Garlic Alcohol: Natural Insecticide for Cockroaches, Aphids, and Other Insects

Garlic alcohol, a potent natural insecticide, can be effective against cockroaches, aphids, and other insects. Here’s how to make and use it:

Ingredients:

• 1 head of garlic (approximately 10-12 cloves)
• 1 cup of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or high-proof grain alcohol (like vodka or Everclear)
• 1 liter of water (for dilution)
• Optional: a few drops of dish soap (to help the solution stick to plant leaves)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Garlic:
   • Peel the garlic cloves and crush or mince them finely.
2. Infuse the Alcohol:
   • Place the crushed garlic into a glass jar.
   • Pour the alcohol over the garlic, ensuring it’s fully submerged.
   • Seal the jar tightly and let it sit for at least 24-48 hours, or up to a week, to allow the garlic to infuse into the alcohol. The longer it sits, the more potent it will become.
     
     
3. Strain the Solution:
   • After the infusion period, strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the garlic pieces.
   • The resulting liquid is your garlic alcohol concentrate.
4. Dilute the Concentrate:
   • Mix 1-2 tablespoons of the garlic alcohol concentrate with 1 liter of water.
   • If using on plants, add a few drops of dish soap to help the solution adhere to the leaves.
5. Application:
   • For cockroaches and other crawling insects: Spray the solution directly onto the insects and their hiding places.
   • For aphids and other plant pests: Spray the solution onto the affected plants, paying particular attention to the undersides of leaves where aphids tend to congregate.
   • Repeat applications as needed, especially after rain or watering.

Important Considerations:

• Ventilation: When spraying indoors, ensure adequate ventilation.
• Plant Sensitivity: Test the diluted solution on a small area of the plant before spraying the entire plant, as some plants may be sensitive to alcohol.
• Avoid Direct Sunlight: Do not spray plants in direct sunlight, as the alcohol can cause leaf burn.
• Safety Precautions: Keep the garlic alcohol solution out of reach of children and pets.
• Effectiveness: While garlic alcohol is a natural insecticide, its effectiveness may vary depending on the insect and the severity of the infestation.
• Storage: Store the garlic alcohol concentrate in a sealed glass container in a cool, dark place.
• Dishsoap: When using dish soap, use a very gentle dishsoap, avoid any dishsoap with bleach, or other harsh chemicals.

Why it works:

• Garlic contains compounds, such as allicin, that have insecticidal properties.
• Alcohol acts as a solvent, extracting these compounds from the garlic and making them more readily available.
• The alcohol also helps to penetrate the insect’s exoskeleton, increasing the effectiveness of the garlic.