How to Prevent Mosquito Bites
As promised from yesterday’s post for how to stop mosquito bites itching, I’ve compiled a big list of recommendations and home remedies for mosquito repellent suggestions. A few things to note first:
You pretty much have to stop breathing to not attract the attention of a mosquito, a big attractor for them is the carbon dioxide from your breathing. It also seems they’re attracted by scents like perfumes, sweat, body odor as well as body heat. Unless you stop using shampoos, soaps, deodorants and detergents–it’s hard to be scent free.
From what I understand, DEET has proven to be the most effective mosquito repellent. DEET is pretty crazy stuff though, so if you’d like to try less harsh solutions, there are plenty of tips below for you to give a shot.
Something to keep in mind: Since some people seem to be a mosquito magnet while others around them don’t get a single bite, I have the suspicion that there could be a personal body chemistry factor involved. And that could explain why a remedy that works for one person, may not work for another.
I suspect that’s why some people swear by the Bounce sheet method, or the Avon Skin So Soft solution, while others have a different experience. Bounce nor the Avon SSS did a thing for me btw, but I did include them in the list below. I know a few people who SWEAR by them.
Basics for Mosquito Bite Prevention:
- Wear light colored clothing, mosquitoes are attracted to dark clothes
- Keep your body covered as much as possible (including wearing a hat), although mosquitoes can find their way through the fabric–it does cut down on bites
Mosquito Bite Prevention Home Remedies & Tips
Vanilla Extract: A few different recommendations for this one, each contradicting the other. Some say to dab Vanilla Extract on your pulse points, others say to rub it all over your skin & dab your clothes. Some say the cheap stuff is what you have to use, others say the real, pure Vanilla is the only thing that will work. Some say to apply it full strength, others say you can dilute it with water and spray it on. Play around with Vanilla to see what gives you best results–there are plenty of believers for this one as a mosquito deterrent so I think there’s something to it.
Garlic: This isn’t a favorite thing to do day-to-day, but if you’re going camping or hiking through heavily mosquito infested areas, try a garlic powder and water paste. Apply to pulse points, behind knees, on shoes and ankles and a dab or two on your cheeks or somewhere on your face and kneck. Remember–keep out of eyes. And maybe stay out of public places too ;).
Essential Oils: Mix choice of essential oils with rubbing alcohol, or witch hazel, or distilled water and spritz on body or directly on cloth to rub on body (shake before each use). Or add a few drops in baby oil or olive oil then rub on skin. You can also apply drops along a strip of fabric (cotton) and tie around wrist. *Make sure to avoid mouth and eye areas when using essential oils.
- Citronella oil
- Lavender oil
- Catnip oil
- Eucalyptus oil
- Pennyroyal oil
- Tansy oil
- Basil oil
- Thyme oil
- Cedar oil
- Tea Tree oil
- Peppermint oil
- Lemongrass oil
*Seems to be strongly recommended
*Seems to be strongly recommended
Plants: Break off leaves and crush them roughly, rub them all over your clothes and skin. Toss the bruised leaves around the perimeter of your deck or patio. Also plant these in pots and arrange them around the patio. You could also infuse these in water and then use that as a spray.
- Citronella
- Lavender
- Basil
- Catnip
- Pennyroyal
- Tansy
- Marigolds
Commercial Products (other than DEET items)
- Avon’s Skin So Soft (straight or mix 50/50 with rubbing alcohol)
- Bounce Sheets (hanging out of a pocket or waistband)
- Listerine (mixed 50/50 with household vinegar then sprayed all over body)
- Vicks VapoRub
Household Hack:
Spray garlic powder and water all over the yard and bushes. Use a fertilizer hose attachment. Will need to be done bi-weekly (approx) or after a heavy rain.
Items to Eat (daily): Apparently the smell that comes out of your pores from a steady diet of the below deters mosquitoes. The items aren’t meant to be combined, they’re just different suggestions.
- Garlic
- B1 Vitamins
- Brewers Yeast
- Lemons
Proven False:
Lemon Fresh Joy & Dish of Water
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( 22 )
28 Jun 2007 at 12:34 pm
My grandmother always used vinegar to repel mosquitoes. She rubs it on any exposed parts of her body. Sure, SHE repels everyone else, but she claims that it works. So I guess if you don’t mind smelling like a walking pickle…
10 Jul 2007 at 6:23 am
I swear by vitamin E. I start taking it a little before mosquito season and as long as I take it at least 3-4 times a week, I never get bit. If I stop for some reason, I’m ok for a couple of weeks, but then I get eaten alive.
13 Jul 2007 at 12:41 pm
To avoid getting bit in the first place, when walking say, down a trail, hold your breath. When you have to exhale do it over your shoulder and take a couple quick steps then hold again. Mosquitoes use CO2, moisture and heat (in that order) to find their host in the first place. I have used this method for years to separate myself from my breath-cloud and it really works. It won’t eliminate all encounters but will severely cut down on them. Once bit, use heat topically — it really works! I just use a bic lighter and let it burn for a few seconds until the metal gets hot enough (not TOO hot) and then hold it on the bite until it cools down. They sell little penlight-sized heaters expressly for this purpose btw. Search online and you can find them for around $10. They recommend holding it on a bite for 20-30 seconds as soon as you notice it. After that, no itch, no swelling… at least with most people, even we who are swelling-prone victims! Good luck!
15 Jul 2007 at 7:39 am
To prevent flies, take a damp cloth a sprinkle some salt on it and wipe your dining table with it.
15 Jul 2007 at 7:41 am
In case you burn your tongue drinking hot liquids, put some grains of sugar on the sore-spot; this should help in providing instant relief.
15 Jul 2007 at 7:42 am
Use baby-oil instead of cleansing-creams - they serve the same purpose and is a cheap alternative.
15 Jul 2007 at 7:43 am
Dip your hands in lemon-juice to whiten your finger nails.
16 Jul 2007 at 5:16 pm
Spray off or if it stings use aloe vera to smooth it and go outside and you will be fine.
02 Aug 2007 at 8:59 am
Hi, Does anyone know the name of a vacumn device that you put on a sting to suck out the venom. I have seen it working and it works really well with out painful or smelly side effects. It works on ant type of sting.I have forgotton the name of and where I can buy one.
Can anyone help.
11 Aug 2007 at 12:04 pm
My grandchildren and I are mosquito magnets. This year we started taking one Vit B1 a day. I live in the Florida Keys. No bites yet. When going into the marshes, we take one tablet in the morning and one at noon. Works great. Can’t believe we suffered all those years.
26 Aug 2007 at 12:03 pm
I HAVE JUST BEEN READING THE LETTERS ON THIS SITE AND THE ANSWER TO CHRIS ABOUT THE VACUMN DEVICE IS CALLED ASPIVENIN IT DOES WORK. MY HUSBAND SCRATCH’S THE TOP OFF THE BITE AND THEN SUCKS OUT THE POISON HE GETS A LOAD OF BLOOD OUT OFF HIS WHERE AS I JUST GET CLEAR FLUID OUT OFF MINE BUT ONCE DONE THEY STOP ITCHING.I NOW LIVE IN SPAIN AND I BOUGHT MINE IN THE UK BUT I DO BELIEVE YOU CAN BUY THEM ON THE INTERNET. I BELIEVE THE BEST CURE IS NOT TO GET BITTEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. I TAKE VITAMIN BI AND USE TEA TREE OIL IN BABY OIL AND RUB OVER EXPOSED AREAS WORKS FOR ME.
31 Aug 2007 at 11:24 am
You know, when you get bitten by mosquitoes daily..(like me)…it means you have a higher cholesterol then others… you eat a lot of sweets and mosquitoes love blood that is sweet.
31 Aug 2007 at 11:26 am
What you could do to lower your cholesterol is exercise, cut down on sweets like soda, brownies, candy…and so on
03 Sep 2007 at 3:53 pm
I’ve tried bounce, only to find that the mosquitoes really liked the bounce. I just tried it - unfortunately I had dark clothing on in the yard. I’m going to try the listerine and vinegar and see how that works.
17 Nov 2007 at 3:48 am
To the person who wanted the devise for sucking out poison from insect bites, I bought one years ago at Eddie Bauers Expedition Outfitters..in the USA. They must have an online store.
Bettie
12 Mar 2008 at 8:05 pm
[...] repellent, try it for mosquito repellent use as well as a mosquito bite itch helper. Lavender deters flies and other insects [...]
15 Apr 2008 at 9:34 am
Here is the definitive cure all:
1 part used motor oil
1 part dog (or cat) feces
1 part pickle juice
2 parts radio active waste
mix it all together and soak a hundred dollar bill in it then smear it all over your body.
Not only will you repel all mosquitos, gnats, chiggers, and bugs but no human will come near you plus you’ve disintegrated $100 in the process. Congratulations your now just as smart as everyone else on here that ‘knows’ what works!
15 Apr 2008 at 1:09 pm
How very clever Toby, but I think I’ll stick with the more pleasant alternatives. No one here claims they “know”, just sharing tips with each other that we’ve either come across or that we found helpful.
21 Apr 2008 at 10:44 pm
This year I am buying a cheap bottle of listerine and not putting any vinegar in it either. I am spraying me, the patio and whatever i feel necessary to keep the mosquitoes away. I am also going to spray my little dogs with it when they go out.
I hear it works well, will let you know. Vitamin E makes sense too.
28 Apr 2008 at 2:36 pm
There are 35 species of mosquitoes in Alaska. (Two carry West Nile Virus) I have been skeeter bait for as long as I can remember. I’ve tried everything I can think of to keep the buggers from biting me. Short of bathing in DEET every day, here’s what works for me.
Clear the area where you live or work of debris that might serve as a catchment system for water. (Rain, snow, sprinkler, etc.) The tiniest pocket of water is enough for a female mosquito to lay up to 200 eggs and that’s 200 more mosquitoes than I want to deal with.
Use a mosquito control product similar to Mosquito Dunk in the spring to keep snow melt and rain puddles from harboring larvae for up to 30 days. Mosquito Dunk your bird baths, water features, fish ponds, or any other garden container than holds standing water. Even clogged rain gutters! Flip your child’s wading pool over when not in use and don’t overwater your lawn.
In areas with large swarms of mosquitoes, purchase a Mosquito Magnet or similar apparatus and let it run all summer long. One placed on either side of the area you are trying to protect from infestation will save you and your pets from biting insects all season long.
Wear light-colored, tightly woven cotton clothing and a head net when outdoors. Stay indoors at dusk and dawn whenever possible.
Make sure to keep window and door screens in good repair to keep from giving biting insects easy access to your house.
Buy Buzz Off brand clothing to wear while working outside.
When barbequing in the backyard, set up a screen tent to hide in while waiting to flip those burgers. Put a screen tent over your picnic or patio table as well.
And as a last resort… hose yourself down with a bug repellant containing DEET, but be sure to wash your hands carefully before eating, drinking, or handling food.
If you have done all you can to eliminate all possible water sources on your property and still have a mosquito problem… you may have to go further afield to find the source of your infestation.
Mosquitoes that breed in permanent swamp habitats will travel 1-2 miles in quest of a blood meal. Mosquitoes that emanate from floodwater habitats can cause nuisance 10-20 miles from their breeding source. Call your local health department for suggestions on how to deal with mosquito breeding ground sources beyond your realm of influence.
30 Apr 2008 at 7:48 pm
thank you very much peoples! im going to thailand in 5 weeks and cant wait to tri some of these things:)
10 May 2008 at 11:32 am
Regarding Jane Williams advice on lowering cholesterol, Exercise can not bring down any persons cholesterol reading. Watching your Diet is the only answer.
Regards Dr Tommy Plunkett