Cleaning Sprays

Clean and disinfect your bathroom and kitchen countertops and cabinets, including both the doors and interior spaces — where insects of all kinds like to hide and make a mess — with these wonderfully aromatic, insect-repelling sprays that also aid in preventing mold and mildew. Homemade, multipurpose housekeeping products really stretch your budget — that’s a good thing!

Lemon-Thyme Cleaning Spray

If you love the clean, uplifting scent of lemons, then you’ll like this formula, but the bugs won’t! They especially loathe lemon essential oil.

  • 13⁄4 cups purified water
  • 1⁄4 cup white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons borax
  • 2 teaspoons liquid castile soap, unscented, or peppermint or eucalyptus scented
  • 15 drops lemon essential oil
  • 5 drops thyme essential oil, linalool or thymol chemotype
  • Funnel; 16-ounce spritzer bottle

  1. 1. Add the water, vinegar, and borax to the bottle. Screw the top on the bottle and shake vigorously until the borax is nearly dissolved, which may take a minute or two; then add the liquid soap and essential oils of lemon and thyme. Cap the bottle, and this time shake very gently for about a minute. Allow the spray to synergize for 1 hour.

    Note: You must make this formula exactly as directed; otherwise the soap may not stay in solution and will instead transform into little waxy blobs.

  2. 2. Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year.

Application: Shake gently before each use. Spray generously on countertop and cabinet surfaces and wipe with a damp cloth or sponge. Follow with a dry cloth or towel.

Rosemary-Mint Cleaning Spray

The stimulating blend of rosemary and peppermint essential oils, two plant extracts that are especially unappealing to bugs, will leave your home smelling clean and welcoming to everyone, that is, except pests!

Follow the instructions for Lemon-Thyme Cleaning Spray, substituting these essential oils.

  • 13⁄4 cups purified water
  • 1⁄4 cup white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons borax
  • 2 teaspoons liquid castile soap, peppermint or eucalyptus scented
  • 10 drops peppermint essential oil
  • 10 drops rosemary essential oil
  • 16-ounce spritzer bottle

Got Centipedes in Your Basement?

These many-legged beneficial insects actually prey on the cockroaches, flies, and moths that live in your home, especially in cool basements. So if you find a centipede or two, it indicates that other bugs are about. Time for some good herbal housecleaning!