Today is another BACKWARDS edition of Works-For-Me Wednesday, in which you present a dilemma to your readers and get their best ideas. So here is my dilemma.
I would love to know if any one out there has a tried and true mosquito repellent. One that you can put on that isn't toxic and is safe for children. The mosquitoes are eating us alive this year. To the point that we can't even go outside at any part of the day because they are out ALL day! I've tried 2 or 3 different "natural" repellents and nothing has worked. PLEASE, help us! It's getting so aggravating. I have 3 kids and they need to be able to go outside. Especially my boys. So there you have it. I know there are some naturalist and herbalists out there somewhere.
Thanks so much my friends. Now go check out Rocks in my Dryer to see if you can help some other desperate people lol.
Blessings my friends.
I would love to know if any one out there has a tried and true mosquito repellent. One that you can put on that isn't toxic and is safe for children. The mosquitoes are eating us alive this year. To the point that we can't even go outside at any part of the day because they are out ALL day! I've tried 2 or 3 different "natural" repellents and nothing has worked. PLEASE, help us! It's getting so aggravating. I have 3 kids and they need to be able to go outside. Especially my boys. So there you have it. I know there are some naturalist and herbalists out there somewhere.
Thanks so much my friends. Now go check out Rocks in my Dryer to see if you can help some other desperate people lol.
Blessings my friends.
We have the SAME problem.
ReplyDeleteIn researching the problem, my husband came across a place that suggested a lemon balm plant. Apparently, if you crush it and rub it on your skin, you can be saved.
So, not tried and true, but it's something we haven't tried.
Oh, and here's a tried and true: get bats for outside. My parents have bats and nary a mosquito. Heh. Go figure, right?
There is this plant that naturally repels mosquitoes. Citronella. There are candles that have Citronella oil in them that you can burn and chase away the pesky mosquitoes. There's also a Citronella oil application that you can put on your key points of your body like the wrist, elbow area, ears, etc, and the mosquitoes don't touch you. Try to find these in health food stores or similar organic stores. They are totally naturally and non-toxic.
ReplyDeletesomeone told me that Avon's "skin so soft" works, but I don't know if that's true or not. Do you have a local health food store? If not, let me know, and I'll ask at mine...
ReplyDeleteJust rub a dryer sheet across your skin. Repels mosquito's - isn't toxic - and smells good. You know boys can always use a little extra good smell!
ReplyDeleteI carry Skin So Soft with me nearly every where I go. When I worked the streets as an officer we carried it in the car. You might be out on the scene for several hours and nothing worse than being eatin' up by skeeters! There is lotion, oil, and sheets like wet wipes. Good luck, it worked good for us.
ReplyDeleteSnow. Yup, wipes em' right out. That's the only repellant I know of that truly works, and doesn't harm anyone, lol. :)
ReplyDeleteWonder why my garden is looking like a jungle? Because I am dealing with your problem too!!! LOL They are horrible right now.
I tried making a natural insect repellent this summer. It wasn't totally impervious to the nasty bugs, but I liked the effects well enough to use it. I esp. liked that it wasn't chocked full of chemicals.
ReplyDeletehttp://funmajors.blogspot.com/2008/06/natural-insect-repellent.html
Well, rolling through mud works but I doubt that's the kind of natural repellent you're looking for. :) The dryer sheet trick works pretty well. Although, I suggest after rubbing it all over you that you then let it hang out your pocket to continue repelling!
ReplyDeleteIf you try the Skin-So-Soft, make sure it's the original scent. Also, have you tried any of Avon's insect repellants that are DEET-free? That's what I use.
ReplyDeleteAnd I do use lots of citronella candles, incense, etc. when we go camping.
I do NOT like mosquitoes, but they sure like me. :)
I just read this same problem on another blog.
ReplyDeleteLiving in Florida- call and ask the city to spray. They will spray your area an extra time in between regularly scheduled treatments. Look in the blue pages. Sometimes it is listed as malaria control.
You may have to resort to Deet. It is the best thing that works.
I'm just gonna throw this out there. You can take it or leave it. I know it may sound weird, but it really works. Natural? Probably not. Mouthwash. It's tried and true. I live in Florida, so I know!
ReplyDeleteI actually blogged about my remedy back earlier in the summer. Here's my tip:
ReplyDeletehttp://selahgraphics.net/noendinsite/2008/07/08/wfmw-home-remedy-insect-repellant/
Hope it works for you, too.
Try Burt's Bees Herbal Insect Repellent. All natural and it seems to work very well. I was plagued by yellow flies at a local nursery. I borrowed their BB and no more bites! I haven't given it a real hardcore test for mosquitoes, but it did help when I rolled my window down to take pics at the refuge.
ReplyDeleteI've also heard great things about Badger Organic Anti-Bug Balm, but have yet to test it myownself.
For grow-your-own, I've also heard that native americans used lemon balm (which I will be growing next year).
Skin So Soft lotion from Avon works great for us!!
ReplyDeleteGirl, I wish I knew. My poor girls get torn up with bites. I am going to read through the comments and see what I can find out!
ReplyDeleteI have a subscription to Body & Soul magazine, and they featured a recipe called "Bug Be Gone" that you could make yourself:
ReplyDelete- Fill 4oz. spritzer bottle 2/3 full with water.
- Add 4-6 drops of any combination of the following oils: eucalyptus, lavender, citronella, and cedarwood.
- Spray clothes frequently (every 10-15 minutes). Do not spray on face.
Hope this helps!!
Mosquito Magnet. Maybe two, depending on the size of your yard.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they're a more expensive solution but (especially if get them started early in the season) they make a huge dent in the mosquito population.
Well, eat more garlic! This has worked to keep ticks and fleas and mosquitoes from bugging my dogs, they say it comes out of your pores and the bugs hate it. It's very helthful, as well.
ReplyDeleteI like to rub some Basic-H on, this is a product from the Shaklee natural line and it seems to work, too.
Good luck!
Hey, next year think of putting up a purple martin house. They will clean up on mosquitoes!
I second the Burt's Bees Herbal repellant. It has worked for us.
ReplyDelete