Chewed leaves, slime trails, and clusters of tiny pests can wreck a perfectly good garden bed in a hurry. This homemade garlic pest spray gives you a simple way to mix up a small batch and target problem spots before they turn into a bigger mess. It is quick to make, easy to strain, and yes, it smells exactly like you think it does (the bugs will not be writing a complaint letter).
Making your own costs less than buying a ready-to-use garden pest spray in many cases. A small homemade batch like this comes out to roughly $1.60 to $2.00 in materials.
Meanwhile, ready-to-use insecticidal soaps and garden sprays often cost several dollars more per bottle. You also control the scent, the batch size, and exactly what goes into the jar instead of buying a larger bottle with ingredients you may not want or need.
You only need 4 materials for this batch: chopped garlic, water, liquid paraffin, and soft soap. The finished spray stores in a Mason jar for up to 1 week, and you will need a bowl or jar for soaking, a spoon for mixing, and a strainer before transferring it to storage or a spray bottle for use.
- 🧰 Materials You'll Need
- 🔧 Tools & Equipment
- 🛠️ How to Make Garlic Pest Spray
- 🛠️ How to Use Garlic Pest Spray
- 🎨 Customization Ideas
- 🛡️ Safety Information
- 📦 Storage
- 💸 Estimated Cost
- 🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Garlic Pest Spray
- 📌 Love this Garlic Pest Spray? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Garlic Pest Spray
Materials You’ll Need
- 6 tablespoons chopped garlic
- 1 pint water
- 2 teaspoons liquid paraffin
- 1/4 cup soft soap
Tools & Equipment
- Jar or bowl for soaking
- Spoon for mixing
- Strainer
- Mason jar for storage
- Spray bottle for application
How to Make Garlic Pest Spray
- Place the chopped garlic and liquid paraffin in a jar or bowl.
- Let the garlic soak in the liquid paraffin for 24 hours.
- Add the water and soft soap, then mix well.
- Strain the mixture to remove the garlic pieces.
- Pour the liquid into a Mason jar for storage or into a spray bottle if you plan to use it right away.
How to Use Garlic Pest Spray
Spray the mixture directly where pests are active. This recipe reportedly works well against cutworms, slugs, white flies, and wire worms.
If you are treating leaf surfaces, test the spray on a small area first and wait a day before wider use. Colorado State University Extension notes that soap-based sprays can injure some plants, especially when used broadly without a test patch first, which is a sensible reason to start small before soaking half the garden in garlic perfume in their insecticidal soap guidance here.
Customization Ideas
This recipe is already a small batch, which makes it handy when you only need enough for one problem area. If you are working around a few containers or a single raised bed, keep the batch as written so you do not end up storing extra spray longer than needed.
You can also strain it into a spray bottle for quick application or leave it in the Mason jar and refill a smaller sprayer as needed. If garlic prep is the part you dread most, these Tips for Peeling Garlic can speed things along.
Safety Information
- Use this spray only where you need it rather than coating every plant as a routine treatment.
- Test a small area first before broad application on plant leaves or tender growth.
- Strain well so bits of garlic do not clog your sprayer.
- Wash tools, jars, and sprayers well after mixing and use.
- Avoid keeping leftovers past the stated storage time.
Storage
Store the strained liquid in a Mason jar for up to 1 week. Keep the jar tightly closed and give the mixture a stir or shake before each use if it has been sitting.
Estimated Cost
Estimated material cost for one batch is about $1.60 to $2.00, depending on what you pay for garlic, soap, and liquid paraffin. That estimate reflects the portion used for this batch rather than the full cost of reusable tools like the jar, spoon, strainer, or spray bottle.
🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- Garlic bulbs at Walmart
- Liquid paraffin or mineral oil at Walmart
- Soft soap or liquid castile soap at Walmart
- Garlic bulbs on Amazon
- Liquid paraffin on Amazon
- Soft soap or castile soap on Amazon
- Liquid Fencing Recipe
- Spider Spray
Frequently Asked Questions about Garlic Pest Spray
Yes. Store the strained spray in a Mason jar for up to 1 week. After that, make a fresh batch so you are not relying on old leftovers.
Yes, if you plan to spray it. Straining removes the garlic pieces so they do not clog the sprayer and leave you poking at the nozzle with a toothpick later.
This recipe reportedly works well against cutworms, slugs, white flies, and wire worms.
Yes. Once you strain it well, pour it into a spray bottle for use. You can also keep it in a Mason jar and refill a smaller sprayer as needed.
Because that is the method used in the recipe. The garlic soaks in the liquid paraffin for 24 hours before you add the water and soft soap.
You can scale it up if you keep the same proportions, but this recipe stores for only 1 week. A small batch usually makes more sense unless you know you will use it quickly.
Yes. Since the mixture contains soap, test it on a small area first and wait before broader use. That helps you catch plant sensitivity before you treat an entire bed.
A Mason jar works well because the recipe already specifies it for storage. Keep it tightly closed and label it so nobody mistakes it for something kitchen-friendly.
No. This is a short-term homemade batch, not a months-on-the-shelf concentrate. Mix it, strain it, use it, and make a fresh batch when needed.
📌 Love this Garlic Pest Spray? Pin it!
Did you try this project? Tell me what pests you used it on or what you changed to make it easier to use in your garden.
🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Garlic Pest Spray
Garlic Pest Spray
Equipment
Materials
- 6 tablespoons chopped garlic
- 1 pint water
- 2 teaspoons liquid paraffin
- ¼ cup soft soap
Instructions
- Place the chopped garlic and liquid paraffin in a jar or bowl.
- Soak the garlic in the liquid paraffin for 24 hours.
- Add the water and soft soap and mix well.
- Strain the mixture.
- Store the liquid in a Mason jar for up to 1 week.
- Pour into a spray bottle when ready to use.
- This recipe reportedly works well against cutworms, slugs, white flies, and wire worms.
- Test the spray on a small area first before broad application on plants.
- Strain well to help prevent sprayer clogs.
- Estimated cost reflects consumable materials only and will vary by store and brand.
