Anyone make homemade bug spray?

[ml2620]

Our house is next to the woods, DH and I are constantly swatting at bugs and trying everything to keep the dreaded ticks off of ourselves and our cats. Most bug sprays are expensive and I'm worried about the chemicals (we have been trying for a long time for a baby, and I'm not taking any risks!)

Does anyone have an old-fashioned bug spray formula? Particularly one that doesn't involve alot of chemicals?

An old neighbor suggested a spray of gin and borax, but that sounds deadly!

[Thevail]

I wish I could find an effective one...citronella oil might work as a base. I'm not sure it works on ticks though.

I just use old fashioned DEET..which is probably giving me cancer as we speak, but honestly, I really hate mosquitos.

[Grainlady]

I wonder about the efficacy of homemade bug spray? If you have any success, please let us know.

I once tried the lemon JOY dishwashing liquid on a white plastic plate as a mosquito killer. Not sure just how well that worked or if it was just another Urban Myth. You can check some of these homemade remedies out at www.snopes.com to see if they work or not.

Interesting links:

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/980625b.cfm

http://www.eartheasy.com/live_natpest_control.htm

http://www.angelfire.com/ri/ixia/Insect.html

[pinetree]

I have a couple recipes here out of Jerry Bakers Great Green book of Garden Secrets, you might these, sounds like what you are looking for, there are several in here. So if this doesn't work let me know I get you another, or you can see if you can find the book

Lethal Weapon

3 Tbsp of garlic-oinion juice*
2 Tbsp of baby shampoo
2 Tbsp of skim milk
1 tsp of Tabassco sauce
1 gallon of water

Mix all ingredients together in a 20 gallon hose end sprayer and spray garden every 10 days to keep insects away.

* to make juice chop 2 cloves of garlic and 2 meduim onions. Blend in a blender with 3 cups of warm water. Strain and use remaining liquid.

I would spray this and let dry before you let your animals on it.

Garlic Mist Formula
3 large cloves of garlic, monced
1/4 cup mineral oil
2 tsp liquid dish soap
1 pint warm water

1) soak garlic in mineral oil overnight
2) next day,strain mixture, take 2 tsp and mix with the dish soap, in the pint of water, now you have a formula to use in and outdoors.
3)for house plants, take 2 Tbsp and add to another pint of water, mist your plants every 7-10 days.
4) outdoor use put all the garlic formula into your 20 gallon hose end sprayer and fill the balance of the sprayer with warm water. Spray every two weeks in the early evening.

Note: I buy the cheapest lemon dish soap I can find. Bugs don't seem to like lemon either.