Say Goodbye to Pests: This Simple Bathroom Trick Keeps Insects Out

Peppermint: The intense menthol scent of peppermint overwhelms the senses of most insects — especially flies, mosquitoes, and roaches. While we find it fresh and clean, bugs find it unbearable.
Toothpaste: Most commercial toothpaste already contains mint, which strengthens the repelling effect while helping the mixture hold its texture.
Baking soda and vinegar: This duo creates a natural reaction that helps spread the scent and leaves a fizzy residue pests don’t like to be near.

Together, they create what’s basically a bug’s worst nightmare — and it only takes a few minutes to make.

How to Make This Natural Repellent in Under 5 Minutes

You don’t need to be a chemist, and you won’t need to spend a penny on special equipment.

Here’s the quick and easy recipe:

Mix toothpaste and baking soda in a small bowl until it becomes a thick, smooth paste.
Slowly pour in the vinegar. It’ll fizz and foam — that’s completely normal (and satisfying to watch!).
Add the lukewarm water and stir well until everything is combined.
For added power, mix in 5 to 10 drops of peppermint essential oil. This boosts the aroma and ensures longer-lasting results.
Pour the mixture into your small containers, and place them where bugs love to hide: behind trash bins, under sinks, near windows, in corners, or along the baseboards.

Most people report a noticeable difference almost immediately. Here’s what typically happens:

The fresh, minty scent begins to fill the room within minutes — pleasant to you, but overwhelming to insects.
Mosquitoes and flies tend to disperse quickly, often within the first hour.
Cockroaches, especially those sensitive to vinegar and baking soda, tend to abandon the area altogether.

You may not see bugs dropping dead (this isn’t a poison), but you will see them disappear. And that’s the goal.