For people regularly moving around and working in forests and gardens getting attacked by ticks is the most common thing that can happen. Ticks are the tiny members of arachnid and they stick themselves to humans and animals without getting noticed. They cause various diseases like Lyme diseases, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever etc.
While there are several artificial repellents sold in the market to remove ticks, but they might be very harmful to health and may not work efficiently on ticks. So, to avoid contact with chemicals everyday it’s better to use natural tick repellents. Natural tick repellents are the best things these days to avoid the infections caused by ticks as well as by the harmful chemicals used for manufacturing tick repellents. They are a much better and economically viable option for fighting against ticks and can be used by both humans and animals.
Here are some of the most easiest and effective natural tick repellent recipes for you and your pets-
10. Geranium oil-
Geranium oil is one of the most popular and best tick repellents.
Ingredients-
Vegetable oil/almond oil, geranium oil and aloe vera gel.
Recipe-
-Take a small bowl and put 4 tbsp. vegetable oil in it (you can also use almond oil).
-Then add 2 tbsp. aloe vera gel and some drops of geranium oil.
-Mix all these oils well and rub it in your skin after the mixture is prepared. This mixture can also be used for dogs.
9. Cinnamon Oil-
Cinnamon oil is the most useful ingredient in getting rid from ticks. It works as a shield against ticks.
Ingredients-
Cinnamon oil and water.
Recipe-
-Cinnamon oil can be directly applied to the skin.
-You can also prepare a mixture of cinnamon oil and water.
-Take a hose sprayer and put around 70-80 drops of cinnamon oil in it along with one ounce of water.
-Shake the mixture well and it is ready for use.
8. Apple Cider Vinegar Repellent-
Apple cider vinegar can be a beneficial remedy for removing ticks. Preparing a simple spray is all that you need to keep those tiny creatures away from your body.
Ingredients-
Apple Cider Vinegar, warm water, salt and baking soda.
Recipe-
-Take some apple cider vinegar in a bowl.
-Add some warm water to it and stir this mixture well.
-Then add half tsp. of salt and baking soda to this solution.
-Lavender oil and neem oil can also be used with apple cider vinegar. The repellent is ready and you can put this into a bottle and use it on your skin directly.
-This repellent can also be applied to dogs.
7. Neem oil–
Neem oil is the most effective tick repellent for both humans and animals. One should keep in mind that if you use neem oil to prepare a repellent then it should be used as quickly as possible as neem oil might lose its power to kill the ticks. Neem oil is best known for its anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties and helps to remove disease causing ticks easily.
Ingredients-
Warm water, neem oil, a mild detergent.
Recipe-
-Neem oil can be directly used on the body to fight with ticks. To make the repellent more strong you can use detergent or soap.
-Take 2 ml of mild detergent and mix it with some warm water.
-Add 4-5 ml neem oil in it and shake this mixture well.
-Put this mixture in a spray bottle and it is ready to use. This repellent can be applied to both humans and animals.
6. Aromatherapy Oil repellent-
Aromatherapy oils are a natural repellent to ticks. These include lavender oil, lemon oil, cedar oil, pennyroyal oil etc.
Ingredients-
Lavender oil, lemon oil, cedar oil, pennyroyal oil, lemongrass oil, almond oil.
Recipe-
-Take small amounts of any three oils which are mentioned above. And prepare a mixture.
-Now add some almond oil to this mixture of oils and stir properly.
-Applying this mixture on your skin will help to remove ticks.
-For pets you can either apply the oil directly or soak a cloth in it and wrap your pet with the cloth.
5. Citrus repellent-
Citrus is found in oranges and lemon and all you need to do is to prepare a natural repellent oil from these citrus fruits. Ticks do not like citrus fruits so you can make a citrus tick repellent.
Ingredients-
Peels of lemon/ orange, lemon/ orange juice, water, lemon grass oil.
Recipe-
-Take lemon or orange and peel off their skin. Now boil the peels for some time.
-Let it cool down naturally and apply it directly on the affected area of pets.
-Lemon or orange juice can also be used to prepare a repellent. Add some lemon juice in a cup of water and boil it.
-Now add 5-10 drops of lemongrass oil in the mixture and shake it well.
-After the mixture gets cooled, you can shake it and apply it gently.
4. Eucalyptus Oil-
Eucalyptus oil is another ingredient which is very effective against ticks.
Ingredients-
Leaves of eucalyptus tree, water, eucalyptus oil.
Recipe-
-Take around 10-15 eucalyptus leaves and boil it in water.
-After boiling it for 10 minutes, cool down the mixture.
-Now strain the mixture in a spray bottle.
-Another way of using eucalyptus is to directly add distilled water in a spray bottle along with 10-15 drops of eucalyptus oil in it.
-Shake the mixture well before use.
3. Witch Hazel-
Witch hazel is a natural tick repellent. Instead of using alcohol on pet, use witch hazel.
Ingredients-
Witch hazel, lemon eucalyptus oil, water, vegetable glycerine, oil.
Recipe-
-Take witch hazel and lemon eucalyptus oil and mix them together.
-Stir the mixture well and remember that witch hazel should be more in quantity than the eucalyptus oil.
-the repellent can also be prepared by pouring 5 ounce of distilled water in the spray bottle.
-Then add ½ tsp. vegetable glycerine to it. Finally add witch hazel.
2. Clove Repellent-
Cloves have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which makes it act as a repellent against ticks.
Ingredients-
Clove extracts, peppermint oil and water.
Recipe-
-Clove oil can be rubbed to your pet’s body.
-In order to prepare a spray take some clove extracts.
-Mix it with peppermint oil and water.
1. Tea Tree Oil-
The medicinal properties of tea tree oil help in killing ticks feeding on humans as well as animals. Tea tree oil can be used in different ways to kill ticks.
Ingredients-
Tea tree oil and water.
Recipe-
-To make a tea tree oil tick repellent simply mix tea tree oil with water.
-Make sure that the water is more than the oil because tea tree oil is quite powerful.
-Put the solution in a spray bottle and gently spray it on your body.
-Tea tree oil can be also mixed with your pet’s shampoo for removing ticks.
Ticks are most active in warm weather and therefore it becomes extremely important to take preventive measures for ticks. Natural tick repellents will definitely help to protect you and your pets from ticks. People usually do not feel any pain while attacked by ticks but they can cause various diseases. Some of the basic signs and symptoms of tick bites are itching, swelling, redness, numbness, fever, headache etc. So it is crucial to look for ticks on your body or your pet’s body after you return from forests or gardens.