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Just a few weeks ago they found ticks in our state that carry the Powassan virus, which is worse than Lyme disease…..as if I wasn’t already scared enough of ticks because of Lyme disease! Lyme disease was first discovered in the town Lyme, Connecticut. I know many people in my state have been infected by Lyme disease. So, ticks are a big concern here. I try to do everything I can to avoid ticks as much as possible and that includes using this natural homemade tick repellent spray.
I’ve been researching everything about what can repel ticks and is safe to use, without the concern of using toxic chemicals. So, I found a list of essential oils that are most effective in repelling ticks and I combined the top four to make a homemade tick repellent I could easily spray on my clothes to keep ticks away.
Ticks are so scary! It’s easy to opt for buying chemical repellents like permethrin. But, this mixture using potent essential oils can also be effective at keeping them away from you!
In addition to using this homemade tick repellent spray for myself, I use natural methods to repel ticks from my dog too.
Most Dangerous Areas for Ticks:
Many ticks are found in wooded areas, tall grass, shrubs, and even in your lawn. Ticks like to hide in places, that have significant moisture and are out of direct sunlight. Trying to avoid these places can help prevent tick bites. Many also recommend putting cedarwood chips down around all areas in your yard that you want to keep tick free. The cedar helps keep ticks away. Another great way to keep ticks out of your yard, is to have chickens, they eat many every day!
Some people seem to be more susceptible to attracting ticks, just like mosquitoes, and I think I happen to be one of these people. I have family members that go out in the woods and never get a tick, but I just go out in my backyard and find one walking on my clothing. Some hypothesize that it’s due to your scent. If you’re sweating more, emit more ammonia, or breathe more heavily with higher amounts of carbon dioxide, you may attract more ticks. Some people also emit more chemicals than others and this makes them more like a tick magnet than others. Other influencing factors are; your age, sex, certain times during a menstrual cycle, and the amount of bacterial flora on the skin.
How this Homemade Tick Repellent Mixture Repels Ticks
Ticks are attracted to human and animal scents so by masking the scent we naturally give off and using essential oils with strong scents this can deter ticks and is one of the best ways to keep them from coming on to you or your clothing.
The most important ingredients in this homemade tick repellent are the rose geranium oil and cedar wood oil. These two oils are the most effective in repelling ticks.
How to Make a Homemade Tick Repellent Spray for Clothes:
You could also use this repellent to spray on your skin, such as feet and legs, but when I do this, I cut the amounts for the essential oils listed below in half. That way it is less potent and easier on your skin.
What you need:
–Spray bottle
-About a cup of water
-10 drops rose geranium oil
-5 drops cedarwood oil
-2 to 3 drops lavender oil
-2 to 3 drops lemongrass oil
*The most important ingredients to repel the ticks are rose geranium and cedarwood, so if you don’t have lavender or lemongrass, you can skip those oils.
Directions:
1. Fill your spray bottle with water. If you have a smaller spray bottle, like a travel size, just cut the amounts in half.
2. Add the essential oils, put the top on the bottle and shake. It’s ready to use.
To Apply It: Just shake the bottle before each use and spray it on your clothes and shoes. The scent will keep ticks away.
**Spray the homemade tick repellent on your clothes each time you go out in any areas that may have ticks.
Do you have to worry about ticks where you live?
Hi I live in North devon,UK and this year I’ve found 2 ticks on myself but A and E said 30 people were bitten last year but none got Limes. My poor flatcoat retriever, tho, is always getting them and so is this recipe safe if he licks his fur?
I spray this mixture on my dog every day most of the year because our ticks are so bad around here. He licks himself once in awhile and we’ve never had a problem.
I live in upstate NY had a few ticks on me. My doctor said not to worry if they haven’t been on you for 48 hours. To remove ticks on skin buy the little L shaped fork devise from drug store and twist while pulling it out to get entire tick. I had a tick on me last year and developed a slight constant headache,memory loss , stuttering,and inverting words in a sentence. I showed negative for Lyme disease but Dr. Gave me antibiotics and in 3 days symptoms went away
Glad to hear your symptoms went away! Anytime a tick is on me at all, even for just hours, I take the tick tested.
there is a new tick disease which cause the symptoms that you mentioned. It is called babesiosis and attacks the red blood cells.
i was hospitalized with it for 8 days. It was not easy to deal with.
All the diseases they carry are so scary! Hope you are all better now!
awesome! I make my own as well, but never thought to use acv! I use lemongrass, peppermint, citronella, witch hazel and water. Have fun!
Need receipe to spray on my shih tzu mickie. 21 pounds, 12 yrs old
I’ve been using it on my lhasa apso
Why is water bad with these oils?
Rob, oil and water don’t mix. You can add witch hazel along with the oils and water. It will help blend it. I’ve also heard vinegar or vodka work too.
Can I use this spray on my kids. They are ages 9,7,5,2, 2 months?
We mostly spray it on clothing and shoes 🙂
Can I use a regular geranium oil instead of rise germanium, it’s not Available here ? Would that work ?
Yes.
What do you think about tick repellant belts for dogs? Is there anything like that?
I’ve never heard of a tick repellent belt. Is that new? Is it natural? I’ll look it up now 🙂
For tick control in your yard, and many other critters: https://www.diatomaceousearth.com/natural-tick-control-yard/
Do you have a recipe that can be put on your lawn….& safe for pets, as they do sniff the grass & children/adults walk on grass barefoot….thanks
I wish I did! I wonder if someone has one.
Diatomaceous earth spread all over lawn is supposed to help.
Yes, DE DOES work and is safe for pets. Hope this helps!
I cringe when I think about Lori getting bit by a tick. Me n a buddy just had about 5 ticks on us walking from the truck to the house. I had 93 ticks on me from an hour walk last year. They are nasty! I’m going to try Lynnette’s recipe and the baking soda and see how much sanity I retain over a month.
Oh my gosh, 93 ticks?!! Hope the recipe works for you!
Hi… is this ok to spray on a dog directly? How much should I cut back? What brand of oils do you use? Or does it not matter?? Would it be safe to spray on the kids clothes as well?? I’m assuming it’s safe while pregnant too? Also, can you spray it on the couch and stuff as well? Sorry so many questions!!
Thanks in advance to your response!!
Hello Kimberley
I actually live in Australia and use this spray all the time. It’s brilliant!
My state doesn’t have ticks so that’s a bonus. Firstly, this shouldn’t be sprayed on cats as the rise geranium I have read can be toxic. Kids’ clothes all good but don’t get near their faces. Pregnancy I would google oils safe during as I know you can’t use lavender in a certain trimester so just be sure. Watch oils if you have leather couch but any cloth near edges is fine. Curtains also. My dad thinks he has fleas all the time and has had his house fumigated three times with that toxic stuff. Made him up the spray and he wants me to make more. Think it’s in his head about fleas though coz he’s got old skin and it just needs moisturising lol.
All the best and I hope it’s been of help.
Di
I spray it on my dog, I just cut the amounts for the essential oils in half since it may get on their skin as well as their hair. We spray it on our kids clothes. Hope this helps.
Do you recommend using purified water?
If you have it, that would be great. Otherwise, you can use tap water.
Hi! Love the recipe, thanks. 🙂 I’m new to oils, and I was Just wondering if you knew how long it’s good for once the oils are mixed. Thanks!
Since there’s water mixed in it. I probably wouldn’t keep it over a week unless you refrigerate it.
this great information as well, love your blog!
can you post or send my your resources – where you found your information. Thank you!
Is this safe to use during pregnancy?
I would think so because I just apply it to clothing. I would check with your doctor to be sure though 🙂
This won’t work for me nor anyone else who is also allergic to scents….. 🙁
Scents do not equal esential oils.
Please notify me of follow up TU
Thank you for this recipe! I have been using citronella, cedar, lemongrass and eucalyptus for mosquitos. I will add rose geranium. My recipe is 1/2 Cup witchazel 1/2 cup water and 9 drops of each oil. It works like magic here in Florida.
Thanks for sharing your recipe! Glad to hear it works 🙂 I always get bite up like crazy by mosquitoes in the summer so I’ll have to try it.
I use vinegar instead of water. I have had great success for ticks and mosquitoes.
Can you use this in the house. will it help in the house
What is your complete receipe for the tick/mosquito spray please?
Hi Lori
I absolutely love your website. Just saw the article on homemade tick spray. I live in Melbourne, Australia and thankfully, ticks don’t seem to be in our state.
I would like to know though, if it’s good for ticks then it must be good for fleas so can I spray my dogs with it. I have all these oils
Look forward to your reply
Blessings
Di
Use (preferably Arm & Hammer) baking soda to get rid of fleas. The components in baking soda block the airways on hard-shelled insects, which breathe through their skin. Baking soda suffocates ticks and other hard shelled insects in a short time. Safe around pets and children, too.
How do I use the baking soda we been having a tick problem for the past 2 years they come out when it rains around this time of year I hate it
For ticks?? Or fleas??
So glad you enjoy the site! You’re so lucky you don’t have ticks in you state! It should work great for repelling fleas too. To apply it to your pet, I think I would cut down the amounts maybe by half since it may touch their skin directly.
Water and oil never mix. Must use a carrier oil when using any pure essential oils. Make sure you are not use cheep scythe ones.
I use rose geranium on my dogs and cat, but my cat HATES it. Any suggestions?
I’m not sure if rose geranium should be used on cats. I’ve found some that recommend it and some that say it’s harmful for cats…still trying to find more information on it.
What’s dog safe? I got rose geranium and then realized not pet safe.
Cedarwood oil is great for repelling ticks for dogs.
You shoul never use oils on pets. They can be harmful to them. Hydrosoal in peppermint is good but does not last gor long.
Never use oils om pets. They can be harmful to them
Try a hydrosoal om them like peppermint . But even then it will not last long.
Get rid of the cat
Cedarwood and Lemongrass is smaller quantities are supposed to be cat safe.