Say Goodbye To Stink Bugs With This Easy And Powerful DIY Repellent

Stink bugs might not be able to sting a person, but that still doesn't make them ideal houseguests. In fact, they produce a liquid pheromone that not only smells terrible (like rotting fruit) but can also cause people to have allergic reactions like itchy, watery eyes, stuffy nose, a wheezing cough, and more. However, an essential oil or two is all it takes to repel these unattractive little guys away from your home. 

Stink bugs have turned into quite the problem for farmers in the United States, as the invasive pest loves to nosh on a variety of crops and pretty much ruin them. Because of this, homes near farms are at greater risk for stink bugs to show up uninvited. The smartest thing to do if you know that stink bugs are hanging around is to keep doors and windows firmly shut so that they don't wander in. Ideally, couple those preventative measures with a DIY stink bug repellant, which can be easily and affordably made — and has the added benefit of keeping your home smelling fresh.

The great news for fans of essential oils is that many of those tested are adept at repelling stink bug nymphs and adults alike. The best essential oils for stink bug prevention, according to a study published in the Journal of Applied Entomology,  include lemongrass, spearmint, clove, and ylang-ylang. Additionally, an oil mixture composed of spearmint, clove, and lemongrass was also extremely effective, preventing almost all stink bugs from finding bug-attractant stations. While less effective, you can also try pennyroyal, rosemary, wintergreen, and geranium oils in your anti-stink bug potion.

So, how are you to use these essential oils to keep stink bugs from coming inside and setting up shop? If you know that they come into your home from one or a few certain access points, simply soak some cotton balls in the oil and place them in those locations. Or, make your own essential oil spray and spritz the likely entry points regularly to keep these bugs at bay. Lastly, place essential oil diffusers strategically near exit points and run them periodically. If you follow one or all of these tips, the house should remain free of these bugs — and their stink.