Insecticidal Oil Recipe

Effective insecticide can be made at home, using all-natural ingredients. This means it is safe for everyday household use, even around babies and children. Homemade insecticide oil is less expensive to make than buying commercially available solutions, yet is just as good as ridding your home or garden of unwanted pests.

Items Needed:

• Cooking oil


• Liquid soap


• Water


• Spray bottle


• Mason jar


• Neem oil


• Garlic


• Cayenne pepper

1. Pour 1 cup of cooking oil into a mason jar. This can be corn, vegetable, olive or any other oil that can be found in the cooking aisle of the grocery store. Oil coats insects and makes it difficult for them to move or breathe.


2. Measure out 1 tablespoon of liquid non-detergent soap, and pour it in the oil. Body wash or soap flakes work well. Ivory brand soap is popular for making insecticide oil. The soap breaks down the cellular membrane of the insect, causing it to “leak” fluid. This dehydrates and kills it.


3. Add about one teaspoon of garlic to the jar. Garlic is toxic and repellant to insects.


4. Add a dash of cayenne pepper to the mixture. The smell and heat of the cayenne pepper act as a natural insecticide and drive away pests.


5. Add neem oil if desired. Neem oil is a natural insect repellant. It is generally used to keep insects from attacking plants. It is not potent enough to kill insects on the spot. If you decide to use neem oil, add 1 or 2 teaspoons to the mix.


6. Close the lid tightly and shake well to mix all the ingredients together.


7. Use a funnel to pour the mixture into a large spray bottle.


8. Fill the spray bottle with water. It is now ready to use as an insecticide. Use the bottle within eight or 10 hours. The ingredients tend to lose potency after this time. It is a good idea to mix a new batch each time it is needed to ensure it is killing the insects.