Why You Should Consider Using This Natural Pest Control Solution In Your Home

While the warmer months are blissful times of outdoor play for us humans, our buggy counterparts definitely like to take advantage of the warm weather too. And nothing puts a damper, or shall we say a stink, on outdoor plans more than having to use chemical-heavy insect repellents that just wreak of DEET. The interior of the home isn't spared from the bug influx either, and it's a shame when your freshly-cleaned house is invaded by a cloud of pesticides after an infestation. However, there is a way to spare our nostrils from inhaling those less-than-fragrant fumes and to keep unwanted house guests from coming in the first place — utilizing essential oils, namely cedar oil. Cedar oil is one of nature's greatest weapons against pests, both big and small, and offers a natural alternative for pest control in and around your home.

Cedar oil organically controls insect populations, proving lethal to some bug species and serving as a deterrent for others. Using a DIY solution, not unlike the homemade insect repellents that ward off mosquitos, you can reap the benefits of a natural insect warrior. Understanding how this seemingly miracle oil works, you can utilize cedar oil's properties to keep your home bug and pest-free. 

Cedar oil is derived from coniferous trees, and its aromatic fragrance is a natural repellant against pests. Even more so, the oil itself chemically reacts in a variety of ways with different insect species, making it both a bug deterrent as well as a natural pesticide for some infestations. At its most effective, when cedar oil comes into contact with an insect's body, it dehydrates the insect, interrupts pheromone receptors, and disrupts key body functions like breathing, exterminating the critters upon contact. Spraying oil directly onto eggs and larvae also functionally kills the pests by enzymatically dissolving them as well.

As a deterrent, cedar oil is particularly effective at defending against termites and staving off wood-rot from factors like wood-decay fungus. Experts suggest that termites don't really like the taste of cedar oil, so spraying it on wood around your house may cut off any termites' food source and starve them. Experiments against wood-rot using cedar oil also proved successful as well, meaning that this magic oil can be a solution for all different kinds of pests that are both fauna and flora.

Cedar oil is most effective against insects like ticks, fleas, mosquitos, and houseflies, and a primary method of using cedar oil is as a natural bug repellent against those varieties. Mixing 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of neem oil with four fluid ounces of witch hazel in a spray bottle, add 50 drops of cedar oil into the solution before you shake it all together. While this mixture is best used on your body and clothes, a diluted solution of water and cedar oil is most optimal to use as a pesticide. Mix 26 fluid ounces of water with 4 ounces of cedar oil for a spray that you can use directly on insects to exterminate them. It's also possible to use cedar oil to stop fleas from invading your home, but be sure to consult with your veterinarian before taking that step with your pets.

The power of cedar oil doesn't stop at pest control, and there are so many other ways you can use cedarwood essential oil in your home. It just goes to show that there are plenty of non-toxic, chemical-free ways to combat dirt, or in this case bugs, in the house. Cedar oil is a multi-faceted, natural pest control agent that'll help you keep all sorts of unwanted buggy house guests away from you, your home, and your family.