Ditch the DEET! Try Theses DIY, Natural Bug Repellents Instead [Video]

Eyebrows are raised after a Reddit user shared a photo detailing how a popular bug repellent killed his grass overnight. Though it is ideal for ridding the yard of pesky weeds, the unintentional discovery alarmed the user and many others.

The question arose around how this spray, meant for skin, was actually affecting the body if it killed plants with such speed. Are there long term implications associated with use? Are this and similar products carcinogenic? Is there a specific ingredient causing harm to the plants or a combination of them? If it’s a single ingredient, will the products be effective if it is removed?

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After research, we found the ingredient likely to have had the adverse effect on the plants was DEET. This product is commonly found in bug repellent and sunscreens. According to an article by Iowa State University, DEET is deadly to grass. Although, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency …