Natural Bee Repellents for Your Home

image-of-the-10-Household-Items-That-Naturally-Repel-Bees

Natural Bee Repellents for Your Home

Bees, especially honeybees, are some of the most important creatures in our ecosystem. As they fly around in search of nectar, they carry around pollen from different plants, allowing them to reproduce. They also prevent inbreeding between different plants, which can be very bad for them. Simply put, they’re crucial to keeping our ecosystems alive and thriving!

Over the recent years, some species of the bee population have been dying out. Many open spaces where bees used to live have been converted to residential areas or urban spaces. This poses a huge threat to the environment, and it’s important we do our best to save the bees.

That’s why many people refrain from exterminating bees as much as possible. They don’t want to harm humans—the only reason they’re around humans often is that a.) they have less areas to live in, and b.) they’re just naturally curious creatures. As long as you leave bees alone, they’ll leave you alone.

Even then, living in harmony with bees can be hard because they can get territorial. They might sting you or your loved ones, and you don’t want that either. Luckily, there are ways to keep them out of your way without harming them—just use any of the listed repellents listed by Orange County bee removal experts below! 

Citronella

You may have already heard of citronella’s prowess at driving away mosquitoes, but did you know they drive away bees too? This option is completely safe for bees and is more of a nuisance than an actual threat.

There are several ways to use citronella. The first is to light citronella candles in places where bees like to gather outdoors. You can also use it inside, but keep in mind that citronella is quite strong and can stick to the fabrics of your clothes and furniture.

You can also grow the plant itself! Citronella grows easily in well-drained soil and well-lit areas of the garden. They’re fairly easy to maintain and will make a lovely addition to any garden.

Muted Colors

This might seem strange to you, but it actually makes sense if you think about it. Bees are attracted to flowers, which are usually brightly colored. That makes bees naturally gravitate toward bright colors. Thus, if you want bees to avoid you and not mistake you for a flower, you have to wear muted colors like gray or black!

Bees also dislike the sight of drab colors because animals that prey on bees are usually this color too. This makes bees avoid them.

Garlic Powder

Well-renowned for its pungent odor, garlic is another natural bee repellent. Garlic powder, in particular, is pretty effective. However, keep in mind that too much garlic powder can actually kill the bees, so use garlic powder only in moderation. Additionally, only sprinkle some garlic powder in places you want bees to avoid, not places where the bees usually hang out.

Essential Oils

Aside from citronella, other plants and their essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus, and lavender are great at repelling bees because of their strong scents. Bees have a much more developed sense of smell than humans do, which is why the smell of these essential oils drives them bonkers. They are harmless to bees, but bees would do anything to avoid the scent of them.

And again, like citronella, there are multiple ways to apply essential oils inside and outside your house. You can make a mixture of essential oils and water and spray it around, grow the actual plants in your garden, or just dab raw essential oils in areas you don’t want them to linger in. Trust us, a little bit goes a long way!

Distilled Vinegar

Vinegar isn’t a pleasant smell for anybody, including bees! It’s so pungent that you won’t even need to spray vinegar anywhere. You can just leave tubs of it in key areas around your garden to keep the bees away from items you use often.

You can also use distilled vinegar as a cleaning agent. Whenever you clean birdhouses, sheds, mailboxes, and birdfeeders, mix a little bit of vinegar into the cleaning solution. That way, the bees will know to avoid it.

Cucumber Peels

If you peel cucumbers and layer them side by side on an aluminum pie dish, it creates a chemical reaction that both bees and wasps absolutely abhor.

According to entomologists, it’s because cucumbers are rich in a chemical called cucurbitacins. These chemicals are bitter to most insects, including bees, which is why they hate the smell and taste of it.

So, why not give it a shot? It’s certainly easy and cheap! You can even sneak in a few bites of cucumber—thankfully, we don’t notice the bitterness of cucurbitacins as much as our flying friends do. What a tasty insect repellent!

Peppermint Oil

The strong and pungent scent of peppermint oil is known to repel bees and other insects. Mix a few drops of peppermint oil with fresh water in a spray bottle and mist areas around your home where bees gather or enter. You can also soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them strategically to deter bees.

Citrus Peels

Like cucumbers, citrus peels emit a scent that bees find unpleasant. Place orange, lemon, or lime peels near windows, doors, or other entry points to discourage bees from entering your home. Refresh the peels regularly to maintain their effectiveness.

Cinnamon Powder

Sprinkling cinnamon powder near beehives or areas where bees are active can deter them from lingering in those areas. Bees dislike the pungent aroma of cinnamon, making it an effective natural repellent.

Clove Oil

Clove oil has a strong scent that bees find unpleasant. Mix a few drops of clove oil with water in a spray bottle and generously spray it around your home’s exterior to deter bees from entering. You can also soak cotton balls or pads in clove oil and place them near entry points.

Lavender

While lavender is attractive to bees when in bloom, the strong scent of dried lavender can deter them from entering your home. Place dried lavender sachets near windows, doors, or other entry points to keep bees at bay.

Conclusion

When using these household items to repel bees, it’s essential to reapply them regularly, especially after rain or when the scent begins to fade. Additionally, if you have a severe bee infestation or are dealing with aggressive bees in Orange County, it’s best to contact a professional beekeeper or pest control expert like The Bee Man for safe removal and management.