It works for roaches. It also works for bugs in the garden. I can’t speak for bed bugs.
A direct spray on bedbugs kills in seconds.
YES IT WORKS GREAT FOR BEDBUGS JUST PUT A COUPLE MORE TSP OF clove Because it Is Very Powerful Also make sure u spray and vaccum your carpet repeat twice weekly for 14 days for any nesting larvae, I have crack and crevice sprayed Directly On Mattresses and put a mattress cover on afterwards no more bedbugs And It’s Been 2yrs bedbug free yet I stilll periodically Spray for general purpose
Hi Marnie…
Do you have your own “recipe” for what you’re spraying? I have just tried a clove/cotton seed oil based spray that I purchased online that looks promising! However, it costs a little more than $50 for 2 – 32 oz. spray bottles worth of this stuff. I live in a 2 BR apartment and 64 oz. of spray will go fast. If you don’t, what brand do you use or recommend?
Thsnk you!
Leslie Wingo
Where can I find the oils in bulk?
I bought mine on Amazon.
Can the mixture be used in a diffuser?
Can you tell me what brands you bought? They have too many kinds and I have found that with me anyway. I can be reading on brand and will end up somewhere else and not even know it. I have ordered the wrong thing because of it. Thank you.
Is there anything such as bed bug repellent does anybody know
Will it work on gnats ?
Can you use this on dogs
I would be careful using oils like this on dogs or cats. They can have adverse reactions to some oils. For example, Melaleuca oil (tea tree oil) can kill a dog or cat. It’s not included in my recipe, but I wouldn’t spray this bug killer on things you want to live…. just to err on the side of caution.
Clove oil is toxic to animals in concentrated form both directly applied and airborne. I would never apply it directly to an animal and only use it diluted as in the above recipe in my home.
I realized I was paying too much for readily available ingredients in a premade spray. Thanks for exact measurements! I’ve ordered the oils and will save money and not add another plastic bottle to the planet.
Is this pet safe? And is it safe to use around my rose bushes?