How Can Someone Make Homemade Bug Killer?

By Staff WriterLast Updated Mar 31, 2020 4:56:36 AM ET

Prepare homemade bug killer for the garden with garlic, onion, ground cayenne pepper and dish soap in a water base. For use on people, a mixture of water and dish soap or mild detergent helps to keep bugs at bay. Use bug killers and repellents regularly to keep the bugs away.

Bugs can be huge pests, both to people and to garden plants. Homemade bug killers use less toxic ingredients than commercial preparations.

  1. Prepare bug killer for the garden
  2. Chop a bulb of garlic and a small onion. Add these along with 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper to 1 quart of water. Let the garlic, onion and pepper steep in the water for at least an hour, and then strain the liquid to remove the solids. Discard the solids, add 1 tablespoon of dish soap to the solution and mix thoroughly. Spray the bug killer directly onto the plants.
  3. Prepare bug repellent for people
  4. Fill a 1 gallon container with water, and add 1 tablespoon of dish soap or mild detergent. Mix thoroughly and add to a spray bottle. Spray liberally onto the skin.
  5. Keep bug killer and repellent handy
  6. Once mixed, keep both solutions ready to go so that they can be used as needed on plants or on people. Bugs are particularly active at dusk and dawn.