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What are water bugs?
Water bugs are the insects that belong to the order Hemiptera. By their appearance, they look more like the household cockroaches but are entirely different bugs. They are aquatic organisms which inhabit in the areas which are swampy or are surrounded by water. They possess the aquatic habits. Hence they are known as ‘True Water Bugs.’ Unlike roaches, water bugs bites and their bites are painful for human and for the other animals. Many commercial and homemade repellents can fix the issue of water bugs present in an area.
The best way to protect ones home from these nasty insects is to keep it clean and dry. Try to avoid spilling things on the table or the floor. Mopping the floor is necessarily important to prevent the water bugs from inhibiting. Wiping off any extra excessive water in the bathroom or fixing the leaking sanitary can also help in solving this issue. Same as water bugs resemble cockroaches physically; they are also similar to them in their habit that is they are attracted to food and water. Below, in this article, you will learn about the homemade DIYs that can make things better for you if you or anyone you know is dealing with the issue of water bugs.
Why should we use homemade repellents?
Water bugs can be killed or can be made to go away by using both the home made remedies or by commercial products available in the market. Many insect repellent sprays are available in the markets. A point that makes the commercial bug repellents quite unsafe are the ingredients used in making them. They can be pretty effective in killing the bugs but might cause harm to the humans or pets.
Using homemade repellents may require a bit of hard work, but you can use them carefree. The reason is that you very well know their constituents and you have the knowledge about the ingredients that are used in the production. The homemade repellents are unlike the commercial repellents as the commercial repellents may sometimes have a gross smell that is quite annoying sometimes. You never know about the ingredients that are present in the commercial repellents that can cause an allergic reaction to any of your family members whereas in the homemade insect repellents, you can only use the products you are aware of that will not harm or cause any allergic reaction to any of your family members.
Another benefit of homemade repellents is that they do not contain the toxic DEET. This chemical is used in almost all the commercial repellents as this chemical kills the wide range of insects and bugs. People with the sensitive skin or the people who show the allergic reactions quite fast are the ones who are benefitted the most from the natural homemade insect repellents. Natural products and ingredients do not react on to the sensitive skin whereas the harsh chemicals can cause damage to the skin. Most of the time the natural insect repellents works more fast and better than the commercial repellents, so the use of homemade bug repellents is much better, safe and convenient for most of the people.
Best homemade repellents
We have sorted out five best homemade bug repellents that are used in killing the water bugs and preventing them from spreading. Below are these easy homemade remedies that can help you get rid of the water bugs. Using both the commercial and homemade repellents are fine, but the home made ones are considered more effective and active against the water bugs and are safe to use as well. By using simple ingredients and products that are available easily In our kitchen, we can make these water bugs go away and leave our house neat and bug-free. Given below, are some homemade repellents that are non-toxic, safe for children, pets and pregnant woman.
1. Homemade bug spray
This repellent only requires vinegar as its active ingredient. Vinegar is a natural insect repellent that kills the water bugs and the bacteria produced by it.
What you will need：
- Apple cider vinegar
- Spray bottle.
Method：
Fill up the spray bottle with the apple cider vinegar. Add in some water (optional).Spray it on the walls and all over the house. Repeat this process twice a day, and you will notice the difference.
2. Homemade powdered repellent
This repellent Is reported to be very effective for the water bugs. Its active ingredients include ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper powder.
What you will need：
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Cayenne pepper powder
- Jar
Method：
Grab all these ingredients mentioned above. They are easily available in the grocery stores and supermarkets. Mix all of them together and sprinkle it on the areas where the water bugs are present. You will notice the decrement in their quantity and their population.
3. Homemade oil repellent
This repellent requires the essential oils of mint, tea, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, clove, and eucalyptus. It has all the essential oils whose smell annoys the water bugs and will inevitably force them to leave your house in no time.
What you will need:
- Essential oils.
- Vinegar
- Spray bottle.
Method:
Mix the essential oils and the vinegar in the spray bottle and keep it aside for some time. Before spraying, shake the spray bottle nicely so that the oil gets merged with the vinegar and the repellent is sprayed evenly.
4. Homemade bug bait
We can create bug baits. Bug baits can help in reducing the number of water bugs in our houses. There are many kinds of bug baits, the method of creating one of them is mentioned below.
- Sticky paste on paper
What you will need:
- Old paper bags.
- Sugar
- Corn syrup
- Water
Method:
Mix the sugar, water and corn syrup and make the paste out of it. When it cools down, spread the paste on the paper bag and hang it or place it anywhere you want. The insects including water bugs will get pleased by the scent and will stick to the paper.
5. Homemade bug blend repellent:
This repellent includes alcohol. Alcohol has the dehydrating element, that is if it is sprayed over the bugs, the bugs and their eggs will dry up, and the insects or bugs may die as well. Even after the bugs are dead, yet, spray some more of this repellent on its eggs.
What you will need:
- Alcohol/vodka.
- Spray bottle.
- Water
Method:
Add the alcohol in the spray bottle. Now add some water to dilute it. Mix them together finely and spray it all over the area. This method can be used one time each day to eradicate the water bugs.
Are these bugs repellent remedies safe?
Yes, these DIYs are safe and can be used carefree as they do not have any toxins that could harm anyone in any way including the pets and the humans themselves. All of the sprays or powders mentioned above are free of toxic chemicals and their reactions to skin and human or animal body. All of these remedies include the products and ingredients that are usually found in every kitchen.
1. Safe for kids
The remedies mentioned above are of course safe for the children as all the ingredients used are safe and are easy to use. Even if the child touches the solution, it will not harm them in any way.
2. Safe for pets
As mentioned above the remedies are safe for pets as well. All the ingredients are natural and are organic which proves itself to be safe for pets too. There are no toxins used that could harm any pets or human beings.
3. Safe for pregnant woman
Expectant mothers can also use these DIYs in their house. There are no issues if the pregnant woman is present in the area where these DIYs are used.
Conclusion
Water bugs start causing trouble to the people when they bite them. Their bites are painful and may require the consultation of the doctors. In order to save one from these water, bug bites many commercial and homemade products are used to eliminate the presence of the water bugs. Many safe ingredients are available in our kitchen itself that could be used to make the sprays that can make the water bugs stay away from your house.
All of the remedies mentioned above are free from chemical toxins and easy and safe to use by everyone. Even the houses with pets and children can make use of these remedies as they are 100% safe and cause no harm. These products do not cause allergy unless any of the family members are allergic to one of the ingredients used in the remedy. Use of natural products is considered much better than using the commercial repellents.