Looking to avoid hazardous chemicals while fighting uninvited guests this season? Try this simple and effective DIY pesticide duster!
This DIY pesticide duster uses readily available herbs and spices. It also calls for diatomaceous earth (DE), a naturally occurring siliceous rock that is easy crumbled into a fine white powder. (Learn more about DE here.)
DIY Pesticide Duster
1/2 c. bay leaves
1/2 c. peppermint leaves
1 1/2 tsp. each citrus peel, garlic powder, diatomaceous earth, cayenne pepper, salt
Grind the ingredients into a powder using a blender or mortar and pestle. Dust along affected areas.
This combination acts as a deterrent because of the smells of garlic, cayenne and mint. It can also kill insects that have an exoskeleton thanks to the diatomaceous earth and citrus oil. When a bug comes in contact with DE the bug “dries up” because the diatomaceous earth sticks to the waxy layer found on the exoskeleton and prevents them from hydrating. Citrus oils are caustic to the exoskeleton. The salt is also drying.
For more natural pest solutions download the FREE momsAWARE Pest-Punching Printout.
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What bugs does this repel and what is in the ingredients that repels them? Do it only turn them away or does it actually kill bugs?
Diatomaceous earth actually kills insects with an exoskeleton. Peppermint deters. Citrus oils are caustic to the exoskeleton and can therefore be deadly. The cayenne and garlic are mainly deterrents as pests don’t like the odor generally.
Thanks for the reminder to order DE from Azure this week! We use it in our chicken coop and need to make up some of this concoction as well. https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/4651// Hope chocolate mint works cuz I cut a bunch of that for smoothies and forgot about it in the fridge. All shriveled and dry now but might work for this!
Thanks for mentioning Azure Standard. Hope the mint works. 🙂
Andrea, for the pesticide dust, is the citrus peel a dried product? Can I substitute a citrus essential oil and, if so, how much? Thanks! (4/28/18)
I know that I wouldn’t hesitate to try it!