How to Make Organic Insect Repellent with Kitchen Ingredients (Malaysia Edition)

🐛 Intro: Say Bye to Bugs (The Natural Way)

If your pokok limau or chili plant keeps getting munched by mystery pests — and you’re not ready to go full chemical warfare — you’re not alone.

Chemical pesticides may work fast, but they can also harm the good bugs, your soil, and your peace of mind. Thankfully, your kitchen is secretly a pest-fighting lab.

Here’s how to make safe, affordable, and effective organic insect repellents using ingredients you already have at home.

🌿 Why Go Organic?

• Safe for Edible Plants: No toxic residue
• Pet & Kid Friendly: No harsh chemicals near your home
• Better for the Ecosystem: Keeps bees and beneficial bugs alive
• Cheap & Easy: Most ingredients cost less than RM2

🧄 Top 5 DIY Organic Insect Repellents (Made with Local Ingredients)

1. Garlic-Chili Spray

Best for: Aphids, ants, mealybugs, caterpillars

Ingredients:

• 1 whole garlic bulb
• 2 bird’s eye chilies (cili padi)
• 1 tsp dish soap (eco-friendly)
• 500ml water

Instructions:

1. Blend garlic + chili with water.
2. Let sit for 6 hours, strain.
3. Add soap (helps it stick to leaves).
4. Spray on affected plants every 3–4 days.

🚨 Avoid spraying during the heat of the day — morning or evening is best!

2. Neem Oil Spray (Lesser-Known but Powerful)

Best for: Whiteflies, spider mites, aphids, fungus gnats

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp cold-pressed neem oil
• 1/2 tsp mild dish soap
• 1 litre water

Instructions:

1. Mix neem oil with soap first, then add water.
2. Shake well before each use.
3. Spray once a week or after rain.

✅ You can buy neem oil at Shopee or most organic stores for RM10–RM20.

3. Onion-Pepper Brew

Best for: Leaf-eating insects

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion
• 1 tbsp black pepper
• 1 clove garlic
• 500ml water

Instructions:

1. Blend ingredients, boil for 10 minutes.
2. Let cool, strain, and spray.
3. Use within 3 days.

Bonus: Also helps keep cats out of garden beds!

4. Lemongrass Citrus Spray

Best for: Mosquitoes, flies, soft-bodied pests

Ingredients:

• 1 stalk lemongrass (serai)
• Peel of 1 orange or lemon
• 500ml boiling water

Instructions:

1. Crush serai, add citrus peel.
2. Pour boiling water and steep overnight.
3. Strain and spray.

🌸 Smells great and acts as a mild deodorizer for compost areas too.

5. Tumeric + Ginger Mix

Best for: Soil-borne fungus, ants, small beetles

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp turmeric powder
• 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger (grated)
• 500ml warm water

Instructions:

1. Mix all, let steep for 2 hours.
2. Strain and spray near roots or base of affected plants.

💡 Acts as both fungicide and mild root booster.

🛑 What NOT to Do

• Don’t overspray — use every few days, not daily.
• Don’t apply in full sun — it can burn leaves.
• Don’t use unstrained mixes — they clog sprayers fast.
• Don’t assume organic = harmless — test on a few leaves first!

📆 Application Cheat Sheet

Spray Type	Use Frequency	Best Time	Notes
Garlic-Chili	Every 3 days	Morning/Evening	Avoid eyes and windy days
Neem Oil	Weekly	Evening	Shake well before use
Onion-Pepper	Every 4–5 days	Morning	Can repel pets too
Lemongrass Citrus	Alternate days	Morning	Good for compost zone
Turmeric-Ginger	Weekly	Near roots	Mild and preventive

🌱 Final Tip: Prevention is the Best Protection

Organic sprays are great, but don’t forget:

• Rotate crops to reduce recurring pests
• Remove dead leaves and infected plants fast
• Use companion planting (like marigolds or basil)

📸 Bonus Idea:

Post your own DIY spray setup or results and tag us on Instagram: @projectharvest.my
Let’s show off some homemade bug-banishing skills! 🐞🌶️