It seemed to work well for me the one time I needed it!

By the eay, I started that by buying some "insecticidal soap" in a spray bottle. But the "spray bottle" was more like a dribble glass, and wasted the soap in a slow, wide stream that ran right off the leaves.

I transferred it to a better spray bottle, that sent a fine mist at high speed. That covered the plant more fully, and efficiently.

But I suspect the soapy spray did more good than the "special" insecticidal soap. I suspect that plain dish-washing liquid was just about as insecticidal as the fancier soap.

i buy the cheapest "lemon" dish soap i can find.

dont know if the lemon actually does anything... but i was told lemon soap ... and i've been using it almost 20 yrs now.

Well, I've been using the soap spray for years too, I do think my aphids are beginning to like it. I need to go out tomorrow and give them another dose. Great Idea!!

Do you just add 3 teaspoons of the liquid dish soap and no water?

How often during the season should it be done? (spraying the infected plants)

We had a little discussion about what kinds of "soaps" to use. I have used several types, but some recommend only dish SOAP as opposed to any dish detergent. Dr. Bronner's makes pure castille soap in liquid and bar form. I have used that for a long time (the peppermint).

The only thing I would say is be careful of liquid detergents with too many grease cutters and additives. Check out the kind of liquid detergent you will use to make the spray if you go that route. I've had good success with some of them in the past (Dawn, Palmolive, Ivory). But companies sometimes change their detergent formulas and the high-powered, harsh detergents can strip plant oils and kill some plants.

I do like making insecticidal soap at home. Good frugal and useful tip.

Marilyn said:Do you just add 3 teaspoons of the liquid dish soap and no water?

How often during the season should it be done? (spraying the infected plants)

What i do is.... Take my Qt sized, or pint sized spray bottle, fill it with water up to the 'neck'. squirt in the dish soap, shake it up. From what I was told, as long as you see 'suds' when shaken, you have enough soap. i have never measured.

Also, the 'soap spray' is a contact thing... the sudsy solution has to come in contact with said bugs to kill them. so it's not like it's a preventative measure. When i see the aphids, i run for the bottle and spray them. I will from time to time, just leave the bottle hanging on my chain link fence - as it got used to often.

I mostly use it on aphids and ants, when they get in the house in the summer.

Hope this helps,

I honestly use any soap that I have on hand and they have all worked. Also, I do the same as Terese and fill the squirt bottle with water first and add the soap. You can't go wrong: the aphids hate soap.

I have used this dishwashing soap solution as well, and I also add a few drops of tabasco sauce. It seems to work faster from what I see, seeing the aphids really slide off as well as those nasty scales and mites.

Good tip, Boo!

bsavage said:Good tip, Boo!

tcs1366 said:

What i do is.... Take my Qt sized, or pint sized spray bottle, fill it with water up to the 'neck'. squirt in the dish soap, shake it up. From what I was told, as long as you see 'suds' when shaken, you have enough soap. i have never measured.

Also, the 'soap spray' is a contact thing... the sudsy solution has to come in contact with said bugs to kill them. so it's not like it's a preventative measure. When i see the aphids, i run for the bottle and spray them. I will from time to time, just leave the bottle hanging on my chain link fence - as it got used to often.

I mostly use it on aphids and ants, when they get in the house in the summer.

Hope this helps,

Thank you so much!

SongofJoy said:We had a little discussion about what kinds of "soaps" to use. I have used several types, but some recommend only dish SOAP as opposed to any dish detergent. Dr. Bronner's makes pure castille soap in liquid and bar form. I have used that for a long time (the peppermint).

The only thing I would say is be careful of liquid detergents with too many grease cutters and additives. Check out the kind of liquid detergent you will use to make the spray if you go that route. I've had good success with some of them in the past (Dawn, Palmolive, Ivory). But companies sometimes change their detergent formulas and the high-powered, harsh detergents can strip plant oils and kill some plants.

I do like making insecticidal soap at home. Good frugal and useful tip.

Can you buy this soap locally or do I need to order it online? Where do you get yours? I really love the fact that it is organic and isn't tested on animals!

Marilyn, I buy my Dr. B's soaps at Kroger's. You probably have that grocery chain somewhere near you? Maybe? I'm unsure exactly where Hebron is located. Health food and natural food stores usually carry it as well.

tarev, I've not tried adding the Tabasco. Good idea.

SongofJoy said:Marilyn, I buy my Dr. B's soaps at Kroger's. You probably have that grocery chain somewhere near you? Maybe? I'm unsure exactly where Hebron is located. Health food and natural food stores usually carry it as well.

tarev, I've not tried adding the Tabasco. Good idea.

Wonderful! We have a Kroger's Marketplace a couple of miles from us! I shop there all the time. It's probably in the 'organic' isles near the produce section.

That is a good idea to add Tabasco to the spray bottle.

Thanks for letting me know also!

Yes, that's exactly where it's located at my Kroger's, Marilyn ... just behind the produce section on the way to the seafood.

It's probably around the Burt's Bees products!

Thanks again!

Yep.

This is a great tip and I'm so glad it came up again! The recipe I use is 2 cups water, 1 tsp. tabasco, and 1 tsp. dish soap…Works great especially on the aphids that were attacking my broccoli! Took care of every one of them, and now the heads are looking great!

Has anyone had any luck getting rid of aphids in a mature maple tree by a solution of dish detergent and water? My maple tree constantly drips sap from little white aphids on the leaves. It is too big to spray. Thanks. Doris