If you have a heavy infestation outdoors, prune away the stems with the most scales. Want to go alcohol-free? Add rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to the inside of a zipper-sealed plastic bag. Isopropyl alcohol kills all types of aphids instantly. In some cases, however, the only viable option is to use herbicidal spray. Homemade bed bug killers can be used as a cheap remedy for the bed bug menace. As with vinegar, apply on a sunny day, and spray directly onto the weeds, being careful to keep it away from other plants. If a person drinks even a small amount and has any of the above-mentioned side effects, call 911—medical attention is necessary immediately. You can simply make a line of salt around the tree, and it will die. Using salt is an effective way to kill a tree. I will also highlight how to use salt and baking soda for bed bugs. To get rid of scale insects from your plants, rub their stems with an old toothbrush or a cotton swab dipped in Isopropyl alcohol, which will kill any insects on them. The caustic nature of rubbing alcohol can cause chemical burns to the esophagus. Dipping a cotton ball or swab in a solution of half water and half rubbing alcohol then wetting the aphids is a potential control option when the pest population is fairly small and clustered. In general, rubbing alcohol can kill a wide variety of bugs not just plant pests. Seal up the bag and make sure the alcohol mixture comes in contact with the eggs. Also, if you closely monitor your lime tree, you may be able to spot the scale development very early and quickly eradicate the insects by just using your cotton ball and rubbing alcohol. Mix 1 part rubbing alcohol to 7 parts water and spray it on plants affected by aphids, mealybugs, thrips, whiteflies, etc. Preparation is as simple as diluting the rubbing alcohol with water: use a quart of water to dilute every two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol. One homemade insecticide that can really do the job is 70% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol). Make sure you scrape the area completely. To control larger infestations, pour some rubbing alcohol on a damp cloth and wipe down infested leaves to get rid of lots of aphids at once. Apply Rubbing Alcohol to Kill Aphids on Contact. Ingesting only eight ounces of rubbing alcohol can kill you. The sodium in salt will prevent a tree's flow of potassium and magnesium, both of which are vital ingredients in the making of chlorophyll. The most environmentally friendly options involve applying herbicide to a specific area of the tree. Read this article to learn of both modern and old home remedies for getting rid of bed bugs permanent, including vinegar and spray alcohol. Herbicides can kill trees and, properly applied, be safe for the environment. There are five major types of herbicides, only some of which are rated for home or crop use. Here is a before and after of a mature Cottony Cushion Scale, seconds after spraying it with the rubbing alcohol: This technique has been a godsend to my trees, and doesn’t have the toxicity that pesticides do. Then, use a garden hose to wash away any loose insects. Dip a cotton swab in 70% rubbing alcohol and apply directly to crawling aphids. Rubbing alcohol Much like hydrogen peroxide, many families will have rubbing alcohol on hand to clean cuts. Then use a plastic card — like a credit card — or a putty or butter knife to scrape the egg mass into the bag. The lack of chlorophyll will eventually kill the tree. About once a month , I check the underside of the leaves … For the purposes of this article though, the solution is effective against aphids, mealybugs, scale, red spider mites, fungus gnats, white flies and more. The alcohol will melt the protective wax that covers certain insects and dries the soft body parts of others, leading… Do not induce vomiting.