5 Home Remedies To Help You Get Rid of Stink Bugs

Warmer weather brings with it hordes of large brown or green stink bugs crawling all over the place. And if you happen to swat at them or step on them, you’ll quickly discover where they get their name from. These bugs stay below the ground throughout the winter and come out only during springtime. Once they enter your home, they seek out dark places to hide like the attic or inside the wall voids. Their defense mechanism comprises of the foul-smelling chemical that they release when they feel threatened.

The best way of controlling stink bug population in your home is through prevention. A thorough inspection of the exterior of your home, checking all doors and screens for cracks or tears, and using weather stripping to seal all open gaps underneath outside doors should be a good idea. But what to do if they’ve already found a way inside your home? Let’s look at a few natural remedies to get rid of them without raising a stink!

# Remove The Ones You See

When you see a stink bug, remove it carefully by picking it up with a paper napkin or a plastic bag and flushing it down the toilet. You will need to be careful not to squeeze them as they’ll release a foul odor if squeezed. To prevent them from getting wriggly, you can apply some hairspray on them that will stun them and leave them powerless. You will need to shoot them directly from a close range to make sure you are able to pick them up gently with the paper towel.

# Indian Lilac Oil

If you see stink bugs at home and you have a garden, then in all likelihood they would have invaded your garden as well. Using Indian Lilac Oil or Neem Oil will keep them away from your home and garden without harming your plants. Mix two tablespoons of Neem Oil with half a cup of water and pour the mixture in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on window panels, doorways and all your plants, and everywhere you see stink bugs.

# Lemon Juice With Vinegar

Mix an ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice and an ounce of vinegar (any variety) with 6 ounces of water and store the solution in a spray bottle. Shake the contents well and spray the solution onto windows, doorways, walls and other places when you usually find stink bugs. The strong smell of the solution will keep the bugs away.

# DIY Chili Spray

This spray is as deadly against stink bugs as it sounds! To make the spray you’ll need two of the hottest variety of peppers, a clove of garlic and two large onions. Chop up all the vegetables and mix them all together with a quarter of soapy water. Let the mixture sit for 24 hours. Strain it and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. You can use the solution to spray the usual areas that the stink bugs frequent. The solution can be used for up to two weeks if stored well in a dark place.

# Damp Towel

This is a very effective remedy. Hang a damp towel in the garden at night. In the morning, you’ll see many bugs sticking to it. You can put the towel in soap-water solution and pour the water in the drain.