All You Need to Know About Insecticidal Soap

The active ingredient in insecticidal soap is the soap, itself. While several homemade recipes may call for additional ingredients, such as garlic or cayenne, the soap is the ingredient that will kill the pests.

What Is Insecticidal Soap? How to Make Your Own

Jon VanZile was a writer for The Spruce covering houseplants and indoor gardening for almost a decade. He is a professional writer whose articles on plants and horticulture have appeared in national and regional newspapers and magazines.

Amanda Rose Newton is a pest specialist, reviewing pest control content for The Spruce’s Cleaning Review Board. She is a board-certified entomologist and volunteers for USAIDs Farmer to Farmer program. Currently, she is a professor of Horticulture, an Education Specialist, and pest specialist.

Insecticidal soap is a mixture of water and the potassium salts of fatty acids and is commonly used to curb infestations of insects on indoor and outdoor plants. Soap sprays are effective for soft-bodied insects such as mealybugs and aphids. Insecticidal soap typically does not harm plants.

Soap sprays are some of the oldest insecticides used by gardeners in the old days; gardeners used to boil water with Fels-Naptha soap to create an effective soap insecticide. Over time, these “old-fashioned” remedies fell out of favor as they were replaced by much stronger and more toxic chemicals. Today, however, as the interest in organic and less chemical-intensive gardening continues to grow, insecticidal soap sprays have made a major comeback. There are some effective commercial products on the market labeled insecticidal soap, many including supplemental ingredients. But if you have the right ingredients, you can make your own.

How Do Insecticidal Soaps Work?

Insecticidal soap works through several mechanisms. The soap itself penetrates insects’ cuticles, which causes cell collapse and desiccation. In other words, the spray eats away at the bug’s exoskeleton, dries them out, and results in dehydration and death. The sprays also operate by suffocating insects such as scale.

How to Use Soap Sprays

Although soap sprays are less toxic to gardeners and non-pest animals, they can still be potentially damaging to some plants, especially if an oil has been added to the spray. Before the widespread use of any spray, test it on a small section of the plant first and wait at least 24 hours to see if there are any negative effects. Look for signs like spotting, wrinkling, and browning on leaves. If you see any negative signs, discontinue use of the product. Plants that are susceptible to damage from soap sprays include beans, cucumbers, ferns, gardenias, and peas.

When making a home DIY insecticidal soap spray, be careful of what ingredients you choose because there is a difference between detergents and soaps. Clear dishwashing detergents are not the same as soaps and should not be used in insecticidal soap sprays. Dishwashing liquid soap does not contain fatty acids and can also harm plants. Instead, use pure liquid castile soap. Do not use any product with fragrance, moisturizer, or other additives.

Warning

There is conflicting information about using certain liquid dish detergents to make DIY insecticidal soaps. These products are designed to strip grease and oil from surfaces and may harm beneficial pests while also severely drying out plants.

How to Make DIY Insecticidal Soap

You can make insecticidal soap with or without oil. There is some debate about whether or not you should use oil to enhance the effectiveness of your spray. Technically, oil is not necessary for the soap to work. However, adding oil will enhance the effectiveness of your spray and increase its shelf-life.

To make your insecticidal soap spray without oil, take these steps:

1. Use a clean spray bottle for your mixture.
2. Start with the weakest solution possible, mixing between 1 teaspoon and 3 or 4 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water and using it immediately.
3. When you spray, soak both the tops and bottom of leaves and directly spray any visible insects. The spray needs to make direct contact with the pest insect to be effective.

To make an insecticidal soap spray base with oil, take these steps:

1. Use a clean jar with an airtight lid.
2. To make an easy at-home spray base with oil, mix 1 tablespoon of soap with 1 cup of cooking oil and emulsify by shaking the jar vigorously.
3. When it comes time to spray, mix 1 to 2 1/2 teaspoons of this base to every 1 cup of water in a clean spray bottle and spray immediately.

Tip

Soap sprays can also be enhanced with additives to control fungus and chewing insects. You can safely add bacullus thuringiensis (BT), copper fungicide, or pyrethrin to the mix, depending on your needs.

Types of Insects to Control With Insecticidal Soap

To varying degrees, soap sprays are effective against the following insects. But note that sprays are not effective on chewing insects such as caterpillars and beetles.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Insecticidal Soaps. University of Connecticut.
2. Managing Plant Pests With Soaps. University of Florida IFAS Extension.
3. Soap Sprays as Insecticides. Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California.
4. Chiggers. Entomology at the University of Kentucky.

All You Need to Know About Insecticidal Soap

Whether you buy it premade or whip it up at home, this non-toxic solution promises to wipe out your garden pest problem—without harming the rest of your patch.

By Glenda Taylor | Updated May 20, 2021 3:10 PM

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.

Are aphids gnawing on the heirloom roses? Are spider mites munching on the tomato plants? If garden pests are bugging you, but you’re not a fan of toxic pesticides, take heart; there’s a safer fix. Insecticidal soap is a low-toxicity bug control solution favored by natural and organic gardeners. When applied regularly, it maintains the ability to protect plants without resorting to harsh chemical concoctions. Keep it “green” in the garden with this guide on when, where, and how to benefit from insecticidal soap.

What Exactly Is Insecticidal Soap?

The active ingredients in insecticidal soap are potassium salts of fatty acids (also known as soap salts), which are created when the chemical compound alkali mixes with the fatty acids found in natural oils, including castor oil, coconut oil, and olive oil. The resulting mixture kills soft-bodied garden pests such as aphids, mites, and mealybugs on contact—not beneficial hard-bodied insects like ladybugs and other beetles—all without leaving toxic residue in the soil! The catch: Insecticidal soap only works when wet, and loses its effectiveness after it dries.

Commercial Products

Ready-to-use insecticidal soap comes packaged in a spray bottle priced between $5 and $15 for a 32-oz. bottle depending on the brand (view example on Amazon). Many gardeners like the idea of the ready-to-use product because it’s already mixed in the correct proportions so there’s very little risk of plant damage. The bottle may be labeled as “Suitable for Organic Use,” or “Safer for Plants and Vegetables,” but if a commercial bug-killer is a true insecticidal soap, its bottle will list “potassium salts of fatty acids” or “potassium laurate” as ingredients.

Insecticidal soap also comes in a concentrated solution to be mixed with water. If you buy the concentrated solution, you’ll also need to invest in a pump sprayer (view example on Amazon), but purchasing this form can save you money in the long run. A 32-oz. bottle of concentrated solution costs between $15 and $30, but it will make five or six times as much spray as a ready-to-use product.

Homemade Insecticidal Soap

The active ingredient in insecticidal soap is the soap, itself. While several homemade recipes may call for additional ingredients, such as garlic or cayenne, the soap is the ingredient that will kill the pests.

Opt for a fragrance-free soap and one that doesn’t contain added ingredients such as bleach, which may kill desirable plants and beneficial insects. The closer the homemade insecticidal soap solution is to being natural, the less likely it is to harm beneficial plants or bugs.

DIY Insecticidal Soap Recipe

If you’re interested in saving even more money, you can learn how to make insecticidal soap. Just be sure to follow the insecticidal soap recipe carefully: Using too much soap can make the solution too strong, putting your plants at risk.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

STEP 1: Fill a Jug with Water

Fill a 1-gallon jug with water, either distilled or tap, as long as it’s not hard water (hard water reduces the effectiveness of insecticidal soap), and leave a couple of inches at the top. Sometimes, the simplest way to do this is to purchase a gallon of distilled water from the grocery—not mineral-enhanced water—and label it with an indelible marker to ensure the solution isn’t mistaken for anything else.

For spraying large areas with a pump-type garden sprayer, go ahead and fill the spray container itself with water—but keep the following ingredient ratios in mind. Typically, pump-sprayers hold 1, 1.5, 2, or even 3 gallons of water, and most feature a fill line near the top that tells how many gallons the container holds.

STEP 2: Mix the Ingredients

Then add 2-½ tablespoons of mild liquid soap, or liquid dish soap, and 2-½ tablespoons vegetable oil. Coconut oil makes an excellent alternative to regular vegetable oil, and olive or grape oil are suitable as well. Both the liquid soap and the oil act as surfactants to help keep the solution from quickly running off the plant’s leaves when sprayed. The longer the solution remains on the plant’s foliage, the better the chance of killing the invading insects. Don’t increase the ratio of soap or oil, however, it must be a very mild solution in order to protect the plants.

STEP 3: Mix the Solution Together

Screw on the lid, shake the solution to distribute the ingredients and immediately pour the solution into the spray bottle. Shake the jug each time you refill the spray bottle to maintain the correct ratio of ingredients so as not to apply a formula that’s too weak or too harsh. Likewise, give the spray bottle a good shake frequently while spraying to keep the solution mixed.

If any leftover DIY insecticidal soap solution has been sitting on a shelf for longer than a month between uses, check to ensure it’s still viable. On occasion, the oil in the solution can go bad, making the solution look a little cloudy or smell rancid. The best solution is to mix up a fresh batch.

Before You Spray, Consider Plant Sensitivity and Environmental Safety

Although insecticidal soaps are safe for many flowers and vegetables, a few plants are sensitive to the solution and can suffer leaf damage. Among the most susceptible plants are sweet pea, begonia, impatiens, azalea, and rhododendron. If it’s the first time you’ve treated a plant and you’re unsure whether it’s safe to use insecticidal soap, err on the side of caution and do a sensitivity test first. Spray the solution on just two or three leaves of the plant, and then examine the plant after 24 hours. If the leaves have wilted, do not treat the plant with insecticidal soap. But, if the leaves look just as healthy as they did before, it’s safe to spray the rest of its limbs regularly.

When used as directed, insecticidal soap will not harm pets, birds, or wildlife. That said, it presents a slight risk of toxicity to fish, so it’s not advisable to treat aquatic plants or plants near fish ponds.

Applying Insecticidal Soap

Spray an even mist of insecticidal soap where garden pests typically hide, including under leaves and on a plant’s main stem. The goal is to cover all plant surfaces with enough spray to make the leaves wet, but you don’t have to use so much that the solution drips off the leaves. And because this mixture is entirely eco-friendly, it’s safe to spray directly onto fruits and vegetables such as peaches, apples, tomatoes, zucchini, and pumpkin.

Repeat the application process every four to seven days, as needed. Because insecticidal soap only kills insects when it’s wet, it’s a good idea to treat plants in early morning or late evening when the solution won’t evaporate as quickly as it will in the heat of the day.

FAQ About Insecticidal Soap

Maintaining healthy flowers, fruits, or vegetable plants means inspecting them frequently for disease or insect infestation. If not treated promptly, plant-eating insects can ruin a harvest or strip a floral plant of its blooms. Fortunately, applying insecticidal soap will protect the plants while killing the invaders. For those wanting to use a safer, more eco-friendly solution to pesticides, some questions are to be expected.

Can I make my own insecticidal soap?

Certainly! By mixing 2.5 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 2.5 tablespoons of pure liquid soap with 1 gallon of distilled water, you’ll have a whole gallon of insecticidal soap for safely spraying plants in flowerbeds or the vegetable garden.

Will Dawn dish soap hurt plants?

Many gardeners successfully use Dawn as the liquid soap in their insecticidal soap solution, but unlike a pure soap, such as castile, Dawn contains artificial colors and ingredients. While it may not harm plants, using a soap that doesn’t contain fragrances or other artificial ingredients may be a more eco-friendly option.

What is the best insecticidal soap?

Both homemade and commercial insecticidal soaps can be beneficial. For those looking to purchase a ready-made insecticidal soap that’s safe for use on plants, look for one that bears the organic materials review institute (OMRI) certification, such as Garden Safe Insecticidal Soap, which is safe for use on all plants, including vegetables.

Can insecticidal soap kill plants?

If too high a percentage of soap is used in a homemade insecticidal soap solution, the risk of harming plants increases. It also increases if the liquid soap used to make the solution contains other chemicals or ingredients. For the best—and safest—results, stick to natural liquid soaps and don’t vary from the recommended ingredient ratios.

How often should I spray my plants?

For typical insect protection, spray plants thoroughly with insecticidal soap once a week. After a heavy rain, reapply the spray.

What is the best natural insecticide?

Several natural insecticides exist that are effective and safe for use on plants, including neem oil and diatomaceous earth. However, they are not ingredients in insecticidal soaps. Insecticidal soaps contain just water, liquid soap, and oil.

Final Thoughts

Plants attract bugs—it’s only natural—and some bugs perform beneficial tasks in the garden, such as pollinating flowers or killing harmful insects. However, no gardener wants to lose an entire crop to an insect infestation, and the use of insecticidal soaps is one of the best ways to keep damaging insects at bay while protecting plants.