So, you’ve got a bunch of pesky bugs in your house, and you don’t know what to do with them. You also have a couple of bottles of WD40, and you may wonder if WD40 can help with your issue. That’s what we’ll be covering in this article.
Does WD40 keep bugs away? The answer to this question is typically no. WD40 does not contain many active ingredients that can repel or kill bugs. The solvent and petroleum-based ingredients in WD40 don’t have a strong enough deterring smell, so they should not be used to keep them away. Although, they can be applied to window sills to prevent bugs from entering.
Let’s dig into more detail.
WD40 is a popular product used to lubricate and protect metal from rust but it doesn’t keep bugs away.
While WD-40 does have some insect-repelling properties due to its strong odor, it’s not an effective way of controlling insects or other pests in your home.
The smell might be enough to deter them temporarily. However, any effects will likely wear off quickly as the scent dissipates over time.
Insects are attracted by food sources rather than smells, which means that if you want preventative measures against these pesky critters, eliminating potential breeding grounds such as standing water and garbage cans must be prioritized before trying out chemical solutions like WD-40.
How Can You Use WD40 To Reduce The Number of Bugs?
There are several different ways you can use WD40 to reduce the number of bugs in your home. Using them on window sills and spraying them directly on bugs are two of the best ways.
Spraying The Bugs
Spraying a little WD40 directly onto a bug will kill it quickly and effectively. It’s an effective bug removal method that will get you some dead bugs fast. The oil in the product coats them, making it difficult for them to breathe, which then leads to their death.
I wouldn’t reccomend spraying a bee, though. They can and will sting and if you’re allergic, that will not be very good for you.
Window Sills
Using WD40 on window sills, doors, and cracks in your house can help reduce bugs coming into the home as well by blocking any entry points they may have used before with its lubricating properties that create an invisible barrier against insects entering through these openings.
Do Bugs Dislike The Smell of WD40?
Bugs generally dislike the smell of WD40. The odor is caused by a combination of chemicals, such as petroleum distillates and carbon dioxide propellants, that are found in most bug repellents.
These ingredients are typically not powerful enough to keep bugs away from areas where it has been sprayed or used on nearby objects.
There isn’t any scientific evidence directly linking WD40 with insect deterrence; anecdotal reports suggest that some people have seen at least temporary success using this product to repel certain types of insects, like cockroaches and flies, when other solutions fail to work effectively.
Risks in Using WD40
The main risk of using WD 40 is inhalation or skin exposure to its vapors, which may have adverse effects on health if inhaled over an extended period of time. This is because it has petroleum distillates, and ingredients, including kerosene and xylene, contained in the product.
Its fumes also produce eye irritation if exposed directly into the eyes and respiratory irritation when breathed at high concentrations, so proper ventilation must always be provided while applying the liquid onto surfaces it treats.
In addition, contact with the skin might cause dermatitis (skin inflammation), particularly among people who already have sensitive skin prone to irritations from chemical compounds like those found in such products as solvents and acids.
Lastly, storing containers containing large amounts of flammable liquids near open flames or electric sparks could result in fire hazards since gasoline fuels often contain hydrocarbons present within them too!
Therefore any use involving ignition sources requires cautionary measures. WD40 should be kept away from children and pets.
Final Words
All in all, WD40 shouldn’t be used to repel insects directly, but it can be used to seal up window sills and cracks, along with spraying it directly on insects to kill them.
There are many better WD40 alternatives in terms of insect repellent, like repellent bands and natural methods with essential oils, vinegar, and salt.
I hope you enjoyed this article, and keep prepping!
