7 DIY All-Natural Insect Repellents

Nothing puts a damper on spending quality time outside quite like a swarm of pesky bugs does. When wasps or mosquitoes come buzzing your way, instead of reaching for the store-bought bug spray to get some relief, try these DIY insect repellents instead. Not only are they easy to make, they're big money savers – plus they're way better for the environment. From homemade wasp repellent to DIY citronella candles, we have cheap, effective, all-natural solutions to all of your pesky bug problems. Protect yourself from itchy bites and painful stings, and get those bugs to stop bugging you!

1. Keep Swarms Of Mosquitoes Away

Can't enjoy your time outside because of all of the mosquitoes? There could be an easy fix! Check to see if there's any standing water in your flower pots or around your garden. Mosquitoes need water to breed, so if you make sure everything has drained properly, you'll get bitten way less when you're spending time outside. 

2. DIY Tick Repellent

You'll Need:

  • ⅓ cup coconut oil
  • 10–20 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
  • empty jar

Here's How:

To make your very own tick repellent, heat the coconut oil up over a double boiler until it has melted. Add in the lemon eucalyptus essential oil and stir everything together thoroughly. Pour your DIY tick repellent into an empty jar with a screw-on lid and it's ready to be used! Rub the mixture onto your arms and legs, making sure to repeat application about once every 4 hours.

3. Anti-Mosquito Bars

You'll Need:

  • ½ oz beeswax
  • 1 oz cocoa butter
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 15–30 drops citronella essential oil
  • 5–10 drops neem oil
  • 5–10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
  • 5–10 drops mint essential oil
  • empty jar
  • ice cube tray

Here's How:

To make some simple anti-mosquito bars, place the beeswax and cocoa butter in the empty jar, then heat the jar up over a double boiler to melt its contents. Add in the coconut oil and stir everything together until the mixture is completely liquified. Test the consistency by removing a few drops and letting them solidify on a plate. If the mixture is too soft, add some additional beeswax. If it's too hard, add some cocoa butter. Once the mixture has reached the desired consistency, let it cool slightly, then stir in the neem and essential oils. Pour the liquified mosquito repellent into the ice cube trays, transfer the ice cube trays to the refrigerator, and let the anti-mosquito bars chill. Once the bars have hardened, you can apply them directly to your skin to avoid nasty mosquito bites!

4. DIY Citronella Candles

You'll Need:

  • 1 lb leftover candle wax or wax flakes
  • 30 drops of citronella essential oil
  • 3 lemons
  • candle wicks
  • toothpicks or wooden skewers

Here's How:

Making your very own citronella candles is super easy and cost-effective! Melt some leftover candle wax or wax flakes over a double boiler, then stir in the citronella essential oil. Cut the lemons in half and scoop out the fruit. Place 1 candle wick in the center of each lemon half, secure the wicks in place with a toothpick or wooden skewer, and pour the citronella wax inside. Once the wax has dried, remove the toothpicks or wooden skewers, light the candles outside, and enjoy a mosquito-free evening!

5. Tick Repellent For Dogs

You'll Need:

  • 1 handful of dried lavender 
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • water
  • spray bottle

Here's How:

To protect your dog from nasty tick bites, try this easy spray. Mix together the lavender and apple cider vinegar, then let the mixture soak for 2–3 weeks. For the best results, pass the mixture through a fine sieve once it has soaked. Mix 1 part lavender mixture with 2 parts water and fill up an empty spray bottle with your new DIY tick repellent. Spray your dog with it before you two go on a walk and your dog will be tick-free afterwards! Store your tick repellent in a cool, dry place and it will keep for several weeks.

6. Easy Wasp Repellent

6.1 Wasps don't have to bug you this summer! One easy way to keep them away is to put some dried coffee grounds or instant coffee in a heat-resistant bowl, then light them. As the grounds heat up and gradually burn, the smell will drive away any wandering wasps – and maybe even some other bugs, too!

6.2 Wasps also don't like the smell of lavender, so hanging up some dried lavender or planting some on your balcony or in your garden is another effective way to keep them away!

7. DIY Ant Guard

You'll Need:

  • vinegar
  • water
  • baby powder
  • fresh herbs (e.g. rosemary)

Here's How:

Does your house have an ant problem? Well, that's actually no problem at all! An easy solution is to mix together some water and vinegar and wipe it over the affected areas. Cover the wet area with baby powder and place some fresh herbs, like rosemary, nearby. Soon, all of the ants will look for a new place to go – and this time they'll stay out of the house!

Next time you go to reach for the store-bought bug spray, think twice! These natural, simple insect repellents are here to keep your summer pest-free. Those ticks, wasps, mosquitoes, and ants don't stand a chance! 

Get the instructions for the Insect Guards For Plants, Food Storage Tricks, Garden Insect Repellent, Easy Mosquito Repellent, All-Natural Insect Repellents.    

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