BajaNomad - Name your best mosquito repellent

Name your best mosquito repellent

ckiefer - 5-14-2008 at 11:34 PM

No DEET please....

BajaDanD - 5-14-2008 at 11:43 PM

Whats wrong with Deet

ckiefer - 5-15-2008 at 12:17 AM

Doesn't seem like something I'd like to put on my body.....

Besides, the last time I tried, it gave me a huge headache.

ckiefer - 5-15-2008 at 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaDanD
Whats wrong with Deet

Hey look at meeeee, I finally got my junior nomad!!!! :spingrin:

DENNIS - 5-15-2008 at 05:34 AM

DEET is the ingredient that works. Maybe it replaced DDT.

longlegsinlapaz - 5-15-2008 at 06:43 AM

A lot of people are allergic to DEET; some severely...me being one of them. I've never found anything that works well to repel the little blood suckers, but putting straight bleach on the bite within a few minutes really reduces the reaction. I spend evenings inside when mosquitoes are around!

When you open this thread, there's an advertisement up top for a natural product: http://www.herbariasoap.com/specialty/citronella_mist.asp?gc...

[Edited on 5-15-2008 by longlegsinlapaz]

bajaguy - 5-15-2008 at 06:50 AM

Avon Skin So Soft and Bounce fabric softener sheets work really well. Place the Bounce in your shirt pocket, under your hat or tucked in your shirt collar.

Some manufacturers are making clothing products with "built-in" insect repellant.

I find everybody has a different body chemistry. Bajablonde attracts mosquitos no matter what she does. I can be standing next to her and I never see a mosquito. I tell her she needs to increase her intake of olive oil and garlic!!!!

Taco de Baja - 5-15-2008 at 07:51 AM

Bring along a friend that the mosquitos like better than you :saint:

longlegsinlapaz - 5-15-2008 at 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Taco de Baja
Bring along a friend that the mosquitos like better than you :saint:

I haven't MET one!!!!! But I'm beginning to suspect that's why I get invited! :lol:

tripledigitken - 5-15-2008 at 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz

Quote:

Originally posted by Taco de Baja
Bring along a friend that the mosquitos like better than you :saint:

I haven't MET one!!!!! But I'm beginning to suspect that's why I get invited! :lol:

No, you get invited because you are longlegsinlapaz! :yes:

BMG - 5-15-2008 at 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz

Quote:

Originally posted by Taco de Baja
Bring along a friend that the mosquitos like better than you :saint:

I haven't MET one!!!!! But I'm beginning to suspect that's why I get invited! :lol:

We went on a jaunt for a couple of days with another couple. Everywhere we stopped, a mosquito would find our friend. We all enjoyed our 'mosquito free' zone while she was around. :lol:

Next party we'll invite her and LLILP to come and put them opposite corners of the yard for total protection. :lol:

The only repellent that I've heard of that seems to work without DEET is the Avon Skin So Soft as mentioned earlier, but we've always used Off or JungleJuice when we need protection. The Bounce sheet works well when yellowjackets are a nuisance.

wilderone - 5-15-2008 at 08:46 AM

If you're not allegergic to DEET, then use it because it works. You can spray it on your clothes and use something else on your skin. Mosquitos, black flies and no-see-ums will flock to wherever I am. I don't fool around with Avon Skin so Soft - only works for about 3-4 hours, gets the sleeping bag all greasy, then you're getting bit. It's no fun to go on vacation and have welts all over your legs, arms, back, elbows, neck, ears, head, feet, between your toes. There are some Cutter wipe-on sheets that are pretty handy - I use it on my skin, then put it in my pants pocket, or hang it on my hat or wherever. To help with any perceived detrimental effects of DEET (I haven't experienced any), take an anti-inflammatory, and there's a ton of food supplements to counteract or flush toxins from the body. When I was in San Blas - notorious for biting insects -- people were getting sick from their numerous bites. You can also get infections from scratching. I bought some Sting-Eez to reduce itching.

Iflyfish - 5-15-2008 at 08:50 AM

From Dr. Green

Some studies suggest that taking thiamine (vitamin B1) 25mg to 50 mg three times per day is effective in reducing mosquito bites. This safe vitamin apparently produces a skin odor that is not detectable by humans, but is disagreeable to pregnant mosquitoes (Pediatric Clinics of North America, 16:191, 1969). It seems to be especially effective for those people with large allergic reactions. Thiamine takes about 2 weeks before the odor fully saturates the skin. Garlic may work in the same way (except, of course, the odor is detectable by humans), but I have seen no scientific studies supporting this.

I have used B1 with some relief. Stay inside sunrise and sunset.

Iflyfish

David K - 5-15-2008 at 08:52 AM

Isn't taking heavy amounts of B vitamins supposed to work... makes your blood taste bad to them?

Sunman - 5-15-2008 at 11:16 AM

I use a combo of Greenhead (feet & arms) and Avon skin so soft (face & neck. I don't find that it makes me greasy but it definitely doesn't last like deet.

http://www.green-head.com/main.html

longlegsinlapaz - 5-15-2008 at 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tripledigitken

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz

Quote:

Originally posted by Taco de Baja
Bring along a friend that the mosquitos like better than you :saint:

I haven't MET one!!!!! But I'm beginning to suspect that's why I get invited! :lol:

No, you get invited because you are longlegsinlapaz! :yes:

Thanks Ken! :rolleyes:

I seem to recall that I was the only one complaining of being used as a local blood bank when we met! DITTO for my visits with the M/M BMG's! I'm ON to you guys! :lol:

Gadget - 5-15-2008 at 11:59 AM

I eat lots of garlic, good for the ticker you know.

Avon skin so soft is the bomb! :bounce:

Leslie my wife, they fly for miles to feast on my sweety, bumber for her, good for me.

[Edited on 5-15-2008 by Gadget]

vacaenbaja - 5-15-2008 at 11:59 AM

Avon has a line of repellants that also contain sunblock.
They worked quite well in the tropics of Ecuador to keep the
hungry and large critters away. It does not smell bad either.

ckiefer - 5-15-2008 at 12:06 PM

I have heard about the Avon Skin So Soft, anyone know a representative down here in Baja, San Lucas, San Jose?

Gadget - 5-15-2008 at 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vacaenbaja
Avon has a line of repellants that also contain sunblock.
They worked quite well in the tropics of Ecuador to keep the
hungry and large critters away. It does not smell bad either.

Yes they do. I had a small bottle of the spf 15 sunblock / repellant with me on a surf trip to mainland Mex with a few friends. They all had the deep woods off stuff and were getting devoured. They had all been ribbing me about my "sissy" lotion. They had to eat some serious crow before I let them have any. :lol:

It even stayed on pretty good in the water.

BMG - 5-15-2008 at 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz

I seem to recall that I was the only one complaining of being used as a local blood bank when we met! DITTO for my visits with the M/M BMG's! I'm ON to you guys! :lol:

Let's see, we tried a virtual party while trying to grill bacon wrapped Pacifico. The virtual party flopped and we discovered that grilling bacon wrapped Pacificos isn't the next new great idea.

Then we had the flan cookoff. Best party idea LinguineLinguine ever came up with. Definitely a do-over next year.

Perhaps the next party should feature a bloodsucking bug contest? Will need to make rules about what the minimum sized welt has to be in order to score a point. Might even be fun to have a little parimutuel betting on the side if we can find enough suckees.

Pescador - 5-15-2008 at 12:36 PM

Consumer Reports did a test on Avon Skin So Soft and found that it had absolutely no repellant properties at all, so you might just as well rub on your favorite lotion or something that will probably work as well. I had a friend that used it but we noticed that he always had lots of little red bumps, but he sure swore about how effective it was.

Cypress - 5-15-2008 at 01:26 PM

Just depends upon how hungry those little blood-sucking demons are, some folks seem to be more tastey than others. :tumble:

Santiago - 5-15-2008 at 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Iflyfish
Stay inside sunrise and sunset.

Iflyfish

Which, of course, is exactly when the fish are rising.

DianaT - 5-15-2008 at 01:58 PM

Looks like I am not the only one. John says I am the best mosquito repellent around, for him that is. Black flies, mosquitos, sand fleas or any other stinging insect within 10 miles finds me. :fire:

I have tried just about everything---garlic, B vitamins, bounce sheets, and every natural product on the market.

I won't use Skin so Soft because I am sure the only reason it might work is that it smells so AWFUL. :lol:

So, if I really need something, I will use a product with deet. I don't like it, but for me, it is the only thing that works. :yes:

I have also been know to wear socks, long pants, a long sleeve shirt and mosquito head gear in the tropics---not a pretty picture.

Will be reading to see if anyone comes up with another product I have not tried.

Diane

Oso - 5-15-2008 at 03:55 PM

I haven't tried this yet as ,luckily, we rarely have any mosquitoes around the house- too dry and windy. My mom just forwarded this to me. I'd like to find out if it works. If any nomads try it, let us know.

I was at a deck party awhile back, and the bugs were having a ball biting everyone. A man at the party sprayed the lawn and deck floor with Listerine, and the little demons disappeared.
The next year I filled a 4-ounce spray bottle and used it around my seat whenever I saw mosquitoes. And voila! That worked as well. It worked at a picnic where we sprayed the area around the food table, the children's swing area, and the standing water nearby.
During the summer, I don't leave home without it.....Pass it on.
------------------
OUR FRIEND'S COMMENTS:
I tried this on my deck and around all of my doors. It works - in f act, it killed them instantly. I bought my bottle from Target and it cost me $1.89. It really doesn't take much, and it is a big bottle, too; so it is not as expensive to use as the can of spray you buy th at doesn't last 30 minutes. So, try this, please. It will last a couple of days. Don't spray directly on a wood door (like your front door), but spray around the frame. Spray around the window frames, and even inside the dog house

BMG - 5-15-2008 at 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oso
I haven't tried this yet as ,luckily, we rarely have any mosquitoes around the house- too dry and windy. My mom just forwarded this to me. I'd like to find out if it works. If any nomads try it, let us know.

I was at a deck party awhile back, and the bugs were having a ball biting everyone. A man at the party sprayed the lawn and deck floor with Listerine, and the little demons disappeared.
The next year I filled a 4-ounce spray bottle and used it around my seat whenever I saw mosquitoes. And voila! That worked as well. It worked at a picnic where we sprayed the area around the food table, the children's swing area, and the standing water nearby.
During the summer, I don't leave home without it.....Pass it on.
------------------
OUR FRIEND'S COMMENTS:
I tried this on my deck and around all of my doors. It works - in f act, it killed them instantly. I bought my bottle from Target and it cost me $1.89. It really doesn't take much, and it is a big bottle, too; so it is not as expensive to use as the can of spray you buy th at doesn't last 30 minutes. So, try this, please. It will last a couple of days. Don't spray directly on a wood door (like your front door), but spray around the frame. Spray around the window frames, and even inside the dog house

Sounds good, but it's apparently an urban legend.

http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/dishsoap.asp

Iflyfish - 5-15-2008 at 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Santiago

Quote:

Originally posted by Iflyfish
Stay inside sunrise and sunset.

Iflyfish

Which, of course, is exactly when the fish are rising.

Which is exactly why I want him inside!

Iflyfishwhennotschemingabouthowtoskunkmyfishingpartner

Oso - 5-15-2008 at 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BMG

Quote:

Sounds good, but it's apparently an urban legend.

http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/dishsoap.asp

Aarrgh! I shoulda run it by Snopes first. Mom is always sending me crap she gets from her friends that end up being bogus per Snopes.

DavidT - 5-15-2008 at 07:19 PM

A pint of whiskey and sand.

Pour the whiskey on your skin, roll in the sand.
When the mosquitoes land they get drunk and throw rocks at each other.

:biggrin:

Pescador - 5-15-2008 at 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidT
A pint of whiskey and sand.

Pour the whiskey on your skin, roll in the sand.
When the mosquitoes land they get drunk and throw rocks at each other.

:biggrin:

Now that is even better than the old treatment for crabs with lighter fluid, a razor, and an ice pick.

oxxo - 5-15-2008 at 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador
Consumer Reports did a test on Avon Skin So Soft and found that it had absolutely no repellant properties at all,

Well, I would NEVER doubt any CR test results, but the fact of the matter is that Avon Skin So Soft is the only thing that prevents them from biting me. And I am a mosquito magnate too.

Once several years ago I was in the tropics for several months and was attacked by voracious mosquitos (in the days before Avon SSS). I was wearing shorts and they were mostly on my legs. In the humid weather, the bites became very infected and I became paralyzed from the waist down. I had to spend two weeks in the hospital on sulpha drugs to clear up the infection. After that we used mosquito coils with pyrethrum in the evening. But since then, studies show that pyrethrum smoke is a carcinogen.

So name your poison! I am a fan of Avon SSS.

Bob and jane - 5-16-2008 at 05:49 AM

check out Cactus Juice. It works as a sunscreen and bug repellant. I don't have much of a problem with biting bugs, but Bob does. He says this stuff might not work for a really serious bug attack but is okay for your normal, everyday, mosquito problems. It doesn't kill brain cells (and who has any of THOSE to spare!) and smells good.

hookemup - 5-16-2008 at 10:13 AM

We find that crocodile herbal insect repellent made by "dancing roots" works almost as well as Deet .We keep a little on hand for local infants when Dengue pays a visit ,as deet is not for the very young.But the only fullproof method is to hire my Lady to sit by your campfire they can't pass her by. However she is not very cost effective.

BajaNuts - 5-16-2008 at 01:49 PM

A couple of natural alternative that will help are- Lavender and citronella oils.

Neither will do as good as deet, but as a natural alternative, they do help. You can rub a few drops of pure essential laventer oil on your hands and rub all over skin.

Or take a small spray/spritzer bottle(4 oz is fine), add water and maybe 1/2 tsp lavender and/or citronella oils to the bottle. Shake well to disperse the oil into the water and spritz away on skin, clothes, hat, bedding. And it smells good too! Also safe for the bambinos.

The oils are readily available at natural food places or places that have aroma therapy type products. You can buy "Lavender Water" or "Lavender Hydosol", but they are really expensive and are exactly what you can make yourself with the oil and a spray bottle.

I think "Burt's Bee's" brand of lotions has a natural bug repellant that has lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, mint and several other things in it. Haven't tried it, don't know if it works.

Also, I make my own bath soap, but you can find lavender soaps many places. The soap I make has lavender and citronella oils in it. Just by washing with the soap significantly helps keep the bugs off during the day. Seems to help with yellowjackets also.

Good luck!

mulegemichael - 5-18-2008 at 09:31 AM

You can find all your "lavender" stuff at our site, www.purplehazelavender.com ....and yeah, lavender essential oil works!

From consumer reports

Tommy A - 5-18-2008 at 11:26 AM

Another good mosquito repellent

EFFECTIVE Repel spray, $6, protected better than other repellents we’ve tested.
Mosquito repellent with oil of lemon eucalyptus, a plant-based ingredient, was recommended as effective by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after we had completed tests for our July 2005 repellent report. So we tested again, pitting the oil against a good performer from the earlier test. The results were impressive.

We compared Repel Lemon Eucalyptus spray, $6, the more-concentrated of the two leading eucalyptus-based repellents, against Cutter Unscented with 10 percent deet, $4.50. Deet has been safely used for years, though some people don’t like how it smells or feels.

Using caged mosquitoes, testers found that Repel prevented bites by an aggressive species for 4 to 7 hours, and more than 12 hours by a tamer type. That’s longer than with the deet repellent or a deet alternative we previously tested, Cutter Advanced with Picaridin, $5. Picaridin is also recommended by the CDC. We didn’t test Repel’s claimed efficacy against ticks. Nor did we test a similar repellent, OFF Botanicals, $6, but its lower concentration suggests briefer protection.

Our sensory panelists found Repel had a lemony odor and felt somewhat tacky on the skin. Like deet, Repel stained leather. But unlike deet, it didn’t damage plastics.

Consider Repel, especially if you don’t like deet. For less odor and skin sensation, try Cutter Advanced with Picaridin, but you may need to apply it more often. The Environmental Protection Agency says picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and deet are all safe when used as directed.

Also check out this link

http://www.slate.com/id/2123291/

[Edited on 5-18-2008 by Tommy A]

Capt. George - 5-18-2008 at 11:42 AM

Limberger Cheese

ckiefer - 5-26-2008 at 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Capt. George
Limberger Cheese

Are you eating it, or just rubbing it on your body??? :lol:

elgatoloco - 5-27-2008 at 09:07 AM

http://www.dancingroots.com/rollon.html

:dudette:

No mosquitos here.....

Pompano - 5-27-2008 at 09:19 AM

....but....Carpenter bees, yes!

Wait...that was another thread. Oh well, Deet then.

Unless you are going into the far-north Canadian bush...then 12 ga. autos. The mosquitoes are the size of Volkwagens.

[Edited on 5-27-2008 by Pompano]

- 0 The Executioner.jpg - 23kB

teadust - 5-27-2008 at 05:46 PM

No idea when this will finish testing, but it sounds promising...

Bug Repellant Lasted 73 Days in Florida Study

"One chemical warded off the bugs for 73 days, compared with 17 1/2 days for the chemical DEET, which has been used as a repellant for 50 years, the authors wrote in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

If commercialized, the research may help health officials around the world stem the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, which sicken more than 550 million people each year, according to the World Health Organization"

Cypress - 5-27-2008 at 05:57 PM

Keeps bugs away for 73 days.

Only if you don't take a bath or shower. :lol:

TMW - 5-28-2008 at 07:24 AM

This helps http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___81276

capitolkat - 5-28-2008 at 11:19 AM

a few years ago I took a group of boy scouts on a 50 miler through the eastern sierras. there were two groups- kids whose moms had heard skin so soft worked and the others who were sent with "off" or the old army bottles of deet. the skin so soft kids were mosquito bait all week until they begged for the traditional repellants. from then on no kids were allowed to bring skin so soft- no matter what their mothers told them.

davidre - 5-29-2008 at 03:55 PM

Tried the CR alternate method---did not work at all. But I have come up with a really bullet-proof mix of DEET and herbal element. I live in the tropics so I need something that works day-in-and-day-out. Jejenes are repelled by DEET only if it is 100% DEET and it is still oily on the skin.

BajaNuts - 5-29-2008 at 08:52 PM

I checked out the "dancingroots" Crocodile roll-on stuff and here's what it says-

Ingredients: An oleaginous extract of Rosemary, Peppermint, Thyme, Castor Oil and Canola Oil

DEFINITIONS- o·le·ag·i·nous Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[oh-lee-aj-uh-nuhs] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective 1. having the nature or qualities of oil.
2. containing oil.
3. producing oil.
4. unctuous; fawning; smarmy.

Break it down and you have an oil mix of castor and canola oils with the herbal oils of rosemary, peppermint and thyme.

All of these herbs are recognized as mosquito deterants by many sources. Notice i said "deterant" not "REPELLANT". big difference. I just don't think I'd pay 11bucks for 3 ounces of veggie oils.

Once again, you can probably get the same or better effect with the essential oils from a health food store and a spritzer bottle.

The veggie oils may make them last a little longer on the skin, but do you want the oils on your clothing? Just my opinion...(jmo)

Hey, Davi.....what's your Bullet-proof mix?

elgatoloco - 5-29-2008 at 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNuts
Once again, you can probably get the same or better effect with the essential oils from a health food store and a spritzer bottle.

After you run down to the health food store and get all the essential oils and what not and then figure out the proper mix and then get it into the spritzer bottles and then spritz it on let us know how it works for you. :rolleyes:

Meanwhile I will "roll on" and be bug free. :smug:

Respectfully,

EGL

BajaNuts - 5-30-2008 at 10:20 PM

"After you run down to the health food store and get all the essential oils and what not and then figure out the proper mix and then get it into the spritzer bottles and then spritz it on let us know how it works for you.

Meanwhile I will "roll on" and be bug free"

Okay, loco, go ahead and roll on the oils and be happy.

Others may want another option. The cool thing about essential oils is that there are many recipes works. Many essential oils will do the job as an insect deterrant and if a person has an allergy or dislike to one, another essential oil will fill in. Take 2 minutes and Google "natural insect repllant recipe" and you will get MANY simple recipes to work with.

Thrifty people get terrific results by just mixing and matching.

Here's hoping you enjoy your "easily rolled-on" oleaginous( ...see definitions....OILY....) semi-natural life. If you are really into the natural bug repellants, you wouldn't be criticizing a cost effective alternative.

If laziness is what's important to you, loco, you should stick to deet.

ckiefer - 7-14-2008 at 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elgatoloco

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNuts
Once again, you can probably get the same or better effect with the essential oils from a health food store and a spritzer bottle.

Meanwhile I will "roll on" and be bug free. :smug:

Respectfully,

EGL

Is that really a dancing spiderman? I'm sorry, I just had to ask....it really cracks me up!!
:lol:

Mango - 7-15-2008 at 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wilderone
If you're not allegergic to DEET, then use it because it works. You can spray it on your clothes and use something else on your skin....

DEET will damage, weaken, and stain nylons, plastics, or any other synthetic fabrics. Cotton and natural fibers seem to be OK ; but, keep it off of your expensive rain jacket and tent, etc..

Use Permethrin (available in bottles to wash in when you do laundry) for clothing.

Cypress - 7-15-2008 at 02:12 PM

WD-40!

Hook - 7-15-2008 at 04:43 PM

I've spent the last 4 weeks in the mtns of Colorado from 5k-11k feet.

I'm not allergic to DEET but dont like the feel of it on skin near the face and hands. I dont mind it on my legs.

I wear long sleeve white cotton t-shirts and spray at the cuffs liberally by my hands and around the collar. I also use a kerchief around the neck and spray the outside of it when I remove it.

I prefer the Cutter evergreen scent in the pump bottles.

The CR method sounds very interesting...............definitely worth a try.

Someone convinced me to take Skin So Soft to Alaska.............what a mistake that was!

jeans - 7-15-2008 at 05:20 PM

I do not have a solution but an observation that might be of interest considering that mosquitos can carry disease.

My grandfather always marveled (bragged?) that he had never been bit by a mosquito...ever. When he came to visit me in Jackson Hole he turned down the Cutters that I was slathering on for our visit to the Snake River.

While hiking through the marshes I saw a huge mosquito tanking up on the back of his neck, swatted it and showed him the bloody thing on my hand.

But there was never a welt...not even a hint of a red mark.

I guess there are people whose bodies do not react to the bites, therefore they think they are not being bitten...but they may react to a diseased mosquito!

Moral of the story...use protection even though you think you do not need it. Which, of course, is always good advice.

cigars

capt. mike - 7-16-2008 at 06:36 AM

work well.
keep the smoke going all about you when outside.

Hemmingway and Castro both never got bit and just think about where they lived.