Last time I discussed homemade and all natural bug sprays that you can mix yourself. These sprays include essential oils as a way to repel bugs.
In this article, I will discuss bug spray recipe variations that work just as well and maybe even a little better.
Natural bug sprays can be made that do not include essential oils. Instead, you can use fresh or dry herbs and even vinegar as the primary ingredient in a good bug spray repellent.
Fresh Or Dried Herb Bug Sprays
Ingredients to use in a fresh or dried herb spray include:
Peppermint.
(Courtesy: qing4fun at flickr.com)
• Distilled water
• Witch hazel or rubbing alcohol
• Dry herbs including peppermint, spearmint, citronella, lemongrass, catnip, lavender, and more. It is recommended that you use at least one herb from the mint family.
Instructions On Mixing The Spray
To make the bug spray you need to follow these six easy steps.
1. Boil 1 cup of water.
2. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of any combination of dry herbs mentioned above. Some people also include 1 tablespoon each of peppermint, spearmint, catnip, and lavender as well as two dried cloves.
3. Mix well, and then cover and let cool.
4. Strain the herbs out and then mix water with 1 cup of witch hazel or rubbing alcohol.
5. Store the concoction in a spray bottle in a cool location. The refrigerator is ideal because it will become nice and cold.
6. Use as needed.
This mixture smells great and is very refreshing to the skin.
A Vinegar Alternative
Vinegar serves as a great alternative. However, it smells pretty bad when it is wet, but the odor dissipates once the concoction is dry. It works quite well, especially in the woods or in tick-infested places. Believe it or not, it is said that thieves used this recipe to prevent catching the Black Plague. They drank it and put it on their skins and also used it to keep flies and other pests away. Although it is expensive to make, you probably have the ingredients stored in a cupboard in your kitchen.
The ingredients of the Four Thieves Insect Repellent include:
Apple Cider Vinegar.
(Courtesy: Mike Mozart at flickr.com)
• 1 32-ounce bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar.
• 2 tablespoons each of dried Sage, Rosemary, Lavender, Thyme, and Mint.
• A glass jar that is at least a quart in size and that has an airtight lid.
The instructions on how to make the Four Thieves Insect Repellent are as follows.
1. Place the vinegar and dried herbs into the glass jar.
2. Seal the jar tightly and store it on the counter or a location where you will see it daily.
3. Shake well for each day for two to three weeks.
4. After two to three weeks, strain the herbs out and store in spray or tincture bottles in the refrigerator.
5. To use on skin, dilute the solution to half with water in a spray bottle and use when needed.
6. Or use wherever you need serious bug control.
