Insecticidal soap can be used to manage houseplant pests. Simply spray the soap or wipe it directly on the pests that you’re trying to control. They do not prevent infestations. It is what’s called a contact insecticide.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a specially formulated insecticide. You can just use a liquid dish detergent or hand soap. A lot of times, though, these products will have other things added, such as moisturizers or fragrances.

To make sure your plant won’t be damaged from the liquid dish detergent or hand soap, try it on just a few leaves first. Wait a week to make sure that your plant, doesn’t exhibit any symptoms. If you are going to use liquid dish detergent or hand soap, use a one to two percent solution, only about two tablespoons per gallon of water.