For many of us, summer is our favourite time of the year. When the sun is shining it means more time outdoors in the fresh air. In my home summer means it’s time for barbeque parties, catching up with friends and family which hubby absolutely loves, picnics, long lazy walks in the woodlands or watching our fur babies have a whale of a time splashing in the paddling pool.
Of course, with warmer weather, there are other creatures that come out. We see bugs start to multiply, some may even come inside the house to help themselves to your tasty snacks, cool off from the heat or just think it’s the perfect place to make their nest.
While I love having a garden that supports wildlife and we have many areas where bugs in particular can make their homes, however in summer it seems to me that they all want to move into mine with me and that’s where I draw the line. But I also don’t want to harm them or pump my home full of nasty chemicals with bug sprays so instead I have turned to essential oils over the years and they seem to work pretty well for us.
Here is a list of oils and which bugs they can help repel
- Peppermint – ants, spiders, ticks, roaches, moths, flies, beetles.
- Lavender – fleas, flies, mosquitos, ticks.
Citronella – moths, cockroaches.
Rosemary – mosquitos.
Thyme – ticks, mosquitos.
Sage – flies, ticks.
How to use the essential oils in your home
I love adding lavender to my wardrobe, I have sachets of dried lavender which I pop into the corners of the shelf or hang. Not only do they help to keep my wardrobe free of visitors it also keeps my clothes smelling gorgeous. You can also add a drop of peppermint essential oil into the sachets if you wish to combine these with wonderful fragrances.
When I take out the trash, I always wipe my bins down with a diluted solution of lavender and citronella. Then add a drop of each oil to the bottom of the bin before placing in the new bin liner.
I add a few drops of lavender onto an old cloth and toss it in with the laundry, and especially when cleaning my dog’s bedding. Lavender has antibacterial properties in addition to its gorgeous smell.
Diffusing an oil with the use of an essential oil diffuser is one of the easiest ways to administer the oils.
Pop a few drops of the essential oil required onto the corner of the floor rug at the entrance to your home.
Make your own bug repellent by mixing the oils with water or witch hazel in a clean glass bottle with a spray top.
Safety tips when using essential oils
- Always use gloves when mixing and wiping down surfaces with essential oils.
Make sure there is plenty of ventilation when spraying a room, or the room is closed off for a while without any pets being locked in as some essential oils are not suitable for pets.
When using around the kitchen, ensure all food is put away before spraying oils to avoid contamination.
Make sure essential oils are locked away out of reach from children and pets.
