Common Household Insect Repellents
Many materials that may already be in your house are often used as insect repellents. Most of these items have a strong odor that various pests dislike. These include all of the following:
- Citronella
- Peppermint Oil
- Tea Tree Oil
- Vanilla Extract
- Garlic
- Fabric Softener Sheets
- Eucalyptus
- Detergent
- Citrus
To use these products as insect repellents, you can either create a mixture and spray it where you want to repel bugs or soak a cloth or cotton ball in the product and place it in the area where you want to discourage ants, mice, and other pests.
Do Common Household Insect Repellents Actually Work?
It’s true that insects and rodents dislike certain scents and will avoid areas where they are present. If you want to avoid having pests in a specific area or need relief for a short period of time, such as on your back patio during a cookout, it can be effective to introduce these scents to the surrounding area. However, if you’re trying to get rid of pests on a long-term basis, household repellents won’t do the trick.
Here are just some of the issues with household repellents:
- They only work for a short period of time
- They only work in the immediate area where they are placed or sprayed
- Some essential oils are dangerous for pets
- Instead of eliminating bugs, they just make bugs move to other areas
What to Do If You Want Effective Pest Control
DIY household pest repellents may work if your goal is simply to get a few minutes of peace from pests. However, if you want to get rid of the pests in and around your house for good, you need a different option.
For effective pest control, the best option is to hire a professional pest control company like Big Time Pest Control. Although some homeowners balk at hiring an exterminator because they think it will be too expensive, the reality is that in the long run, professional pest control can be cheaper than trying to take care of pest issues yourself. Some of the benefits of professional pest control include:
- The pests are eliminated instead of scattering to a different area of your house.
- The materials are long-lasting.
- Trained professionals appropriately apply the products.
- Professional pest control offers preventative protection to stop infestations before they begin.
- With preventative pest control, you can avoid home damage and illnesses that some pests can cause.
How Big Time Pest Control Will Eliminate Your Pest Problem(s)
Professional home pest control from Big Time Pest Control starts with an inspection of your home to determine which pests are already present and which areas are at a higher risk of being infested. We also provide your first treatment immediately so that you can start seeing results right away. You shouldn’t have to live with pests any longer than necessary.
After the initial treatment to control the pests already active in and around your house, we’ll return once a quarter to provide routine preventative treatments. These treatments stop pest infestations before they start, providing ongoing protection for your home.
We offer three different home pest control plans to meet your pest control needs. Our Guardian Plan includes:
- Quarterly Preventative Services
- A Pest-Free Guarantee
- Coverage for 30+ Pests
- Exterior Pest Treatments
- Interior Treatments (as needed)
- Spider Web Removal (up to one-story eaves)
- Wasp Nest Removal (up to one-story eaves)
- Exterior Rodent Bait Stations
Our Guardian Plus Plan includes everything in our Guardian plan and adds termite monitoring and inspections. Our Guardian Pro Plan includes everything in our Guardian Plus Plan, and adds termite protection and a termite re-treatment warranty.
If you have bugs around your house that you’ve been trying to get rid of with household repellents without success, give Big Time Pest Control a call. We offer Northern California homes pest protection that works. Contact us today.
This blog was originally published on April 17, 2024; it has been updated to reflect the most up-to-date information.
