Is White Vinegar a Good Bug Repellent?

White vinegar has many uses around the home.

White and apple cider vinegars have a number of uses around the home, garden and barn, not the least of which is as an all-natural bug repellent that is harmless to humans and animals. Due to its acidic nature, many biting insects like flies, mosquitoes and fleas find it unpleasant to taste or smell. As with any non-toxic treatment, you may find you need to re-apply more often than with its chemical counterparts but this is a small price to pay for peace of mind and a little bug relief.

Pets

Dogs and cats are often plagued by fleas and ticks throughout the warmer seasons, especially if they spend any time out doors. There are a number of recipes for repellents that call for certain essential oils like lemon, rosemary and lavender oil. These oils work well for repelling biting pests and you can be apply them like a spot treatment. In addition to the oils, add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to your pet's water dish. When bathing a pet, rinse its coat with cider vinegar to repel biting insects.

Livestock

Flies and mosquitoes can be a large nuisance around the livestock barn. Being carriers of disease, it is important to control their numbers for health reasons but it is also important to keep horses, cattle and other livestock comfortable and to keep bugs away from them when you have to. Feeding cider vinegar either on food or in the animal's water is the best way to use vinegar to your advantage. The vinegar slightly alters the animals' blood pH, making them less than tasty to hungry insects.

Around the Home

Repel spiders from your home by spraying their webs in the corners of your home with a mixture of white vinegar and coconut oil. This prevents them from returning to their homes, and encourages them to find a place outside the home. When you spot ants, wipe down the areas they are seen with a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water. It erases the scent they lay down to help them find their way back and lead others of their colony into your home.

Outdoors

Pour straight white vinegar around the yard, garden and swimming pool to discourage flies and mosquitoes. Refresh whenever you notice there are an increased number of the pests buzzing around.

References

• PAW; Fleas, Ticks, Mosquitoes-Prevention and Treatment; Robin Tierney; May 2011
• Nature's Natural Healing: Apple Cider Vinegar and White Vinegar Uses
• Health Status: Natural Insect Repellents; May 2009

Resources

• Horse Data: Insect Repellents
• The Herb Companion; Nix the Itch of Summer; Tina Marie Wilcox, et al; June 2006