As much as we all enjoy the Australian summer, we can all agree that seasonal bugs can be pretty annoying. Not only do we have to deal with pesky little critters running around in our homes, but we also have to find ways to deal with bites and rashes that some of them cause. Enlisting the help of the pest control Melbourne residents rely on to keep summer bugs at bay is usually the easiest solution. However, you may wonder about natural approaches to ridding your home of these little critters. Your answer may lie in a variety of essential oils.
Essential Oils—A Natural and Fragrant Approach
Essential oils have enormous benefits for households. From being excellent to use during massages and bathing to cleaning, you can use essential oils for various applications in your home. But as a way to control minor pest infestations—does it work?
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are plant extracts made by pressing or steaming various parts of certain plants. Flowers, leaves, and bark are the most common plant elements.
The oils squeezed out of certain plants possess antimicrobial and antibiotic properties. That means they can treat everything from stress to sunburn, depending on the plant used. And in some cases, certain plant extracts are excellent for keeping bugs out of your home. Let’s look at the most common essential oils at home.
Citronella Oil
As part of the lemongrass family, citronella oil has a lemony smell. It’s also one of the more commonly used essential oils to combat summer’s most annoying bug—mosquitoes. Studies have shown that Citronella oil can be effective as a repellant for anywhere from one to five hours. It is because the oil contains elements such as eucalyptol and camphor, which work together to repel mosquitoes.
People commonly use citronella oil in candles that they can place in a room known for mosquito activity. These candles are also excellent for outdoor areas such as patios and verandahs. You can even make a spray using the oil mixed with some vinegar. Spray it on your body if you are a mozzie magnet.
Lavender
There are many reasons to have a bottle or two of lavender oil in your home. Adding a few drops to your bath water will help you relax after a stressful day, so a lavender bath before bed will help you sleep better.
When it comes to insects, the good news is that flying insects such as flies and moths can’t stand the smell of lavender. Similarly, fleas and mice are also known to be deterred by this lovely odor. Researchers recommend adding a few drops of lavender oil to a diffuser to keep mosquitoes and fly out of your home. Mix a few lavender drops with distilled water, witch hazel, or rubbing alcohol to make a spray that you can spritz on your skin.
Australian Tea Tree Oil
Another standard essential oil that’s very popular worldwide is Australian Tea Tree oil because it has many uses. It is excellent for treating sunburn, blisters, and burns in general, and it’s also a good insect repellent.
Recent studies have shown that tea tree oil can effectively kill head lice after only 30 minutes of application. Furthermore, it’s excellent for ridding your home of crawling insects such as ticks and fleas, and by mixing it with lemongrass oil, you’ll have an effective bed bug treatment.
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil is another highly effective essential oil. Creating a mixture with rubbing alcohol or vinegar used in a spray bottle will give you an effective spider deterrent. Spraying this mixture along door or window frames will keep creepy crawlies such as ants, cockroaches, and spiders from entering your home.
Peppermint oil is an equally effective substitute for Eucalyptus oil if it is unavailable. Since both Eucalyptus and peppermint oil contain menthol, they’re also excellent for getting rid of mosquito larvae.
To make a Eucalyptus oil mixture, follow these easy instructions:
- At a ratio of 1:4, combine Eucalyptus or peppermint oil with rubbing alcohol or white vinegar.
- Mix well and add to a spray bottle.
- Shake up the mixture before each use.
- Spray the mixture wherever you see roaches, ants, or other pests around the home.
- Spraying this mixture on kitchen counters, windowsills, and doorframes is also an excellent idea.
Final Thought
Since many essential oils feature antibacterial properties, use them to maintain home hygiene. Spray citrus variants on your kitchen counters and windowsills to keep most bugs away—it works as long as the area is clean of crumbs. Additionally, essential oils add beautiful fragrances to your home. With their multiple uses, your health and your home will benefit from using them!
Also, Read 7 Bathroom Design Tips to Keep In Mind in 2023.