Do it yourself: 5 powerful recipes for natural repellents

Rain or shine, insects are always present in our daily lives. But, as harmless as they may seem, some are responsible for large epidemics that can even lead to death. So, to avoid bites and the transmission of feared diseases such as dengue, zika and chikungunya, in addition to preventing infestation with basic care at home, you need to protect yourself.

There are several options for industrialized repellents on the market. The insecticides used at home today are not highly toxic, but their prolonged exposure is harmful to both humans and the environment. Body repellents, on the other hand, have a chemical compound called DEET, which works to prevent insects from being attracted to the smell of the skin.

The continued use of DEET can also cause allergies, irritations or more serious diseases, so Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) recommends that the maximum concentration of the compound in the solution is up to 30%. In addition, insects end up creating resistance to the product, making its use useless and encouraging the creation of increasingly stronger components.

For all these reasons, making your own repellent from plants and natural products is an excellent way to protect your entire family from pests without putting anyone’s health at risk. Nature itself provides a variety of organic compounds that are powerful against mosquitoes, flies, ants, cockroaches and other insects that have adapted so well to urban life.

To help you with this task, we have selected five foolproof recipes for homemade repellents for adults, pregnant women, children, for the home and for places with pest infestation based on cloves, lavender, vinegar and plant extracts. Check out!

1. Clove repellent

Clove is an efficient natural repellent against mosquitoes, including Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and zika virus. This is because its characteristic smell, caused by the presence of eugenol in its composition, is capable of warding off mosquitoes, as well as flies and ants. The solution can be used by adolescents and adults, including pregnant women after medical clearance.

Preparation and application: in a dark bottle, place 10 grams of cloves in 500 ml of grain alcohol. For four days, stir the mixture every 12 hours. On the fifth day, remove the blackheads and add 100 ml of vegetable body oil. Transfer the solution to a spray bottle and spray onto skin every 2 hours, shaking well before use.

2. Repellent for children and babies with essential oil

Lavender, or lavender, as it is also known, has an aroma capable of warding off mosquitoes and mosquitoes, serving both as a repellent and to relieve itching or pain from insect bites. Mixing your oil with baby moisturizer can be used on children and babies over two months of age.

Preparation and application: place 1 spoon of lavender essential oil in 150 ml of baby moisturizer. Mix well and apply every 3 hours to all exposed parts of the child’s or baby’s body. To increase the effectiveness of this repellent, light a citronella candle, which is also natural, in as many rooms as possible indoors.

3. Repellent cleaner

Did you know that vinegar also repels mosquitoes, flies and mosquitoes? Its acidic aroma is very irritating to these insects and keeps them away from home for up to two days. The ingredient, in addition to killing bacteria, fungi and germs, has no contraindication. So, from now on, bet on vinegar to keep the house clean and pest free.

Preparation and application: add 2 cups of white alcohol vinegar to a bucket of clean water. Moisten the floor cloth and go over the entire floor. To complement, mix water with vinegar — use the same measure of each in this case — and spray in the air once or twice a day.

On countertops and sinks, rub the vinegar directly with a cloth. In external areas, apply it on the floor, spread with the help of a broom and let it act for at least 5 minutes before drying. Another option is to place a small container of pure vinegar inside the room overnight.

4. Powerful repellent for hiking

You already know that vinegar is a powerful ingredient against insects. However, its effectiveness can be enhanced if combined with herbs that also have repellent components. This solution is very potent to be used in places that have a lot of mosquitoes, flies and mosquitoes, such as forests. Its use is not suitable for pregnant women, babies and children.

Preparation and application: in an airtight container, place 750 ml of natural apple cider vinegar and add two tablespoons of each of the following dry herbs: mint, thyme, sage, rosemary and lavender. Seal the container and let it sit for two weeks, shaking the solution daily. After this period, strain the herbs and store the liquid in the refrigerator.

When you need to use, mix the solution in filtered water, in equal amounts, and spray on the skin every 4 hours. The mixture has a very strong smell while it is wet. But once it is dry in the body the aroma disappears.

5. Repellent with plant extracts

This recipe is to get rid of cockroaches that insist on staying indoors. For this, we will use plant extracts that have chemical compounds capable of preventing them from eating and ending up killing them or driving them away from the internal environment. It works like an insecticide, but without the toxic products that can harm the health of people and pets living in the home.

Preparation and application: if you cannot find laurel, eucalyptus, castor bean and jambolan powder, take leaves from these plants and let them rest in the shade until dry. Then grind them to powder. Then put 100 grams of the powder in 900 ml of water and let it rest for two days.

With a paper filter, strain the powder and apply it in closed places where cockroaches usually frequent, such as closets, cracks in doors and edges of drains. Increase effectiveness by also using the sprayed liquid solution or with soaked cotton swabs scattered around the house.

Other ways to keep bugs away

In addition to making your own repellent at home, you can also adopt simple attitudes that help a lot to keep insects away from home, in a natural way. It’s small details that can make all the difference, like planting repellent plant species, changing the electric diffuser tablet for citrus peel and creating new habits inside the house and in food. See how easy it is:

Plant some specific species: bet on citronella against mosquitoes and mosquitoes, including the transmitters of dengue, chikungunya and zika virus, but keep the plant away from pets and children because its leaves are toxic.

To keep ants away, keep mint seedlings at home, especially in the kitchen. Against mosquitoes and flies, basil. Now to get rid of fleas, bed bugs and cockroaches, trust the chrysanthemum, which will still make your home beautiful.

Replace the tablet with citrus peel: the traditional electric diffusers can continue with the function of repelling mosquitoes in a much more natural way. Instead of industrialized tablets, put a slice of lemon, orange or tangerine rind in the device daily. It will release citric acid on contact with heat and will repel insects.

Close your windows at dusk: mosquitoes are nocturnal, so, especially in summer, close your windows in the late afternoon, around 5 pm, to prevent them from entering and staying overnight. It’s also a good idea to put screens on the windows that keep insects out without smothering the environment.

Use fans: in high temperatures, keeping the fan on, in addition to cooling, helps keep mosquitoes and mosquitoes away. Thus, they cannot fly normally against the air current.

Eat foods rich in vitamin B1: dark green vegetables, oats, rice and whole grains, almonds, Brazil nuts, peanuts, egg yolks, liver and brewer’s yeast are foods that contain B vitamins, which have a repellent function. against mosquitoes and mosquitoes from the inside out.

Light natural candles: natural candles based on citronella, lavender, citrus fruits, mint and rosemary inhibit various insects. You can also make a candle out of an orange: cut it in half, remove the buds, and place melted wax, some cloves and a wick at the base of the peel. The candle can be used both indoors and outdoors.

By following some of these recipes and tips, your day-to-day insect problems will end and, more importantly, without putting your family’s health at risk. So choose the ones that suit your needs and get to work.

And if you know any more foolproof recipes against mosquitoes, flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, or any other insect, be sure to tell them in the comments.