Mosquitoes can be a real nightmare when they start biting you at home and in your yard. If your summer evenings are being ruined by these little critters, you may be wondering how to get rid of them. Fortunately, there are many effective ways to repel them, even if you don't want to use DEET.
Why No DEET?
DEET (N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide) is the most common ingredient in mosquito repellents. It is very effective, and it is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
But it can cause irritation to the skin in some people, and as a result, you may want to use a repellent that does not contain it. So what are your options?
Use a Natural Repellent
There are many natural repellents that you can buy ready-made, and these contain natural ingredients rather than DEET.
Medical Daily provides a few natural remedies that it claims have been found to be effective by the International Journal of Pharmaceutical, Chemical, and Biological Sciences.
One of these is Catnip Nepetalactone, which is an essential oil. Apparently this is 10 times more effective than DEET. Garlic can also be used as a concentrated oil, but this might not be a particularly pleasant odor when you are out and about!
Other oils like cinnamon, rosemary, peppermint, and eucalyptus are also effective. You may also want to rub lavender flowers or lavender oil onto your skin.
It also provides some ideas for homemade repellents. One of these contains up to 25 drops of essential oils like lavender and citronella, combined with 1tbs of aloe-vera gel and 2 tbs of vegetable oil. Simply stir the ingredients and rub some onto your skin. Another involves mixing 25 drops of essential oils with a ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar. Try them out for yourself and see how effective they are for you.
Make Your Own Spray
You can use essential oils like rosemary, citronella, eucalyptus, and lavender, then mix them with distilled water and Witch Hazel. Just use more drops of essential oils for a stronger solution.
Or make a herbal spray by using dry herbs instead of essential oils. Spearmint, lemongrass, and lavender are all effective for this. Just boil them in water, then strain out the herbs and use the solution as your spray.
Other Ways to Prevent Mosquito Bites
Creating your own mosquito repellents and sprays can be a great way to prevent mosquito bites, especially if you are uncomfortable using DEET. But there are some other options you may want to consider.
For example, invest in a good mosquito net and you won't have to worry about getting bitten during the night, when mosquitoes tend to be the biggest problem.
Or you can hire a pest control specialist to treat your home and help it to become a mosquito-free zone.
Stop the Biting this Summer
Mosquito bites are annoying, and they can even carry illnesses, so it is well worth making the effort to prevent them from biting you. Try out some of these natural remedies for yourself, and you may find that they are all you need to avoid being bitten this summer.