Essential oils can be used for so many things around the house, including bug control. During the spring, we usually have a major ant invasion. But not this year.

Essential Oil for Pests

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Although I have no proof, I like to think it’s because I periodically wipe down my counter with peppermint essential oil. All I do is place a few drops on a wet kitchen sponge before I clean the crumbs off my counter.

Even my husband has noticed that the ants now seem to stay away. I’m so happy, since one of the last things I’d want to do is use a potentially toxic chemical insecticide. Fortunately, we don’t need to. Natural plant-based aromatics seem to do such a good job that we use them for all of our pest control needs.

Does Peppermint Oil Kill Roaches?

Insects and rodents apparently hate the smells of certain essential oils, most notably peppermint oil. This oil is widely recommended as a natural way to keep ants and roaches, as well as mice out of your house.

A growing number of homeowners (myself included) are now relying upon aromatic extracts, instead of using synthetic bug spray or hiring an exterminator. There’s even some scientific evidence to support this practice. (I have a link to a study at the end of this article, which shows that a diluted peppermint oil mixture does indeed kill roaches on contact.)

Does Peppermint Oil Repel Roaches?

This study from the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University in Alabama found that mint oil killed roaches. The authors concluded this aromatic could provide “another integrated pest management tool for cockroach management.”

Essential Oil For Roaches

So, if you have a roach problem, you may want to consider using peppermint oil as part of your strategy to combat these beasts. Roaches can be attacked from a number of angles. One is not granting them any access to food. You may want to store you cereals and grains in a tightly sealed plastic bin. Also, don’t forget about the dog food. At night, make sure not to leave any unconsumed kibble in your pet’s bowl.

You can also use non-toxic boric acid in corners and cracks where roaches are seen. Make it more difficult for roaches to enter your house by repairing little cracks, and fixing any holes in the screens that cover your windows.

Essential Oils For Roaches

We’ve also battled a mouse problem. Peppermint oil was one of our weapons. (Mice also hate fir oil, and we used this as well.)

Luckily, for us, essential oils are powerful enough so that we don’t have to use chemical insecticides. Actually, we don’t even own any of these toxic concoctions and I don’t plan to buy any ever again. Although I can’t promise that peppermint or any other aromatic will solve your pest problems, they do work for us.

Even our dog benefits from natural flea control. We use a drop of geranium essential oil on his collar (not his fur) during the summer. Chemical flea products have the well-documented potential to injure or kill your pets. Over a five-year period, a certain type of chemical flea treatment caused at least 1,600 animal deaths, according to the Center For Public Integrity.

Peppermint Oil To Repel Roaches

The brand of peppermint oil we use for pest control is made by Now Foods. I chose this because it’s not an MLM oil. I’m absolutely convinced you don’t need a multilevel marketing label for this purpose. Also, this oil comes in a fairly large bottle. So I’m not afraid to use it liberally, when needed. It’s made by a trusted American company called Now Foods. On its website, it says that its essential oils are from plants “grown free of pesticides, synthetic fertilizer and herbicide residue.

Using Peppermint Oil For Roaches

(On this site, I like to offer my readers tips on living a toxic-free lifestyle. I also like to provide lots of information on how to make this doable.)

Now sells both regular and USDA certified organic peppermint oil. This is one of the brands I definitely feel comfortable recommending if you have a pest problem, since it’s the one I use myself. On the left is the regular peppermint essential oil, which I use for controlling ants and mice. On the right is Now organic peppermint oil.

Now Foods Peppermint OilNow Organic Peppermint Oil

Peppermint Oil Roach Control

To deter mice, I put a few drops of peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball. Then, I place it in areas where rodents are likely to go. You can also do this for roaches. For ants, as I mentioned earlier, I put some peppermint oil to my kitchen sponge. (If have glossy counter tops, do a test first, in a small area, to make sure this won’t damage the finish.)

Peppermint Spray for Roaches

Or, you can make a non-toxic roach spray using peppermint oil. For this you will need:

An Empty Glass Spray Bottle. If you don’t already own one, you can probably find one at a discount store, or you can order it here.

Peppermint Essential Oil. If you don’t already own this aromatic, you can order it here.

Fill the bottle nearly to the top with water and add 20 drops of peppermint oil to each cup of water. For added punch, you can also add 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar. (Don’t use apple cider, which may not deter roaches. Also, don’t spray vinegar on or near garden or household plants.)

How Long Does It Take Peppermint Oil to Kill a Roach

I have no personal experience with spraying peppermint essential oil directly on roaches. Cockroaches are notorious for hiding. So you may never (or very rarely) see them even if you have an infestation. The study I cited above showed that it took less two minutes for the roaches to die after they were sprayed with a 4 percent solution. So I imagine death would be swift if the spray was applied directly.

However, realistically, you’re not going to see these invaders. But if you do, reach for your peppermint spray bottle.

So you should think of using peppermint oil as more of a deterrence. You may want to frequently apply a peppermint essential oil spray in corners of your home where you think roaches might be living. Also, you can rest assured that roaches and other pests find peppermint oil absolutely noxious.

Roaches and Peppermint

I’m so happy to have discovered peppermint essential oil, because of it’s many uses, including natural pest control. I hope you enjoy using this natural plant-based extract as much as I do.

Disclaimer

These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.

For More Reading

Roach and Mint Oil Research