10 Best Natural Bug Repellent Tips
April 16th, 2010 Posted in Mosquitoes & Repellent
When it comes to protecting yourself from mosquitoes, you need to do more then spray repellent in the morning. Although an all natural bug repellent is necessary, there are additional ways to protect yourself.
You may be surprised to see a natural repellent is just one of many solutions. Avoidance and preventative measures should be taken, as well.
Here are the 10 best natural bug repellent tips:
Avoid Outbreak Areas, Know Peak Exposure Times, Wear Protective Clothing, Use Bed Nets in Exposed Sleeping Areas, Get Rid of Their Breeding Areas, Use Only Candles Made From Citronella, Use Products With Essential Oils, Encourage the Bat Population, Avoid Scented Skin Products, Reapply Repellent if You’ve Been Sweating
- Avoid Outbreak Areas
One of the easiest ways to protect from mosquitoes is to stay away from them. With heavy traveling season rapidly approaching, you’ll want to make sure you and the mosquitoes aren’t heading to the same place.
The CDC informs people about areas with high mosquito populations. They also report which regions have known outbreaks of diseases from these pests.
- Know Peak Exposure Times
Like most predatory bugs, mosquitoes find particular times of day the most attractive for “hunting.”
Although mosquitoes bite at any time, there are peak biting times. For mosquitoes, including those which transmit malaria, they are most active around twilight. Also, the early evening is a popular feeding time.
- Wear Protective Clothing
This point cannot be stressed enough. If you don’t expose your skin to these biting pests, they obviously cannot attack you. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, boots and hats when in a highly infested mosquito area.
Also tuck in your shirt, wear socks and closed shoes to cover up. The best natural bug repellent should be applied to clothes as well.
- Use Bed Nets in Exposed Sleeping Areas
No, bed nets are not just for decoration in tropical resorts. They can actually be quite useful if your sleeping area is not adequately screened in. Tuck nets under the mattress to surround yourself with protection.
- Get Rid of Their Breeding Areas
The best natural bug repellent around your yard comes from removing mosquitoes’ sources of reproduction. If you get rid of their breeding areas, you can cut down the number of mosquitoes that keep coming back.
Frequently change the water in birdbaths, wading pools and pet dishes. Also keep gutters clear and look for any other sources of standing water that may be hiding on your property.
- Use Only Candles Made From Citronella
Although citronella candles are effective for mosquito control, regular candles naturally attract mosquitoes because they are sources of heat and carbon dioxide.
- Use Products With Essential Oils
Many of the best natural bug repellents use essential oils instead of chemicals to keep mosquitoes away.
Some of the most used oils are: clove, citronella, peppermint, rosemary and tea tree oil.
EcoSMART’s all natural bug repellent uses rosemary oil, cinnamon oil, lemongrass oil and geraniol oil in its recipe.
- Encourage the Bat Population
Although the idea of bats flying around overhead can be intimidating, bats are actually natural mosquito predators.
The average bat can consume about 1000 mosquitoes an hour or up to 3000 every night. Put a bat house in your backyard and let the best natural bug repellent with wings do its job.
- Avoid Scented Skin Products
Just like your significant other, mosquitoes find scented skin products seductive. Lingering scents from perfumes, soaps, hair products and even deodorant can attract mosquitoes.
If you know you’ll be in a mosquito infested area, naturally repel mosquitoes by cutting down on your use of floral and sweet smelling products.
- Reapply Repellent if You’ve Been Sweating
When you sweat, your smell can become even more inviting to mosquitoes. This is because you increase your output of carbon dioxide and lactic acid. This combination of smells will send mosquitoes buzzing in your direction.
Make sure to reapply the best natural bug repellent often when you sweat. This will counter balance the inviting smells radiating from your skin.
If you must be outside at this time, make sure you are completely protected with an all natural insect repellent.
If you’re not sitting near these candles, this is great because it detracts them from your body heat. But if they are in close proximity, you are sitting right next to a mosquito magnet.
So there you have it. The 10 best natural bug repellent tips all in one place.
Keep these in mind this summer and always carry natural bug repellent wherever you travel.
