With warm weather comes many things We love, like cooking outside, garden fresh food, line drying laundry, and the kiddies running through sprinklers. However warm weather also brings things We don’t like. And the top on that list is bugs, pests! I don’t like them, not one little bit. If its not a beneficial bug, I’m out to rid my life of them. I plan on sharing some great bug deterrent posts in the future, how to rid them in many different ways.
Right now I want to talk about the pests to your furry little friends. Our pets and animal companions don’t like pests any more than we do. However they are more often affected by pests like fleas and ticks. Commercial tick and flea treatments are nasty, and full of harmful chemicals (one day I hope that most chemicals are a thing of the past, that we  can refer to as we refer as though they are ancient history)  as with most things nature has an answer that’s kinder on the wallet, the animal and the environment. This time is no different!
If you have been reading some of our other recent posts, we shared our dogs are getting in touch with their wild side. So learning that wild side, also comes with wild fleas! Yikes! No thank you, Mr. Wild field mouse, you can have that back!
So what’s a natural loving, pet having, upcycled kinda family to do? Why essential oils of course! Some of those oils, biting little pest can’t stand, score!
(So between you and I, I really love when an answer comes in the form of essential oils, I feel like I saved money and solved a problem before I even got started!)
So here is what you do need
- 1 empty spray bottle
- Cedarwood essential oil
- Lemongrass essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Witch hazel
- Water
Fill your bottle 3/4 full of water. Add 1/4 (or a little less) of witch hazel. Depending on bottle size 5-15 drops of each essential oil. Lemongrass is a very potent one and seems to really make bugs mad. Give your bottle a little shake, and go give it a try.
Now keep in mind these are not chemicals so they will need to be reapplied 1-2 times a week. Depending on your situation. Also keep in mind not to spray near the animal or your own eyes!
Beth is a mother of 6 living on a handful of acres in an old farmhouse in central Kansas. Beth has a background in the military and health and fitness however her passions come from her homestead life. Beth is an enthusiastic homeschooling mom, avid organic gardener, chicken & goat wrangler, who is obsessed with herbs and natural remedies and maintaining an all-around Do-It-Yourself lifestyle. Beth loves to share all she has learned about and sustainable living. While striving for a healthy, natural life, family-centered life.