Soapy solution gets rid of bugs. dump your old dishwater into a watering can and pour it on yoru plants for a cheap cure for slugs and soft-bodied insects, like aphids, mealybugs, thrips, and red spider mites in your garden. Some bugs just don't like the taste of the sudsy solution, and it's actually toxic to others. Miz a tablespoon or two of liquid soap or mild dishwashing soap with a quart of water for the same result. Other sprays become more potent when you add a few drops of soap. It helps them stick to plants and pests better.




Chase away pests with garlic. Try a garlic spray to get rid of aphids, slugs, cutworms, caterpillars, cabbage worms, wireworms, ants, and whiteflies. There are lots of recipies for the smelly concotion, but most all of them involve adding soap to garlic that has been chopped or crushed and then steeped in water for a period of time. For a more potent brea, ad onion and cayenne pepper. Be sure and strain out the particles before putting it into your sprayer.