Clove, citrus, and lavender are common fragrances in candles and oil diffusers. Did you know these scents can even repel some bugs?
When the pungent smell of essential oils is detected, the majority of household insects will run away. Peppermint oil may help keep mice at bay permanently, but can essential oils be used to repel all pests? What about essential oils for ticks?
Ticks can ruin a nice day in the park and leave you with painful bites and even health issues like Lyme disease.
Oil-based pest control products are being marketed as a means to get rid of ticks, bed bugs, and other pests. If you want to learn whether DIY oil pest control works against ticks and other methods for keeping these frightening insects at bay, keep reading.
Essential Oils as Pest Repellent
In addition to holistic remedies, essential oils can be used for hair and skin care. Oil diffusers are a great way to make your home smell amazing with just a few drops of these scented oils. And did you know that many people use them as homemade pest control products?
It seems easy enough. Sprinkle a few drops of your favorite scent in the areas where pests are hanging out to aid with your pest problem. Is it really that simple?
Essential oils may be used to keep pests away in a variety of ways, depending on the infestation. Essential oils like peppermint or eucalyptus can deter rodents because they have highly sensitive noses.
Easily make a homemade spray by mixing water with a powerful essential oil. Here’s a list of essential oils often utilized in at-home pest control treatments:
- Eucalyptus
- Rosemary
- Tea tree
- Thyme
- Clove
- Citronella
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Lemon balm
- Sage
- Cedarwood
- Lemongrass
Use a few drops of your favorite oil to keep pests and vermin at bay, and experiment with mixing scents to match your particular pest problem.
Peppermint oil is a great solution for ant, spider, and other insect infestations. Lavender and sage are effective against biting insects such as mosquitoes. Citrus and minty fragrances may aid in the prevention of cockroaches from crawling through the kitchen or bathroom.
Will Essential Oils Work as Pest Control?
Ticks, mice, and cockroaches are all pests that many homeowners encounter. Essential oils appear to be a straightforward answer to this challenging problem. People frequently need complex pest control treatments to make progress in eliminating these insects.
If you have a rodent problem, in addition to other methods, consider using high doses of peppermint oil. Peppermint oil will keep rodents away from your food, clothes, and containers.
If you have a fear of insects, then consider using more pungent scents like clove as a form of repellent. Cockroaches are attracted to food smells, so they often infest kitchens. If you fill your pantry or kitchen with clove scents, you may be able to dissuade roaches.
Citrus cleaners or water-based mixtures with your favorite fruity or earthy smell will dissuade many pests as well.
Although essential oils can help to keep pests out of specific areas of your home, they will not fully address the problem. Unfortunately, oils don’t work the same as pesticides, so your pest problem may persist regardless of the oils you try.
If you drive out the bugs with your strong smells, they may spread elsewhere in your home and create an undetected infestation that grows by the day. Before you decide to use essential oils as your go-to pest control method, consider the limitations.
Can I Use Essential Oils for Ticks?
Placing soaked cotton balls or spritzing sweet scents won’t fully control creepy creatures, but can a direct approach work to keep them at bay?
For residents in Nebraska, ticks are a major pest problem. A tick infestation is stressful, especially whenever they interfere with yard work. Essential oils for ticks seem ideal, but will they work?
Surprisingly, essential oils might be a great choice for tick problems! According to Healthline, the following essential oils are effective at eliminating ticks with a saturated application:
- Citronella
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Cloves
Other oils like thyme, carvacrol, camphor tree oil, and linalool successfully eliminate ticks when used as a fumigant. These essential oils come from plants that are safe for humans to eat, they won’t be as dangerous as other pest prevention methods.
However, you’ll need to use a lot more of these products to see substantial results compared to dedicated pesticides. Pesticides (or heat treatments when indoors) for tick infestations quickly eliminate pest problems with relatively few products compared to the amount you’ll require for essential oils.
Plus, for some of these oils, directly spraying the pests is a great way to directly eliminate them. Ticks are hard to see, as they often hide in the tall grass waiting to latch onto your leg or pet.
While essential oils for ticks are an option, you may want to consider other alternatives when you have a tick infestation. Essential oils can be ineffective against these pests when used alone for long periods.
Using essential oils with other pest control products could mitigate your problem, but avoid relying on DIY products to curb your tick infestation. If you neglect to eliminate all the bugs, they could breed and infest your bed again!
Directly spritzing the other pests around your home may eliminate the ones you see but won’t get rid of any hidden insects nesting nearby. Unless you can find their hiding place, colony, or hive, we suggest using other pest control methods.
Ticks are already stressful enough, and adding more steps to your pest control strategy can often make matters worse. Who wants to gamble with uncertain home remedies, when our EPA-Approved and organic products can take care of even the peskiest critters?
Instead of struggling through a tick infestation or using ineffective essential oils for ticks, trust Recon Pest Services to remove the problem for you. Contact us today to learn more!
