The best time of day to spray your yard to repel ticks is in the early morning hours or early in the evening. These times of day tend to be cooler compared with the middle of the day when the sun is hotter. Otherwise, the solution could dry out quicker and prove less effective.

Some of the best smells for keeping squirrels away are those that have a spicy or pungent odor. This includes pepper, garlic powder, vinegar, mint, and coffee. Just be careful when handling cayenne or chili pepper. Don’t touch your face to prevent getting some in your eyes, and be sure to keep it away from children and pets.

Ants hate strong odors such as peppermint, citrus, cinnamon, and essential oils such as lavender and eucalyptus. You can sprinkle cinnamon in the area or combine essential oils with water to form a spray that repels ants in the event of an infestation—just make sure nothing you apply will harm your surfaces, kids, or pets.

According to the National Pesticide Information Center, there aren’t any insect repellents registered for use against bed bugs that can be put on your skin. Some people may utilize diluted essential oils on their skin to try to repel bed bugs, but this is not considered effective for remedying the problem. The best way to repel bed bugs is to treat them with a non-toxic method to rid them from your home.