No more stink bugs in the house, 5 natural tips for getting rid of them

If, with the arrival of autumn, you thought you had got rid of the annoying presence of mosquitoes and insects in general, unfortunately you will now have to contend with stink bugs again. The green ones are the familiar Mediterranean bugs, while for some years now you have probably noticed the arrival of their Asian cousins, the brown stink bugs. Particularly harmful to vegetable gardens and crops, and with an extremely unpleasant smell if crushed, the bugs can also sting you! They are not dangerous, but their sting leaves a red, annoying mark which  is enough for many of us to want them out of the house at all costs.

How to get rid of stink bugs using natural remedies

There are various remedies that can help you get rid of stink bugs from your house and garden. If you’re not ready to give yourself up to pesticides, we’ve gathered some natural tips to try and prevent these pesky insects from getting in. Before you give in to the use of toxic products and professional pest control, here are some “do-it-yourself” tips that can help you.

1.   Garlic

Do stink bugs have anything in common with vampires? Maybe, because everyone agrees that in addition to having powerful antibacterial properties, the smell of garlic can keep away many insects. It really does work as an antiparasitic! If you have a vegetable garden or plants that you want to protect from stink bugs, we recommend preparing a very simple garlic decoction and spraying it on the base of the plants in the evening. You can do the same thing with the corners of the windows. A clove of garlic placed in the areas most at risk of the house should easily help keep these annoying insects away.

2.   Mint, lavender and strong fragrances

Apparently, stink bugs are animals with an amazing sense of smell, so spraying or growing aromatic plants with a strong fragrance can be a good antidote against these animals, as well as giving a 100% natural scent to your home . We recommend focusing on mint, lavender and rosemary, but also cinnamon, vanilla and neem oil to mix, perhaps, in a delicious pot pourri to offer a wealth of potential! Speaking of strong smells: a few drops of miraculous tea tree oil is also recommended for putting on your sheets to avoid those annoying bedbugs that love to nestle in the folds of your linen.

3. Marseille Soap

Another natural remedy against stink bugs is Marseille soap: completely dissolve a tablespoon of this soap in water and then put it in a spray bottle. Lightly spray your plants or corners to be treated and you’ll see that the bugs will stay away. Otherwise, to protect your beds, grandma recommends putting soap flakes under the mattress and greasing the legs and bed frame with Vaseline to prevent the bugs from climbing. But do you really feel like going that far?

4.   Fossil flour

Known also as diatomaceous earth, fossil flour is a natural repellent with a strong anti-pesticide power: extracted from rocks formed from sediments of ancient algae dating back millions of years, it is naturally rich in calcium, silicon and aluminum. It can be purchased in many stores selling natural products and it has been proven to keep stink bugs away. Distribute it on doors, windows, but also near the joints of water pipes or cracks in walls and particularly infested areas. Fossil flour can also be used to eliminate cat litter odours and purify our intestinal system, but make sure your pets do not swallow it!

5.   Mosquito nets and fabric softener

Lastly, installing effective mosquito nets is always a good way to get rid of bugs, but if you want to make sure they don’t even come close to your windows, a good method is to rub fabric softener over the nets. We recommend choosing a natural fabric softener that has a strong smell: it will work as a repellent not only for stink bugs but for any type of insect!