If you’re growing plants, flowers, or vegetables, it feels really bad when you see them getting damaged or eaten by pests like slugs, aphids, or mealybugs. Most people immediately think about using pest control sprays or chemical repellents to protect their plants, but these are usually expensive and full of harsh chemicals.
Soap can scare and kill garden bugs
Now there’s a new gardening hack going viral that’s super cheap and easy — using a regular bar of soap to keep bugs away from your garden. Yes, the same soap you use to wash your hands or body can actually help protect your plants. It’s something most people already have at home.
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Experts say that soap works really well as a bug repellent because many garden pests hate the smell and feel of the soap. It either kills them on contact or keeps them far away. The way it works is by damaging the outer layer of soft-bodied bugs like aphids and mealybugs. The soap makes them dehydrate and die because they can’t keep moisture inside their bodies.
This trick is much safer than chemical sprays. Soap usually doesn’t hurt your plants, and it’s safer to use around kids and pets — just make sure to check your soap brand for any harmful ingredients first.
To try this trick, you can simply place a bar of lightly scented soap near your garden plants. The smell alone can keep pests away from your plants. Another way to use it is by rubbing a little bit of soapy residue from the bar onto the leaves of your plants. This adds a protective layer that bugs don’t like.
You can also make a simple soap spray
If you prefer spraying instead of using the soap bar directly, you can make your own homemade soap spray using liquid soap and water. Joshua Houston, a pest control expert at Household Quotes, says that soap spray is a great way to stop pests from spreading in your home and garden.
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To make the spray, just mix a spoonful of liquid soap with water in a spray bottle. This easy mix can help treat infestations of whiteflies, beetles, mealybugs, and aphids. The spray works by blocking the breathing pores of the bugs, which suffocates them without needing to use strong chemicals that might harm your garden in the long term.
A good soap to use is the Ivory Gentle Bath Bar Soap (about $6 on Amazon). It’s made with plant-based ingredients and doesn’t have heavy perfumes or harmful stuff, so it’s safe for home and garden use. If you like gardening, it’s also a good idea to wear proper gloves.
One top pick is the G & F 1852-3 Women’s Soft Jersey Garden Gloves (around $9 on Amazon). These are soft, come in 3 colors, and fit small hands really well. So if you’re tired of pests ruining your plants and don’t want to spend money on chemicals, try this simple soap bar trick. It’s going viral because it’s cheap, safe, and actually works.
FAQs
Q1. Does putting a bar of soap in the garden really keep bugs away?
Yes, many gardeners say a scented soap bar helps repel bugs like aphids, slugs, and mealybugs because they hate the smell and residue.
Q2. How do you make soap spray for plants at home?
Mix one spoon of liquid soap with water in a spray bottle to safely kill or repel common garden pests.
