You may already know that cinnamon is a great addition to pies and winter stews, but did you know that this common household spice is also a great way to keep pests away in the summer?
According to popular TikTok creator @brunchwithbabs, you can make your own DIY mosquito repellent with just ground cinnamon and three other affordable ingredients, and the best part is, it smells amazing!
The septuagenarian cleaning guru, who boasts more than four million followers on TikTok, took to the platform to share a tried-and-true cinnamon spray that he claims “keeps mosquitoes away”.
@brunchwithbabs ♬ Original Sound – Babs
How to make a DIY mosquito repellent for bub
Bab's affordable mosquito repellent uses just four simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen cupboard.
– Ground cinnamon (you can buy a jar of ground cinnamon at Walmart for just $1.24)
– 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing detergent
– 1/2 teaspoon rubbing alcohol
– Hot water
To make your own bug repellent, stir 2 teaspoons of cinnamon powder into 4 cups of warm water and let it steep like a tea for about an hour. Then, pour the cinnamon mixture into a spray bottle and add 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap and 1/2 teaspoon of rubbing alcohol, then shake the bottle well.
Unless you're allergic to any of the ingredients, the spray is safe to use on your skin and can be sprayed around your outdoor equipment to keep mosquitoes away while you enjoy the summer sunshine.
How does it work?
Cinnamon is known to repel mosquitoes because of its strong scent and because it contains compounds like cinnamalaldehyde, which interfere with mosquito sensory reception, making it difficult for them to find their target.
Cinnamon oil also acts as a natural insecticide, killing mosquito larvae and repelling adult mosquitoes from the area. In addition to making a DIY spray, you can use different forms of cinnamon, including essential oils and powdered cinnamon, to repel mosquitoes.
Other clever uses for cinnamon
This warming spice has many uses around the home.
If you don't like the spicy smell of cinnamon, you can try making your own homemade mosquito repellent to keep the blood-sucking insects away.