Mosquito repellant

[halfdome, Danny]

I don't know if this is true but it's worth passing along to try out. Some people have said they have good results with dryer sheets. I've tried rubbing a dryer sheet all over exposed skin with some success. Danny

Mosquito repellent



THE BEST WAY OF GETTING RID OF MOSQUITOES IS LISTERINE, THE ORIGINAL MEDICINAL TYPE. THE DOLLAR STORE TYPE WORKS TOO.



AT A FRIEND'S DECK PARTY, THE BUGS WERE HAVING A BALL BITING EVERYONE. A MAN AT THE PARTY SPRAYED THE LAWN AND DECK FLOOR, AND THE LITTLE DEMONS DISAPPEARED.



THE NEXT YEAR, I FILLED 4 OZ. SPRAY BOTTLE AND USED IT AROUND MY SEAT WHENEVER I SAW MOSQUITOES, AND VOILA, THAT WORKED AS WELL. IT WORKED AT A PICNIC WHERE WE SPRAYED THE AREA AROUND THE FOOD TABLE, THE CHILDREN'S SWING AREA, AND THE STANDING WATER NEARBY.



DURING THE SUMMER, I DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT.

[kartvines]

When we were in the south china sea, and inland the armed forces told us or gave us vitamin B12, and most biting insect avoided us because we emitted a scent they did not like, it has worked for me, and I remember giving it to my children and if I recall it worked for them also overall.

[Smitty Smith]

I haven't used repellent for about 4 years now, I've been using the dryer sheets.

Here's the method.

Use the Bounce dryer sheets (the WallyWorld brand works too) that are scented, do not use the unscented type. I take 2 sheets and rub all exposed skin then stick those sheets in my pants pockets, letting them hang out. I'll take 2 more sheets and 2 clothes pins and attach one sheet to each sleeve of my shirt.

The scent does not repel, it kind of works like a cloaking device and masks where you are. However, if you sit or stand in one spot for 20 minutes or so the mosquitoes will eventually find you, so you gotta move around some every now and then.

When I'm out stargazing I've gone all night long without being bothered, though I'll admit I do
smell like a laundry!


I haven't heard of the Listerine trick, I'll have to try that.

[SmokeyBob]

Catnip that drives cats crazy also has a lot of other uses.

"Catnip Oil: Research by Iowa State University and the US Forest Service announced that nepatalactone, the essential oil in catnip, can be used as a very effective mosquito repellent. The authors stated that nepetalactone is about 10 times more effective than DEET. The researchers beleive that catnip repels mosquitoes by an irritant reaction.
How to make: in a hand-held spray bottle, mix 1/4-1/2 tsp. of essential oil of catnip (Nepata cataria), 1 cup of isopropyl alcohol, and 1 cup of water.
How to use: Shake well and then spray lightly on clothing, arms, and legs, being careful to avoid eyes or open cuts. Do not use on the skin of small children. Some persons may be sensitive to catnip oil. Keep the contents of the spray away from children and pets."

[ob1canola]

bens 100 ..come on it's the only thing that really works..

[Geron]

I don't recommend this but I take Flecainide Acet Tablets for a heart arrythmia problem. Everybody's swatting bugs and I ask "what bugs?"

'member that Tabasco commercial (Think it was tabasco)? 'Skeeter lights on this guys leg, draws a pint of blood, flies off and burst into flames???

'reckon them skeeters know if they draw my blood it tachycardia time

I'm not sure it's the meds but its a rare occasion that I have a mosquito light on me. I do like the catnip solution. I think I would try that one if the Flecainide quits working (if that's what keeps them off me)

g

[Mike C.]

For mosquitoes or fleas on your dogs, we crush up some pennyroyal herb in a spray bottle and cover with water. We grow the herb in our herb garden and it is a perennial , means it comes back every year.
It is also known as mosquito plant. Not harmful to people or animals, except they tell pregnant women not to drink tea made from it.
And a plus is the smell, which I like.

[Airspeed]

I was always told that repellent masks the CO2 we breath out because mosquitoes are attracted to the CO2 , I wonder why no one has invented some kind of gum that would do the same thing?

[sundog]

Sold by REI - 2 drops of this stuff will stop Godzilla.
Cheap, effective, and it really, really works.
98.11% DEET, same stuff used by military.
Got bugs? Get this & you are set.

http://tinyurl.com/2un253

[4123]

I purchased this thing at Camperworld. It was about 2" x 1" x 1/2", held a double A battery and it made a little vibration noise of a certain frequency that supposedly mimics a mosquito hawk which is a natural enemy of mosquitoes. I guess you are supposed to hang it around your neck. Instead, I placed it in the corner of the open bi-fold door of our bus/motorhome.(hippy bus) We left the door open most of the time while summer camping and never had mosquito problems inside while they were thick outside.

[James Ellington]

Some of the things I use to tell the newbies on the flight line when it comes to mosquito's is; don't wear aftershave, cologne, or perfume. They attract every flying biting thing, for what seems, like miles around. And don't eat banana's, mosquito's are attracted to the potassium and can smell it in your perspiration.
As for that jungle juice, if its the same stuff they gave us for Somalia and Haiti then watch where you put it. Ours had a warning that clearly said do not use near eye's, mouth, AND reproductive organs.

[starleen2]

Had this happen twice with mosquito repellent (Deep woods OFF and another brand). We were being invaded by the pesky little snots so we whipped out the spray and we applied as per directions. Then they started to gather around the light – so I figured a little spray around the light would do the trick – to my surprise, the spray formed little drops on the plastic and began to etch the plastic. It did the same thing to the clear plastic and trim on our clock. The other instance, it softened the paint on the camper. If it does this to plastics and paint, what is it doing to my skin?? The lesson for us – we try to look for the natural remedy over commercial products

[madjack]

...a warning about DEET, it can soak in to your pores and cause nerve problems...this is especially true for both the younger and older generations....how do I know this...I have a good friend and his lady, who went camping for a couple of weeks with very limited(to none) access to showers...it was summer and they used DEET liberally for the bugs...they got very ill and had to be hospitalized(she did) and this is what the Docs told them...I still use DEET but try to limit it to cloths that can be stategically placed......
madjack

[dreadcptflint]

...a warning about DEET, it can soak in to your pores and cause nerve problems...this is especially true for both the younger and older generations....how do I know this...I have a good friend and his lady, who went camping for a couple of weeks with very limited(to none) access to showers...it was summer and they used DEET liberally for the bugs...they got very ill and had to be hospitalized(she did) and this is what the Docs told them...I still use DEET but try to limit it to cloths that can be stategically placed......
madjack

Madjack is very correct in this. We brought up our DEET use with our doctor because we take our son camping. (Heck, we never took a kid camping before let alone a baby so we wanted a professional's oppinion.)The doctor told us to not use it on him until he is over five years old because he doesn't have the resistance against DEET and that DEET basically acts like a nerve agent. It's been tough as there are areas that I used to go that DEET was the only thing that fought the little turkeys off however we have been DEET free for almost two camping seasons and still going.

Be careful when using DEET as it might be doing more harm than good. As for repellent we have been using this stuff in the organic ailse at the store that is safe for kids. You have to apply it a little more often than the old Off however it does the job just fine.

[Tombstonebilly]

I used hand cleaner (goop) and mix some aloe juice together and it seems to work for us