Safe Homemade Natural Insect Repellent
This safe homemade natural insect repellent is organic, effective, and safe for the whole family. This non–greasy formula is chemical–free, has only a few ingredients and takes very little time to make. Essential oils and filtered water are cost-effective and easily available. Urea gel is most well–known and frequently used as a skin moisturizer. Vegetable glycerine has myriad uses in skin care and hair care. It softens and moisturizes.
The addition of urea gel (or vegetable glycerine) help to mix the essential oils and water as well as providing a gentle moisturizer and extra layer of protection for your skin. Refillable amber glass bottles are reusable and a good investment for DIY products such as this one.
Summer is here, which means it’s also mosquito and tick season. As all 50 states reopen, more Americans are spending time outdoors and will need protection from bug bites. If you’re like most people, you want to protect yourself and your family from insect bites—and from harmful chemicals that can harm you and the environment. Our guide to insect repellents helps you avoid toxic chemicals and look for a more environmentally friendly insect repellent instead.
How to Make a DIY Insect Repellant
Store this homemade insect repellent in a refillable dark amber spray glass bottle with a spray nozzle for a plastic free approach.
Ingredients
- 4–8 oz. filtered or distilled water
- ½–1 tsp. 40–42% urea gel (can substitute vegetable glycerine)
- 10–20 drops preferred essential oil, or 5 drops each if using multiple (lemongrass, citronella or peppermint are great)
- 1 (4–8 oz.) refillable amber glass bottle with a spray nozzle
Directions
- Blend the essential oil(s) with the urea gel (or glycerine).
- Pour into spray bottle.
- Add 1 oz. of water, replace the cap on the bottle and shake vigorously..
- Open the cap on the bottle and fill with remaining water leaving about 1 inch at the top. Place spray nozzle in bottle tightly.
- Store in medicine cabinet.
To Use
Apply on all exposed areas of skin as needed.
Tips for Applying Insect Repellent
No insect repellent is 100% effective, so take extra precautions to avoid bites.
- Apply spray to exposed skin and clothes. If you need both sun and insect protection, the CDC recommends using two separate products and applying sunscreen first and then insect repellent. Natural insect repellents are usually safe to apply everywhere as long as you’ve performed a 24–hour skin patch test first. Before spraying on clothes, test repellents out on a small piece of fabric to make sure they won’t cause damage.
- Leave no exposed skin unsprayed. Mosquitoes and ticks are good at finding unprotected skin. Cover up with pants and long sleeves when possible, especially when you need protection from sun and insects. To protect your face—and to apply repellents to children—first spray your hands, then rub on your face or on your child. A thin film of repellent is sufficient. Wash your hands after applying to avoid getting any repellent in your eyes or mucous membranes.
- Reapply as directed. Reapply after swimming and sweating. Natural insect repellents have a shorter time frame, usually no more than 1–2 hours. A good guideline is to reapply it when you notice mosquitoes are biting again. Natural insect repellents are usually safer to reapply as often as needed.
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Sources:
Avoid Insects and Toxic Chemicals — Bug Repellent | EWG
https://www.ewg.org/areas-focus/personal-care-products/bug-repellent
Protect Yourself From Bug Bites With an Effective Repellent
JUNE 29, 2020