topic Re: Best Bug Spray? in Beauty

Best Bug Spray?

glmama — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 02:44:22 GMT

Hi Ladies, Bug spray is not typically something I keep on hand, but my DH is already getting eaten alive--even in our back yard. I know that many sprays have really nasty ingredients--so I'm open to all-natural (or at least less-chemicals) options. Years ago I think we kept some Skin So Soft by the back door and my DH and kids would spray their ankles before heading out the back door. But it's been a long time since I've used anything. Any recommendations? TIA

Re: Best Bug Spray?

glmama — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 03:34:28 GMT

Anyone?

Re: Best Bug Spray?

Big Sister — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 03:40:47 GMT

I think the one I heard about that worked well was an Avon product. Is that the one you call ""Skin So Soft?""

Re: Best Bug Spray?

Sister Golden Hair — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 03:45:16 GMT

I believe there is a soy-based spray that is suppose to be good for children.

Make sure their clothes don't have any sweet smelling laundry soap or downy sheets.

I made the mistake of using "Field of Flowers" lotion and was attacked by wasps.

I read that you can put a fan on your patio to blow the bugs away. That is if you are sitting on the patio.

I think that they also make wristbands to help.

I know it is summer, but it is always good for children to wear long pants and sleeves.

Re: Best Bug Spray?

Sister Golden Hair — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 03:46:23 GMT

Yes, Skin So Soft is suppose to work but must be reapplied every 30 minutes.

Re: Best Bug Spray?

Nightowlz — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 04:10:59 GMT

If you are talking Mosquitos DH gets eaten alive. For some reason they don't bother me. Anyways he has been using my Penzey's Vanilla & says he has not got bit since using it.

Re: Best Bug Spray?

deja vu — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 04:20:22 GMT

We use Burt's Bees, all Natural Herbal Insect Repellent. We have been using this for about the past 5 yrs. now.

It's getting hard to find in my area last couple of yrs. I bought 3 bottles this yr from drugstore.com...it's kind of oily, and the smell is not bad, kind of lemony, earthy, limey smell.

I always keep it for when we go to the beach, or just outside in the summer.

I've also heard that rubbing dryer sheets on your skin and sticking the around on your clothes helps ward of bugs and mosquito's too...I used to rub them on my dog before he past, then tie one onto his collar..read it somewhere, I've used this in a pinch on myself sometimes.

deja vu

Re: Best Bug Spray?

queendiva — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 04:33:33 GMT

Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard and Expedition. Deet free and they work!

Re: Best Bug Spray?

gacat123 — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 04:37:23 GMT

my sympathies...i have the same problems with mosquitoes! i can go out to tend the bird feeder or water some plants and come back with bites after only 10 or 15minutes. I have had very good luck with a product called *SWAMP GATOR* and an *OFF* product that has this little fan in it with a mosquito anti vapor thingy in it for dome like coverage.

The problem is these do not work if not used! I have to take a few minutes to spray the Swamp Gator and start/attach the little Off Fan before I even step off the screen porch.

check it out FYI!

CAT

Re: Best Bug Spray?

Love2Laugh — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 04:38:03 GMT

Hi glmama!

I wish I could recommend this product I have used before, but I don't think she makes it anymore. A company by the name of Susan Soaps used to make a really nice natural bug repellent.

I don't see it listed on her product page, but I may not have looked deep enough into the site.

Anyway, you might want to write her and ask. It was reasonably priced. Susan Soaps has been around awhile and where I first got started on natural soaps.

L2L

Re: Best Bug Spray?

WhateverLolaWants — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 04:57:02 GMT

We've used these and found they worked well -- you don't have to apply chemicals to yourself. You do have to buy refills though.

http://www.off.com/en-US/Products/Pages/OFF-Clip-On.aspx

Re: Best Bug Spray?

glmama — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 00:47:41 GMT

Thank you ALL so much! I am just now checking back into this thread. Reading all the replies.

Re: Best Bug Spray?

glmama — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 00:49:19 GMT

On 6/24/2014 queendiva said:
Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard and Expedition. Deet free and they work!

I actually just ordered a few SSS, Queen. I'll see how they do for DH and my kids. They have the chemical Picaridin in it--which sounds scary, but is much less scary than DEET.

Re: Best Bug Spray?

lori631 — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 01:04:46 GMT

When my kids go to camp I make my own for them to take with them. Store bought bug sprays scare me (spraying all those chemicals on my kids). I use tea tree oil as my kids don't have any allergies to it. I take an 8oz spray bottle and add a 50/50 mixture of distilled water and witch hazel. Then I add 15-20 drops of tea tree oil, shake, and it's ready to go. I get my tea tree oil at Trader Joe's but most health food stores also carry it. There are many recipes for this online, including others for people with sensitivities to tea tree oil.

Re: Best Bug Spray?

Tigriss — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 01:05:38 GMT

The CDC is recommending DEET for bug sprays to keep mosquitos that might be carrying the newest threat to us, Chikungunya, a virus from Africa to the Caribbean, then to US. Just Google it. It is spread by mosquitos. Organic might be nice, but when it comes to our monster mosquitos, I load up on DEET. Those and ticks are horrible around here.

Re: Best Bug Spray?

Tigriss — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 01:07:15 GMT

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/chikungunya

There is the CDC link.

Re: Best Bug Spray?

glmama — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 02:47:16 GMT

Thanks for posting the link, tigriss. While I'm all about trying to minimize our exposure to unnecessary, harmful chemicals, I think that in this case the Picaridin products OR some with a stronger chemical (like DEET) may be in order.

Re: Best Bug Spray?

pinkberry — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 03:58:11 GMT

Last summer I bought Repel Lemon Eucalyptus bug spray. I was looking for something natural, also something that didn't have the vile smell of most bug sprays. I can tolerate the scent, and it seems to work well. I learned about it online.

Re: Best Bug Spray?

14Victoria — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 04:37:56 GMT

I recently discovered a lot of places are selling little plastic bracelets that are supposed to be repellents I guess in place of the spray. I got mine at Big Lots but also noticed in my local grocery store. This might be an option for you.

Re: Best Bug Spray?

Mindy D — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 05:25:25 GMT

I used the Avon Skin So Soft for years, until I read a research study using live mosquitos in a controlled experiment and the product did not repel mosquitos. This is why Avon does not make the claim that it does. I still use it sometimes, must be the placebo effect which calms me down. Mosquitos are attracted to the CO2 we exhale. They come out at dusk and dawn and only the females bite ( in order to get a blood meal). Mosquitos are the vectors responsible for the most animal born illnesses in the world. In other words, mosquitos are actually the most dangerous animal in the world in terms of associated human deaths. DEET is not natural, but it is highly effective in preventing bites.

Good news is that recent research with Anopheles mosquito genetics is allowing researchers to cause only one gender of mosquito to be born. These single gender mosquitos are now being released in a semi-controlled wild area, to be observed. The goal is eradication through population gender ratio change.

The natural product by Burt's Bees, what is in it?