5 Natural Frog Repellents That Work

I love having frogs in my yard because they act as a natural mosquito repellant, but I understand that many people do not want them around.

This especially makes sense if you have pets, small children, or somewhat of a frog infestation.

Fortunately, you do not need to kill any of the frogs to keep them away.

There are many inexpensive natural frog repellents that can discourage frogs from roaming your property.

The best homemade frog repellents include salt, coffee grounds, baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice. These can be applied to areas where frogs often gather to discourage them from roaming your property.

Never put repellents directly onto frogs, and never use chlorine or bleach to repel frogs.

Using these readily available solutions are a great way to get rid of frogs without harming them or using harsh pesticides.

Here are the products we recommend:

While these natural repellents work well to keep hopping visitors off your property, there are still plenty of factors to consider to ensure you do not harm them in the process.

Use these classic household ingredients and solutions around your property to keep frogs away without harming them.

Join us as we discuss how to make and use these popular homemade frog repellents, how they work, and how to use them safely. 

Efficacy of Natural Frog Repellents

If there are frogs in areas of my yard where I do not want them, my go to solutions are pure vinegar, pure lemon juice, baking soda, salt, and coffee grounds.

I have tested all of these solutions and coffee grounds are my favourite.

I have ranked them by efficacy and explain how to use each solution in much more detail further on in the article.

Be sure to assess the risks of each substance (explained below) and how each solution should be applied to guarantee effectiveness and safety for the frogs, your pets, and small children if applicable.

Each of these homemade frog repellents work in similar ways and do a great job by naturally discouraging frogs from roaming your property.

Frogs breathe and drink through their skin and need to stay hydrated to survive so ever put any of these directly onto frogs.

Spread these in strategic areas in your yard to not directly injure the frogs.

These solutions will simply cause them skin irritation or slight dehydration upon contact, encouraging the frogs to stay away.

So, before using any of these repellants, be sure to safely remove the frogs from your property.

Please also see the following key guides we have on our blog that explain how to get rid of frogs on your property depending on where you found them:

• Window Well: Toads in Your Window Well: Why & What to Do
• Yard: How to Move Frogs Out of Your Yard
• Pool: 11 Ways to Keep Frogs Out of Your Pool
• Pool: Safely Remove Frogs From Your Pool
• House: How to Find a Lost Frog in Your House
• How to Keep Frogs Off Your Property
• How to Get Rid of Frogs Without Killing Them

Now I will cover each repellant in order from most “efficient”, to “best for the frogs and your lawn”:

1. Pure Vinegar

Pure vinegar is a very harsh liquid that can cause frogs an uncomfortable burning sensation upon contact.

Never spray vinegar directly on frogs as this is a cruel and inhumane way of keeping them off your property.

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• Application: Pure vinegar is quite harsh in aroma and properties, and it should only be sprayed on ground surfaces.

• Advantages: Vinegar will cause a burning sensation when frogs come into contact with it, making their feet feel extremely uncomfortable. This is a highly effective frog repellant. However, it is not very safe for the frogs.

• Disadvantages: This is a harsh solution for the frogs and for your yard. Vinegar can be watered down slightly to decrease the potency, as some forms of pure vinegar can even cause burning and irritation in human skin.

2. Pure Lemon Juice

Pure lemon juice is a harsh liquid that can cause frogs an uncomfortable burning sensation upon contact.

Never spray pure lemon juice directly on frogs as this is a cruel and inhumane way of keeping them off your property.

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• Application: Pure lemon or lime juice is quite harsh and it should be sprayed on ground surfaces.

• Advantages: Similar to the application of vinegar, lemon juice will also cause a burning sensation in frog feet due to its high acidity. Pure lemon juice is an effective frog repellant. However, it is not very safe for the frogs.

• Disadvantages: This is a harsh solution for the frogs and for your yard. Although pure lemon juice is slightly more subtle than vinegar, it can still be watered down to make it less harsh on frog skin. Just make sure to not water it down so much that it will no longer be as effective.

3. Baking Soda

Baking soda is an effective frog deterrent because it causes slight dehydration upon contact.

Frogs, and toads, need to remain hydrated in order to breathe and drink.

Baking soda should never be poured directly onto frogs as this as this is a cruel and inhumane way of keeping them off your property.

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• Application: Sprinkle baking soda around your property edges and in areas where they gather most frequently. 

• Advantages: Baking soda acts very similarly to salt and irritates frogs’ sensitive skin, and walking in areas adorned with this powder will annoy those intrusive amphibians and keep them away.

• Disadvantages: Similar to salt, baking soda may kill the grass or plants it is placed on, and may reduce in efficiency if it is washed away by rain or sprinklers. It also tends to wash away easier than salt.

4. Salt

Salt is an effective frog repellant, especially in areas further inland, away from coastlines.

Although the vast majority of frogs species cannot survive saltwater, some species around coastlines have adapted to become salt-tolerant.

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• Application: Sprinkle some salt on areas where frogs are commonly found, as well as on your porch or driveway. Create a barrier by laying a line of salt around the perimeter of your property.

• Advantages: Salt is incredibly effective at dehydrating surfaces and skin. Since frogs need moisture and humidity to survive, the salt will cause skin irritation and prevent them from roaming these areas. Frogs generally avoid salt at all costs since it causes a natural flight reaction in their brains making them escape any salty areas.

• Disadvantages: Keep in mind that salt may kill whatever vegetation it is placed onto due to dehydration. If you water areas where the salt is located, you may also reduce its efficiency. So if you create a salt perimeter around your property, keep in mind it may kill the plants or grass where it is laid.

5. Used Coffee Ground Frog Repellant

My preferred way to keep frogs off certain parts of my property is using coffee grounds.

I think coffee grounds is the best natural frog repellant because coffee is:

• Great for the garden
• Act as a natural fertilizer
• Should not kill your lawn
• Should not dissolve as quickly as the other natural repellants solutions
• Less harsh on the frogs

If you do not drink coffee or are out, here is a cheap recommendation:

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Once the coffee grounds have been used and have cooled off, you can use them around your yard to keep frogs away.

• Application: Save you used coffee grounds and sprinkle them anywhere on your lawn, garden, and around your property to fertilize your yard and keep frogs away.

• Advantages: Coffee grounds are acidic and cause skin irritation, discouraging frogs from roaming your property.

• Disadvantages: This solution has the least disadvantages compared to the other natural frog repellants since it is good for your lawn and less harsh on the frogs.

Please keep reading below to obtain more jurisdiction-specific information and to also learn what not to do when using natural frog repellants around your home.

Be Careful With Protected And Invasive Species

Here are phone numbers you can call to get more information depending on your location:

If you are in a location with protected and invasive species you should get in touch with your local Wildlife Department for specific advice and guidance (CTNF):

You could also contact an ethical pest control company for advice, provided that you specify you want to prioritize the frogs’ wellbeing. 

Avoid using harsh chemicals for your and the frog’s health and safety.

What Not To Do To Repel Frogs

While these repellents are effective, they are not entirely safe for every kind of application.

Using these substances and solutions incorrectly can injure or kill frogs, the lawn and other vegetation on your property.

Here are a few key things to keep in mind when applying any of these repellents to make sure that the frogs are not harmed.

Never Put Any Repellents Directly Onto Frogs

These measures and applications can severely harm or even kill these innocent creatures. Frogs have incredibly sensitive skin, as their skin is permeable for breathing and other bodily functions. 

Any kind of direct contact with harsh chemicals or substances can cause illness and health problems.

Besides the fact that it’s cruel and inhumane, harming frogs may be illegal depending on the frog species and your local wildlife laws.

Do Not Put Any Repellents Directly Onto Plants

While coffee grounds can be used on soil and may even benefit plants in some way by adding nutrients, most should not be applied directly to plants.

The majority of the solutions above could cause various harmful effects to most plants or even kill them.

Do Not use Chlorine or Bleach to Repel Frogs

Bleach and chlorine are highly toxic to frogs, and they can kill them very easily. When it enters their sensitive and porous skin, it will likely cause fatal damage.

These solutions are not considered amphibian repellents; they are considered amphibian poison (even when diluted).

While it may not cause death in small quantities, it’s best to avoid the use of any harsh chemicals. 

More About Naturally Repelling Frogs

Getting rid of frogs on your property may seem incredibly tiresome and perplexing, but it does not have to be complicated, expensive, or harmful to the frogs.

With these homemade frog repellents and application tips, you can rest easy knowing that both you and the frogs are safe and sound. 

Check out these other complete and essential guides on our blog to learn how to keep frogs away:

• Toads in Your Window Well: Why & What to Do
• How to Move Frogs Out of Your Yard
• 11 Ways to Keep Frogs Out of Your Pool
• Safely Remove Frogs From Your Pool
• How to Find a Lost Frog in Your House
• How to Keep Frogs Off Your Property
• How to Get Rid of Frogs Without Killing Them