Mosquitos - and how to 'defeat' them!

Avatar for klrambo
Community Leader
Registered: 10-19-2000
Mosquitos - and how to 'defeat' them!
5
Wed, 06-04-2003 - 3:36pm
This is a copy of a post that I pirated (with permission) from another CL. Thought it was something we might all find useful!

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Fight Mosquitos Don't give the West Nile virus a chance!

OK, mosquitos...prepare to be repelled!!!!!

Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets...Best thing ever used in Minnesota..just wipe on & go...Great for Babies. Or hang one from your belt loop! The ones with "Gain" really stink LOL!

As a fisherman and one that is outdoors at the worst time of day for the critters I take one vitamin B-1 tablet a day April through October. It works. The odor the tablet gives out through your skin (YOU cannot smell it) repels mosquitoes, black flies, no seeum's, and knat's. It does not work on stinging insects. Have had very few mosquito bites in years. Try it. Every one I have talked into trying it works on them. Vitamin B-1 (Thiamin Hydrochloride 100 mg.)

NPR reports that if you eat bananas, the mosquitos like you, something about the banana oil as your body processes it. (Maybe they need the potassium too-lol) Stop eating bananas for the summer and the mosquitos will be much less interested.

This is going to floor you, but one of the best insect repellents someone found (who is in the woods every day), is Vick's Vaporub.

Plant marigolds around the yard, the flowers give off a smell that bugs do not like, so plant some in that garden also to help ward off bugs without using insecticides.

"Tough guy" Marines who spend a great deal of time "camping out" say that the very best mosquito repellent you can use is Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about half and half with alcohol.

Mix your own:

20 drops Eucalyptus oil

20 drops Cedarwood oil

10 drops Tea Tree oil

10 drops Geranium oil

2 oz. carrier oil (such as Jojoba )

Mix together in a 4 oz. container. Apply to skin as needed avoiding the eye area. Keep out of reach of children. Test on a small area of skin for sensitivities. Experiment with different percentages of essential oil

Avon now makes a product that is SO much better than the regular SSS bath oil now. It's called Bug Guard.

One of the best natural insect repellents that I've discovered is made from the clear real vanilla (not the grocery store vanilla extract which is mostly alcohol). This is the pure vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It's cheap there if you know of someonethat lives there or in the US close to the border. If not, health food stores usually carry it or can order it for you. I use it half vanilla and half water and find that it works great for mosquitoes and ticks, don't know about other insects.

Like to sit outdoors in summer, but those pesky Mosquitoes drive you nuts? Well, here's a very simple and inexpensive solution that really works. Get a white plate, put some water in it, and then add a couple of drops of LEMON Joy dishwashing soap. Then place the plate near where you'll be sitting outside. The mosquitoes will be attracted right to the plate, and will drop dead in the plate or nearby. How cheap and easy was that, and no yucky chemicals!

When all else fails--get a frog

Co-Community Leader at:
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You are loved ~~ far more than you may ever know!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 06-04-2003 - 4:30pm
Thanks, Kt. This may be a summer we'll be needing some extra mosquite repellant ideas. I jotted some of these down. Seren
Avatar for emty_nstr
Community Leader
Registered: 05-25-1999
Wed, 06-04-2003 - 5:05pm
We always used to use vanilla on the kids. Now they say it don't work but the nine kids (mine and my SILs) were bite free while camping...the fishermen used it too....smelled better than most everything....

Insect repellanta like hand lotion and sun screen make me feel yucky like I have run through a sugar spray....I can put them on and go wash....just can't stand the gunky feeling. lol

The worst time camping I will never forget this and I feel bad now......Skin so soft was all the rage to repell the gnats. So I slathered the kids and the 2 girls one one of the boys came back sometime later along with 3 of my SIL kids with this rash under their arms and in the crease of the neck and other creases....we got after them because they went back in the trees......" No we didn't" they were telling us but WE knew better. Well at home I had used the SSS and felt really greasy after. But thought it might soften up the kids a bit......I had 3 kids with a burning red rash all over their bodies....and dumb me didn't thing that it could be the SSS so gave them a bath AGAIN. Then when I found out what it was I felt guilty.. what a poor mother I was. Besides Tide laundry soap I think that for the kids was all that got them when they were little.

They found that if they were out to ride their bikes fast and not get bit.....lol....me I stayed inside...it was probably hot out then anyway and I hate hot......lol.....

Janet

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 06-04-2003 - 5:51pm
Hey, I've done the same thing when I was new at "mom-ing". I put sunscreen all over my 6 year old, and sent her off to day camp. She came home all red, so I really slathered it on the next day...Well, not too dumb, when she came home even red-der, I did think about allergies and got a PABA-free lotion for her. I don't like lotions and creams in hot weather, either.

Hey, DH and I had a great time camping in Canada over the July 4, 1976, big holiday weekend. We had the most beautiful spot, wondered why more people weren't camping there. Well, we got eaten up bad, and only the next day did we realize the name of the creek where we were camping was: Mosquito Creek...duh!! But it was so beautiful...We were young then, we survived it. Seren

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-1999
Wed, 06-04-2003 - 7:33pm
Thank you, KT. I have printed this out and plan to stick it up on the frige...n/t
Photobucket
Avatar for brenner129
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 06-04-2003 - 8:34pm
Thanks, Katie. If the rains don't let up soon, we'll have them big enough to eat at the birdfeeders. I think it has rained for almost 3 months here.
Bren