Repelling roaches is often preferred over killing them, and if you’re interested in using natural methods to keep roaches and other pests away, essential oils are a great way to start.
Essential oils are derived from parts of a plant, and when the oil is extracted it can do some amazing things. Essential oils including eucalyptus oil can eb used to repel roaches because they hate strong smells. Eucalyptus oil is one of the best oils to use to repel roaches because even though it smells great to humans, roaches and other pests despise it.
What is Eucalyptus oil
The eucalyptus tree is native to Australia but is now found everywhere in the world. Also called a gum tree, this is a fast-growing evergreen that is used for its oil, timber, gum, and resin, as well as for ornamental purposes.
This being said, the main reason most people use eucalyptus oil is for medicinal purposes. The oil has been proven to help with colds and coughs, aches and pains, and even to get rid of insects and other pests. Indeed, eucalyptus oil is a multifunctional essential oil that can work wonders in many situations.
When it comes to repelling roaches, eucalyptus oil is extremely efficient. Eucalyptus has a strong scent that roaches detest, thanks to their strong sense of smell.
If eucalyptus oil is used in your home, roaches will react by darting in the opposite direction so they can get as far from your house as possible. And if you think that something as simple as essential oil is unable to repel something as determined as roaches, think again. This type of oil is far more effective than many people realize.
How to use eucalyptus oil to repel roaches
Here are some easy tips to use eucalyptus oil in your home to repel roaches.
1. Use a Spray Made with Water and Eucalyptus Oil
This is perhaps the easiest way to repel roaches with eucalyptus oil. The oil is usually not that expensive, and when you consider how little of it you’ll be using each time you use it, you’ll understand why the price is always considered a good deal.
You’ll start by taking a spray bottle and filling it up about 3/4 full. Then, add 12 to 20 drops of the essential oil and shake the bottle. Next, spray it anywhere near where roaches tend to congregate.
Places you can spray this concoction include your baseboards, in back of your kitchen appliances, any holes in your walls where roaches might enter your house, and even on your kitchen cabinets.
Keep in mind that eucalyptus oil is completely harmless to humans and pets, so even if some of this spray accidentally gets on your food, it won’t be a problem. You’ll know if the mixture will work because if it’s strong enough to catch your attention, it’s going to be too strong for the roaches.
Tips when using eucalyptus oil at home to repel roaches
There are a few tips to remember when using this mixture, and they include:
- Always buy 100% pure essential oils and not blends of oils. This way, the oil is undiluted and you won’t be diluting it too much when you put it in the water.
- Oil and water don’t mix, so before you use this spray every time, make sure you shake the bottle very well.
- As soon as you notice that the smell of eucalyptus doesn’t inundate your home anymore, you’ll need to reapply the mixture. For most people, this means you’ll be reapplying it roughly every 3-4 days.
2. Use a Spray Made with Water, Vinegar and Eucalyptus Oil
For this mixture, the recipe is similar to the one described above, except that instead of water you’ll be using a 2:1 mixture of water to vinegar before adding your eucalyptus oil.
Vinegar is yet another smell that roaches hate, and between that smell and the eucalyptus oil smell, it’s extra effective at getting rid of these pesky bugs.
If you have stubborn roaches or you haven’t had luck with other remedies, this recipe is recommended over the one that uses just water and oil.
3. Use Cotton Balls Soaked in Eucalyptus Oil
This method is a bit more time-consuming than spraying everywhere but it works just as well. You simply take a bunch of cotton balls and soak them with the eucalyptus oil, then wring out the excess oil.
Afterwards, place the cotton balls in the places where roaches tend to gather, including behind your kitchen cabinets and tucked into any cracks and crevices you might find in each room. You can even leave some of them around your baseboards as well.
If you’re curious about when to respray your home or replace your cotton balls, there’s an easy way to decide: simply respray or replace the cotton balls whenever you no longer smell the eucalyptus oil.
Remember, it is this smell that repels the roaches, so if the smell isn’t there or it isn’t strong enough, the roaches will just remain in your home, and that’s not what you want.
You’ll have to pay attention to the smell in your home and decide for yourself when to respray or replace. Each home will be a little different, but you’ll likely be doing this every 3-7 days.
Conclusion
There are many natural ways to repel cockroaches, including essential oils such as eucalyptus. Essential oils repel roaches because roaches hate strong smells, and they will run as fast as they can in the opposite direction when they smell it. In short, roaches want to be out of your home quickly as soon as they smell a scent such as this one, which means they’ll soon be out of your way for good.
Repelling roaches and other pests isn’t difficult, but keep in mind that some of them are more stubborn than others, so if the eucalyptus oil doesn’t work, you can try oils such as tea tree, lemon, lavender, peppermint, and citrus, among others.
I am an accredited practicing dietitian, experienced gardener and a dedicated cook. I love writing and sharing my experience so you can learn from my successes and mistakes.