How to Make Bug Spray Using Dish Soap & Water

Get rid of garden pests using soap and water.

Aphids, mealy bugs, whiteflies and spider mites are some of the bugs that can possibly be controlled using a diluted solution of soap and water. According to the Colorado State University, soap has been used to control bugs for over 200 years. The ways in which soaps control insects is not thoroughly understood, although one line of thinking is that the soap may remove the wax coating on the body of the bug and cause death through dehydration.

Things You'll Need

• Large container
• Water
• Soap

Instructions

1. Put one gallon of water into a container.

2. Add 5 tbsp. of soap and stir it to mix the two together.

3. Decant the mixture into a spray bottle. Make sure the insects are thoroughly soaked. Spraying the mixture onto the plant alone will not control the bugs. Make sure to spray bugs on both sides of plant leaves.

Tips & Warnings

• Early morning spraying, during cooler temperatures, is the most effective as the soap only works as long as it is wet.

• Some household detergents, such as hand washing or dishwashing soaps, can damage plants and should be used with care. You may wish to experiment by first spraying bugs on a plant that is not too important to you.

• It is possible to buy insecticidal soaps that are made specifically to control bugs. If you find that an ordinary household dish soap is harmful to your plants try an insecticidal soap instead, which is available to buy in most garden centers.

References

• Colorado State University Extension; Insect Control, Soaps and Detergents; W.S. Cranshaw
• University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension; Using Insecticidal Soap in Your Garden; Margaret Hagen