10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes
I am a mosquito magnet. If there is one around, it will find me. This past week while I was at camp, many mosquitos found me. I’ve done a little research and found some inexpensive ways that you can fight off mosquitoes.
1. Keep your lawn mowed and bushes trimmed. This eliminates having a nice place for mosquitoes to rest.
2. Keep spare tires and other items that collect water stored in a sheltered area. This cuts down on the amount of rain these items can collect. Empty standing water from buckets, boats, planters, wheelbarrows, etc.
3. Make sure roof gutters drain properly to prevent standing water.
4. Change the water in bird baths at least once a week or install a fountain or dripper to keep the water moving.
5. Wear light colored clothing. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark clothes.
6. Keep your body covered as much as possible. Yes, mosquitoes can find their way through the fabric, but it helps to cut down on the number of bites.
7. Spray garlic powder and water all over the yard.
8. Plant mosquito deterring plants around your yard such as citronella, marigolds, basil, lavender, and catnip.
9. Try hiding your scent. Some people are sold on the effects of using Bounce dryer sheets, Vicks VapoRub and Avon’s Skin So Soft. Some prefer eating garlic or lemons or taking B1 Vitamins.
10. When all else fails, use the bug spray. I had to resort to this at camp last week. I also found that the lotion worked better than the spray, although the smell was worse.
Well, does this have you itching? It does me! Do you have any tips for fighting off mosquitoes?
Picture from sciencedaily.com.
Tags: get-rid-of-mosquitoes, mosquito, plants, stop, thrifty, top-10Related Stories
POSTED IN: Top 10 lists, health
117 opinions for 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes
jj
Jun 25, 2007 at 11:17 am
ok, this might not work for mommies, and I haven’t tried it since I was in college, but… I’ve heard drinking alcohol keeps mosquitoes away. Maybe it masks your sent, maybe you don’t notice they’re getting you, I’m not sure. But I see people sitting around their backyards drinking beer and the dont seem at all bothered. I may try it out!
Michelle Gartner
Jun 25, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Wisconsin is a mosquito mecca- I personally don’t like to use the products with deet on my children & actually have felt dizzy myself using the higher concentrations. But on the other hand I don’t want my children getting anything like west nile virus. An affordable way to keep the younger ones safe from mosquitoes at least while walking is to get a mosquito net for strollers, we bought one for somewhere around $3 (I think Wal-Mart has them.) Really keep the bugs at bay- you can actually see them trying to get at the kids-but being blocked by the netting. YUCKY!
Thanks for the reference to Dave Ramsey on my site http://www.smartnotcheap.blogspot.com I pulled it out of the comments and because Dave Ramsey is definitely post worthy.
Brother Jay
Jun 25, 2007 at 9:58 pm
I hear that Skin So Soft works wonders. Its cheap and supposedly keeps the biters at bay.
I learned through camping that eating sugar makes humans secrete an odor that draws them to you. I’m not just talking about pixie sticks and hard candy either. Anything with plenty of grams of sugar such as soda, granola bars, peanut butter, pastries, etc. all attract the biters. Try eating meat and vegetables if you know you’ll be spending significant amounts of time outside.
The best solution I’ve seen isn’t cheap. Those mosquito traps with the propane tanks really work. Maybe some smart guy can write a DIY for a poor man’s mosquito trap by reverse engineering the specs and suggesting cheaper alternatives.
Karen
Jun 26, 2007 at 7:04 am
Jay, the sugar must be why they were so attracted to me at camp. About 2 months ago I did some serious changes to my eating habits. While at camp, I was so sick to my stomach. So much of the food was fried and sugary. I was eating 1-2 side salads a day, but I can’t live off salad!
Colleen
Jun 26, 2007 at 11:08 am
I use Banana Boat when I am gardening. It for some reason keeps them away with me covering myself with DEET. And it has SPF. I use the spray oil kind which works best for me. The Army Navy stores also have cheap mosquito netting available. But I’m going to try the plants next summer and garlic powder this summer.
JayMonster
Jun 27, 2007 at 9:52 am
In a “thrifty” alternative to one of the suggestions metioned… you can create your own “spray” that helps keep bugs away.
Take on clove of garlic, and 1/2 a large onion. Boil in a couple of gallons of water for about 20 minutes (with the lid on so the water doesn’t evaporate). You now have an organic and safe spray that you can use around your perimeter as a mosquito repellent. As a secondary benefit, it is also good to use (and safe) on flowers and plants (like tomatoes) to keep bugs from eating them as well.
Summer: Create a non-friendly environment for mosquitoes
Jul 1, 2007 at 3:32 pm
[…] about you - how do you keep the skeeters away? Please share with the rest of us in the comments. 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes [Thrifty […]
Kiwi
Jul 1, 2007 at 3:59 pm
According to two really large case studies conducted over a number of years since the 1990s, reported here:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0689/is_5_54/ai_n13784746
DEET showed 17,252 reported exposures (0.06%), and no deaths. Although infants and children accounted for 83.1% of all reported exposures, the majority of the serious outcomes (including the deaths) occurred in adults. About half of all those exposed reportedly had no ill effects, the other half had minor effects (transient effects that resolved without treatment). Only 4% experienced moderate effects (non-life threatening problem, but one that would likely require treatment). I’d say that that means that DEET is pretty darned safe to use on your kids.
» Summer: Create a non-friendly environment for mosquitoes
Jul 1, 2007 at 4:00 pm
[…] about you - how do you keep the skeeters away? Please share with the rest of us in the comments. 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes [Thrifty […]
Techzi » Blog Archive » Summer: Create a non-friendly environment for mosquitoes
Jul 1, 2007 at 4:05 pm
[…] about you - how do you keep the skeeters away? Please share with the rest of us in the comments. 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes [Thrifty […]
yameen
Jul 1, 2007 at 4:19 pm
If you have to have some water lying around (which gives room for mozzies to breed), add salt to them. Mozzies need freshwater to breed; they can’t breed in salty water.
If you have any ponds in the garden, try to have some fish in there so any mozzies trying to lay eggs would be eaten!
Adriana
Jul 1, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Cinnamon oil is deet-free, natural, safe, smells delish and keeps them skeeters away!
Brian
Jul 1, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Best thing I have found so far is the Don’t Bug Me patch. It’s some sorta transdermal patch that delivers high doses of Vitamin B. But the thing works! No chemicals.
BillTomlin
Jul 1, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Contrary to popular opinion, scientific studies have shown that Skin So Soft has absolutely no effect on mosquitoes.
Schwa
Jul 1, 2007 at 5:37 pm
My wife and I have had good luck with Cutter Advanced - it keeps the mosquitos at bay and just as importantly doesn’t have the greasy/chemically residue of DEET. It has Picaridin (sp?), which smells faintly of cantaloupe and feel like water.
Jimmy
Jul 1, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Include also burn citronella oil or candle if you plan to sit in the garden.
Secondly, if you plan to host a party in the evening, fumigate the area few hours earlier.
Carl
Jul 1, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Keep an oscillating fan outside near where you are sitting. Mosquitoes can’t fly in windy temp. Also, the dark color and fabric softener don’t mean much in comparison to the carbon dioxide in your breath. This is what mosquitoes are attracted to most.
Dove
Jul 1, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Tea Tree Oil is a miracle in the fight against mosquitoes. Don’t get the kind with alcohol, just pure Tea Tree Oil. I rub it right on but have heard that one could dilute it with baby oil as well.
Karen
Jul 1, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Thanks everyone for commenting.
Tonight I was outside at church with the youth. They were playing on a water slide and I was getting bit so much! After about an hour, I finally remembered that I had some mosquito/bug wipes in the car. I was so glad to find them!
Anton
Jul 1, 2007 at 7:52 pm
The tips to reduce standing water and breeding grounds for mosquitoes is pretty good, but no sure fire way to get rid of them.
The tips on garlic powder and trying to “hide your scent” demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding how mosquitoes and other insects locate humans. Primarily, mosquitoes detect a) carbon dioxide and b) heat. CO2 is a natural byproduct of our existence as tasty living creatures for insects to live on, and incidentally, so is heat. No amount of garlic or dryer sheets while have any impact on these two factors.
Devices like the “mosquito magnet” work precisely because it mimics these characteristics, attracts mosquitoes like crazy, and then traps them.
emily
Jul 1, 2007 at 9:12 pm
two words: purple martins.
most amazing birds ever.
Homeschool Campfire » Blog Archive » Wrangling Mosquitoes
Jul 1, 2007 at 9:28 pm
[…] 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes [thriftymommy.com] This entry was posted by Scott Killen on Sunday, July 1st, 2007 at 11:27 pm and is filed under Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. […]
Ian
Jul 1, 2007 at 9:45 pm
A number of years ago, I had a problem with sewer backups in my rented home’s crawl space - Which meant large amounts of standing water down there. One summer afternoon, I found MILLIONS of mosquito larvae in the water. I dumped a gallon of vegetable oil on the water, which impedes the larvae’s ability to breathe. Cut down on the skeeters in a big way without using expensive or toxic chemicals. Best way to deal with the standing water issue if you’ve already got the little buggers.
This year, they haven’t been bothering me at all -I’ve reduced sugar intake, increased basil intake, and my basil and marigold plants are going gangbusters.
瑞士游
Jul 1, 2007 at 9:50 pm
eating B1 Vitamins works for me, besides, i would prefer to bring a little bottle of perfume that Mosquitoes hate whenever i go hiking.
Memories 回忆 » Dealing with Mozzies...
Jul 1, 2007 at 10:26 pm
[…] 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes […]
Andy
Jul 1, 2007 at 11:38 pm
@emily
wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Martin:
“They usually fly relatively high, so, contrary to popular opinion, mosquitos do not form a large part of their diet.”
Sebby
Jul 2, 2007 at 12:59 am
I just wanted to show you this picture of my wonderful weekend at a rainy, humid lake in Oklahoma.
Dunno if HTML will work..
if not, here’s the link
http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e234/awesomefrenchhornguy/?action=view¤t=CID__Photo0190.jpg
mamory penis » Blog Archive » Summer: Create a non-friendly environment for mosquitoes
Jul 2, 2007 at 2:11 am
[…] about you - how do you keep the skeeters away? Please share with the rest of us in the comments. 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes [Thrifty […]
Pot van Herb
Jul 2, 2007 at 3:51 am
gotta plant tomatoes near winwods and doors. this will not only keep away mosuqitoes but all the other insects too. works for me!!
Keith
Jul 2, 2007 at 4:10 am
Two more words:
Mosquito Magnet.
Takes a season to work properly, but results are astounding.
webmotion
Jul 2, 2007 at 4:23 am
The one about wearing light coloured clothes is not necessarily true, in fact last week I was at a camp myself and found out that bright coloured tents, clothes and other fabrics can attract mosquitoes…
Flash
Jul 2, 2007 at 6:00 am
After several years of trying various garlic sprays in various ways, including BLANKETING my yard (and myself) with thick concentrations of it, and I can categorically state that these do NOT work.
Save your money. (1) Slather on some lowered-DEET spray (OFF, Cutter, others sell them as “kid-friendly”), and (2) realize when you’re in a battle against nature that you will not win, and stay inside. If you really must battle the biters, (3) Get one of those fancy machines, which Consumer Reports and other places have rated for effectiveness.
Ace
Jul 2, 2007 at 6:29 am
To me, insecticide oil still works the best. Yes, the smell is horrible, but it’s better than getting bitten and buzzed all night.
MikeDude
Jul 2, 2007 at 7:00 am
Get Mosquito Dunks at Home Depot or Lowes, etc. They are little donuts of bacteria that kill the mosquito larvae, and put them where water collects, like where the AC condensate drains, in holes in trees, bird baths (they don’t hurt birds), and one place that improved the mosquito problem in my yard…inside the AC compressor outside.
There are little areas where water can collect in there. I saw them when I was cleaning it out this spring. So, turn the power off to your AC (switch on the furnace) take the cover off the compressor out side, and place a few dunks where water might collect.
Dunks are awesome!!!!
Also I bought a mosquito magnet, was worthless
Tony
Jul 2, 2007 at 7:19 am
Please people…The garlic and skin so soft and other stuff is junk. Someone already pointed out. Mosquito’s are attracted to CO2 and Heat. So unless you can stop breathing and lower your body temp you are going to be attractive to mosquitos. DEET works because when they get close the chemical messes up their senses and they can’t land. They get confused. Also, I would like to point out that mosquito’s can certainly breed in salt water. If you live on a costal region there are several breeds of mosquito’s that breed on saltmarshes. I could go on and on ..I worked in the mosquito control industry for 5 years and know more than I care to about these little buggers. If you want good control I recommend the mosquito magnets that attract with phermone and CO2 and heat. We used to use this exact method to trap so we could get counts and samples for EEE and west nile testing. Low concentrations of DEET are safe and wear long sleeves. Some breeds are attracted to darker clothing (think of an animals underbelly..soft dark..can’t get swatted) Anyways good luck and if it sounds too good to be true..it’s because it is.
Tony
Jul 2, 2007 at 7:25 am
Agh sorry for the multiple posts….I would like to add..to really make a mosquito magnet work you need to get your neighbors in on it too. Saltmarsh mosquitos will travel several miles (up to 25) and freshwater will usually stay within a mile of breeding ground. If you are the only one with the magnet then the neighbors mosquito’s are just going to work thier way back in. Another option (chemical) is permithrin based sprays..but I’m not sure it’s really worth it. Fresh water mosquitos are dawn and dusk feeders and saltwater are grass loving daytime ferocious feeders. If you walk across your lawn in the daytime and they swarm up in the bright sun you know you have the saltwater versions. Fresh water tend to have 2 or 3 brood cycles throughout the summer..the second brood is coming up in July up in the northeast so expect them to get worse over the next several weeks…Ok..I could go on all day about this. I’ll stop now.
Walkman
Jul 2, 2007 at 8:04 am
We had a mosquito magnet and it did nothing but attract a few mosquitos around it. Then we got an electric fogger that sprays a permythrin chemical that is FDA approved for treating fruits and vegetables in transit. NO MORE mosquito problem even though we have an acre of english ivy and 2 creeks on our property.
It knocks down the population for 7-14 days depending on how much rain we’re getting.
EB
Jul 2, 2007 at 9:02 am
If you ever do get bitten, jump into a chlorine filled pool.
I had bites the size of quarters last year and after a 30 minute swim, they were completely gone.
Unzustdand
Jul 2, 2007 at 10:29 am
I was in Ethiopia 2 months ago and some sisters from a parish gave me a wonderful tip:
If you have mosquitos in your room do this:
- switch off all lights
- open one window
- take a sheet or a fan
- start from the other end of the room and fan the mosquitos out of the window
The mosquitos don’t like the air circulating so they move away from you to the window and leave.
After that your room should be (almost) mosquito free. It really worked in an area with lots of mosquitos (and malaria)…
It’s nothing preventive though…
GC
Jul 2, 2007 at 10:45 am
Skin so Soft by Avon is used by military personnel as they reckon it is the best thing to use. Used it in Scotland against the midges and it worked well - and unlike DEET, it doesn’t damage plastics (like your tent!).
Brian
Jul 2, 2007 at 10:48 am
Not sure if it was said, I didn’t feel like reading through it all, but I have found the best way to keep em away is to take a shot of hot sause. I mean I am a fisherman in some nasty places with stagnet water and I used to get bit all the time. But a shot of hot sause keeps em away. I use Franks, but what ever your taste is should work.
snerge
Jul 2, 2007 at 10:52 am
try the Insect Repellent Lotion from Watkins, search for “Repellent” on their website (www.watkinsonline.com) and pick the lotion. This is like a moisturizing cream (it penetrates the skin, so you’re not all sticky), it really doesn’t smell that bad and third, it just works :)
I had stopped using repellent until I found this one …
Charles Gray » Links
Jul 2, 2007 at 10:55 am
[…] 10 Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes […]
Eric Matthew
Jul 2, 2007 at 11:01 am
The best thing I’ve found, if you have a campfire, is to stand downwind of the smoke for a good 5 or 10 minutes. You’ll smell like a campfire but I never get bitten when I do that.
Megan
Jul 2, 2007 at 11:08 am
One word: COMFREY
A neighbor/herbalist introduced me to COMFREY recently. It’s my new favorite. More important than basil. When you crush the leaf in your hand, it creates an oil that when placed on a mosquito bite, actually causes the bite to DISAPPEAR. Here’s the entry on Wikipedia if you’re interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfrey
Carlos
Jul 2, 2007 at 11:10 am
Someone asked for a DIY mosquito trap. Well it seems that some young students in Taiwan have come to your aid.
http://www.diyhappy.com/quick-and-dirty-mosquito-trap/
Seems easy enough.
Megan
Jul 2, 2007 at 11:12 am
Give COMFREY a try if you’re a gardener. When you crush the leaf, the oil that seeps out will make the bite reduce to nothing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfrey
Meredith
Jul 2, 2007 at 11:16 am
Lemon Eucalyptus Oil is a natural and kid safe way to get mosquitos to stay away. I have MAJOR problems with getting bit and this is the only thing that works. Repel makes a spray:
Consumer Reports tested Repel Lemon Eucalyptus spray against another repellent containing 10 percent DEET. Testers found that Repel prevented bites for 4-7 hours for aggressive mosquito species and more than 12 hours for less aggressive mosquitoes. That’s longer than the DEET repellent used in test as well as another DEET-alternative, picardin.
Also, Burt’s Bee’s Herbal Insect Repellent is amazing! Lemon Eucalyptus Oil is the main ingredient.
SM
Jul 2, 2007 at 11:22 am
Pennyroyal plants and oil are also a natural alternative. A combination of pennyroyal, tea tree oil, a some DEET bug juice… with some citronella candles should keep them at bay.
Karen
Jul 2, 2007 at 11:23 am
Eric, You’re right. Being near is a campfire is one time that I don’t get bit!
Gregster
Jul 2, 2007 at 11:31 am
yeah thats the trick. get plastered every time you go outside to avoid mosquitoes. im gonna get on that right now. *glug glug*
vin
Jul 2, 2007 at 11:32 am
Great way to get rid of mozzies is to mist with Diesel fuel.. works great on the pond too.. kills off the mosquito nymphs.
We used thousands of gallons of diesel to kill them off when i was working in south america.. Yes DDT is a little more environmentally friendly, but Diesel is cheap and legal everywhere
Karen
Jul 2, 2007 at 11:37 am
Vin, The smell of diesel fuel makes me so sick feeling! I had a hard time riding the school bus with the kids when I was teaching. I’m glad it works for you though.
Elle
Jul 2, 2007 at 11:48 am
Don’t eat bananas. Something about the ethylene makes you extra attractive to the skeeters
webbie
Jul 2, 2007 at 11:49 am
Abstinence is the only way to be 100% sure you won’t be bitten. Using sprays and lotions don’t prevent you from contracting diseases.
Xavier
Jul 2, 2007 at 12:04 pm
as a target for moskitos, i’ve found out that i’ve become the ultimate hunter for moskitos…
sugar doesn’t just make your more apetizing, it increases your temperature. Moskitos are drawn by darkness and warmth…
When hunting for them, that’s where to look first!
But, light clothes like t-shirts also draws them in numbers at the golf club or picnic… beware…
what’s left? the Fly trap, that stiky stripe of brown paper gets a few. Then you have the electronic buzzer… And while studies say they dont work, i haven’t been bitten yet since i have it… but surely it contributes to global warning.
effective weapons: elastics (yeah, the finger guns stuff), towel flicks (better if towel is wet) and them resting moskitos which are easy prey for the lighter and aerosol can!
laughingjack
Jul 2, 2007 at 12:07 pm
I have found out, for parties, park a washtub with dry ice in it in the far corners of your yard. The mosquitoes look for large concentrations of C02 (like your breath) and they fly over to the dry ice and die. You might have to put it on some blocks so it doesn’t freeze your grass and keep the kiddoes away.
LJ
Patrick R
Jul 2, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Mosquitoes don’t smell you. they are attrached to your body heat. lotions and sprays mask your body heat from mosquitoes. Think of it as the Mud Arnold wears in Predator to keep from being seen. Stay cool, thats the way to avoid mosquitoes. Oh, also anti-histimines will keep the itchy bites to a minimum b/c the bite is a histimine reaction, so, Allegra D, Zyrtec D, even OTC Anti-H will keep your from getting itchy.
HudZo
Jul 2, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Go buy a bat house and hang it up near your home. Bats are ravenous mosquito eaters: each bat will eat several thousand per night and they’re all natural too!
Chris
Jul 2, 2007 at 12:12 pm
My buddy has a theory that each type of mosquito can only give you a bad bite once. When you get to a new area, expose a lot of skin, and sit there for a couple hours, letting them all bite you. You’ll build up an immunity to their bites. If you go to a different region, you have to do it again.
I think it works because I’ve seen mosquitoes land right on the end of his nose and he doesn’t even think to swat them away.
girl farts » Blog Archive » Sunday Was A Three-Robot-Baby Day
Jul 2, 2007 at 12:28 pm
[…] Thrifty Mommy makes some suggestions for dealing with mosquitoes. […]
beerorkid
Jul 2, 2007 at 12:37 pm
skeeter bag
It would be really simple to make your own.
But I doubt that would help on a long bike ride ;)
Nik
Jul 2, 2007 at 12:41 pm
I know this sounds absolutely insane, but vanilla body spray works amazingly. I went down to Mississippi a couple of summers ago to help with Katrina clean-up, and that is what our hosts suggested. I doubt I would have tried it if I hadn’t seen it work for them first, but when I did, it worked perfectly. I didn’t get a single bite. I have absolutely no idea why it works, I just know it does.
Warren
Jul 2, 2007 at 12:44 pm
I worked leading expeditions into mosquito infested forests for a couple of years and learned some valueable lessons. Sprays and lotions are not effective. They keep bugs away for a short time until all of the POISON is absorbed into your skin or clothes. What’s then left behind is fragrance- which brings ‘em on stronger. For a short term solution, garlic is the only thing I have found to work well. Break open a clove and rub it directly on your skin. The more “juice” you can get on ya the better (I prefer to stink than itch)…. For a long term solution, try eating a few buds of the Mullen plant every day for a couple of weeks. Once it builds up in your system, the chemicals you perspire are an effective deterrent.
Dan Hunt
Jul 2, 2007 at 12:44 pm
purple martins ARE NOT THE most amazing birds ever.
http://www.ffdp.ca/hww2p.asp?id=65&cid=7
Despite a widely held popular belief that Purple Martins control mosquito populations, it seems unlikely that they do so to any extent. Most food studies of martins have failed to find much evidence of mosquitos or other small insects in their diet
Brian Kei Tanaka » Blog Archive » Recent Post Roundup #2
Jul 2, 2007 at 12:46 pm
[…] 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes […]
Runnner
Jul 2, 2007 at 12:48 pm
I travel alot, and the one thing that I’ve noticed is that county’s with lots of mosquitoes are also the places that smoke or consume lots of canabis (Moroco, Jamaica,Thailand).
Having been plagued with mossi bites, I bit the bullet and tried some cannabis tea, lo and behold not a single bite for over a week. I know it might be illegal but it really does work.
Bill
Jul 2, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Dragon Flies… Has anyone heard of this? Supposedly (and I forget where I heard of this) they eat mosquitos just likes bats and aren’t as, ahem, unsavory guests… So you get a bunch of dragon fly larvae and put it in your yard - bam, no mosquitos. Plus, they’re pretty neat creatures.
rytis
Jul 2, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Contrary to scientific studies, Avon Skin So Soft really does work. I do a lot of gardening, and with all the irrigation, mosquitoes do breed and I get bit a lot.
But when I rub SSS all over exposed arms, legs, neck, forehead etc. voila! no bites! Recently I got bit up my sleeve (clearly i had missed a spot), but the rest of me was untouched. And on occasion when I forget to rub some on… lots of bites.
Charlie
Jul 2, 2007 at 1:11 pm
They used to run trucks through the streets spraying insecticide every day in mosquito season; us kids would reek of poison for hours afterwards, until our mothers forced us to bathe.
Most of those kids I played with are dead now, of course - my generation dies of cancer pretty young. I’m not yet 50 and I’ve already had skin cancer, and now I seem to have something growing in my colon.
Vin (yes I get it) says to spray diesel on everything; this is simply a more flammable version of dormant oil. The problem with doing that (aside from the fire hazard, and the sponsoring of oil companies that pervert political and social mechanisms) is that it also kills mosquito predators such as dragonflies, and thousands of other beneficial species.
It will work temporarily, and the Saudi and Texan oil barons will be happy with you, but it’s just fundamentally a bad idea. The damage to agriculture due to killing off beneficial insects and the necessity of continual use due to the eradication of natural mosquito larva predators is not a worthwhile tradeoff - you are better off with DDT if malaria is rampant, and you are better off with any number of techniques everywhere else.
Use the Taiwanese trap, and wear DEET or some other lotion that works for you, and you’ll be fine.
Matt Castille » Blog Archive » 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes
Jul 2, 2007 at 2:27 pm
[…] Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes: For those of you outside of […]
Greg
Jul 2, 2007 at 3:01 pm
My sweetie is one of those who always gets bit and has terrible welts from mosquito bites. She buys catnip oil and mixes it into a spray. Its really a very pleasant scent, sort of minty and creamy. Its also possible to get catnip herbal tea, which is every bit as palatable as mint tea or chamomile. I have no idea whether drinking it would help with mosquitoes but I don’t see it hurting.
The other most amazing thing I’ve heard about has already been mentioned above, Skeeter Bag, a net that you attach to a box fan and sit out where you want to be able to lounge outdoors without being disturbed. Said to cut down on the population in an area with a season or two of use.
Chris Coyier
Jul 2, 2007 at 3:11 pm
These are all great tips, but if you just want a quick solution, you can just spray down your yard:
http://repellex.com/store/repellex-mosquito-repellent/prod_5.html
That stuff is even 100% organic so you don’t have to worry about all the crazy chemical harm everyone is worried about (and rightfully so).
Frank
Jul 2, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Mosquitoes don’t see normal wavelengths of light. Rather, they see in the UV and infrared. Therefore, the color of shirt you wear has no effect in attracting mosquitoes. Most of the home remedies mentioned on this site do not work and are only anecdotal. Source reduction, OFF, long sleeves and spending less time outdoors are some of the things that work well when all performed simultaneously. There is no magic bullet.
Antoine
Jul 2, 2007 at 6:11 pm
http://skeeterbag.com/
Simple and, it seems, effective.
Russell
Jul 2, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Those Daddy Long Leg spiders which are harmless hanging out in your bedroom. Dont kill it, they take care of all the Mosquitoes…
The small bird population in the USA is down 40%. Birds are big eaters of Mosquitoes. Cats are the biggest eaters of small birds. There should be a law making every domestic cat wear bells like that have now in the UK
theora55
Jul 2, 2007 at 6:26 pm
MacGuyver it
Mosquito Destruction « Lynn’s Blog
Jul 2, 2007 at 6:43 pm
[…] than the Magnet and the Racket. No, Skin So Soft does not work. For nonviolent types here’s 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes […]
TV Online
Jul 2, 2007 at 7:00 pm
One thing I learnt was that you can use a bit of incense or smoke to bait out mosquitoes and prevent them from entering a room. The mosquitoes hate smoke, and they’ll avoid it.
scaR
Jul 2, 2007 at 8:08 pm
You should buy an electric swatter. Zaps the mosquitos on contact. Very fun and stress relieving.
http://www.swatterchina.com/fly_swatter.html
links for 2007-07-03 « M@’s Blog
Jul 2, 2007 at 8:27 pm
[…] 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes Some tricks to keep the mosquitoes away from your yard - like spraying garlic water all over and removing all standing water. (tags: home howto) […]
links for 2007-07-03 | noahcarter.com
Jul 2, 2007 at 10:24 pm
[…] 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes […]
Missy Wombat
Jul 2, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Coconut oil. They absolutely hate it. I’m a mosquito magnet too and I almost landed in hospital once when I visited by Polynesian grandmother due to infected mozzie bites. The areas that I could manage to get coconut oil onto the mozzies avoided. The rest was open slather.
On subsequent visits I went straight to the coconut oil and have not had any problems since.
misch
Jul 3, 2007 at 12:28 am
Mosquitos are weak flyers. A strong fan positioned temporarily for an outdoor gathering will blow them off-track.
TL
Jul 3, 2007 at 1:10 am
Skeeters don’t like peppermint, and I bet they wouldn’t like bergamot or any other volatile oil.
I wonder if the Skin-so-soft works because it’s simply a blocker (?) If it’s as effective a moisturizer as the ads indicate, it must really be sinking into those top layers of skin!
Vasu
Jul 3, 2007 at 2:44 am
Seems as if u had taken a severe beating frm the mosquitos….thanx for the tips..
http://www.reloaddd.blogspot.com
Eve
Jul 3, 2007 at 4:39 am
I absolutely swear by vitamin E. I start taking it before mosquito season starts and don’t get a single bite all summer unless for some reason I miss more than a couple of days.
Sitez » links for 2007-07-03
Jul 3, 2007 at 11:21 am
[…] 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes […]
Scott
Jul 3, 2007 at 6:52 pm
How about filling a bucket with soapy water or water with an oil film on top. The mosquito lands to breed. The mosquito and larvae can’t escape because the surface tension is too low.
I go around my yard after every rain and spray vegetable oil on any standing water. It seems to help.
Ways to Deal With Mosquitoes
Jul 3, 2007 at 7:59 pm
[…] Mommy, another b5media blog, has a superb post about 10 thrifty ways to deal with mosquitoes. Make sure you check it out before you step outside the door […]
10 formas de acabar con los mosquitos | Refugio Antiaéreo
Jul 4, 2007 at 12:22 pm
[…] que se puede convertirse en una pesadilla para los que las sufren. Hay muchas formas de atajar las picaduras de los mosquitos, como una trampa casera para mosquitos o este software anti mosquitos, además de estas otras 10 […]
Super Ways » 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes.
Jul 5, 2007 at 6:29 am
[…] Well, does this have you itching? It does me! Do you have any tips for fighting off mosquitoes? Autor: Karen.Source: http://www.thriftymommy.com […]
Angelsfire.nl » 10 Thrifty ways to deal with Mosquitoes
Jul 6, 2007 at 8:13 am
[…] Heb jij hier ook regelmatig last van, dan kun je wat tips vinden om ze uit de buurt te houden door 10 Thrifty ways to deal with Mosquitoes te lezen. Wat ik altijd doe om ze op afstand te houden staat er niet bij. Ik smeer een paar […]
April
Jul 8, 2007 at 10:38 pm
I just returned from Belize and the Mosquitoes were horrible. they would just dive at me. I had 98.9% DEET on and it didnt even phase them. A man there had Avon Skin So Soft and it was the only thing that protected me. It wasnt amazing, but it worked better than the super strong DEET. I am still up for suggestions though. i think garlic pills and vanilla spray might not be a bad idea.
Work, Play, Live Better · Link Better #2
Jul 9, 2007 at 4:06 pm
[…] 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes […]
@RaNdoM » 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes
Jul 15, 2007 at 9:19 pm
[…] read more | digg story […]
Melissa
Jul 30, 2007 at 8:47 am
Please help… My daughter is allergic to mosquitoes. Everyday she has a new bite. It’s like they swarm her. I have tried almost everything. We use skin so soft every night but it is not working. I won’t even allow her to eat bananas. I really hate to use insect repellent because she is still a baby and she puts her hands in her mouth. We do have a pond about 20 feet behind our house. PLEASE HELP ME FIND SOMETHING ELSE THAT WILL WORK. MAYBE SOMETHING THAT WILL WORK INSIDE AS WELL AS OUTSIDE. thanks
kellys
Jul 30, 2007 at 11:23 am
I will check on what my parents use . They live in Texas and have a pool in their back yard and never have mosquitoes. The contraption is fabulous.
MissyWombat
Jul 30, 2007 at 6:28 pm
If you have a pond, what are the fish doing? Good old fashioned guppies or their equivalent should stop the mozzie larvae breeding. Otherwise check your property for containers etc that could be holding dead water.
Mosquitoes and Fire Ants or Drought : Rispon Avenue
Aug 3, 2007 at 8:46 am
[…] – in the water – at the water park). It would be nicer if they could finally come up with an environmentally save (and kid save) solution to the annoyances. Until that day, I have to debate if it’s really worth […]
How To Keep Mosquitoes Away
Sep 16, 2007 at 7:44 am
[…] going to link to an older post but it is useful. It is about 10 thrifty ways to keep mosquitoes away. I don’t know what’s the mosquitoes scene in your area but if you live in a place with […]
Kill That Tucking Mosquito Now! » Fanatic Attack
Oct 2, 2007 at 6:36 am
[…] reading is all the remedies listed for killing them or getting rid of them, including ten tips from Thrifty Mommy and a few more tips from LifeSpy. And, if you’re sqeamish about spiders - even harmless ones […]
Cozmo
Oct 15, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Garlic on the yard huh? That’s a new one to me.
Top 10 Thrifty Mommy posts
Dec 29, 2007 at 8:10 am
[…] 10 Thrifty ways to deal with Mosquitoes […]
The Links to Lists | Frugal For Life
Jan 13, 2008 at 1:28 pm
[…] thought it time to link to a few things you might find of interest Thrifty Mommy posts her 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes.I would like to add my own: ¶ Do Not carry a an open container of water in your hand as you walk […]
50 Helpful Thrifty Mommy Articles
Mar 9, 2008 at 10:50 pm
[…] 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes […]
Green Blog » Garlic spray: a natural way to a mosquito
May 19, 2008 at 10:43 am
[…] at DIY Life, we’ve written a lot about how to banish mosquitoes. Tips like reducing standing water, not wasting your money on the Mosquito Magnet, eliminating mosquito hiding places, and wearing […]
Summertime around b5media
May 22, 2008 at 4:36 am
[…] Karen at Thrifty Mommy shares two very popular classic posts - 15 Summer Cooking Tips and 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitos […]
b5media - b5media Lifestyles Pays Tribute to The Good Old Summertime
May 22, 2008 at 4:36 am
[…] Karen at Thrifty Mommy shares two very popular classic posts - 15 Summer Cooking Tips and 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitos […]
Summertime Around the Channel
May 22, 2008 at 8:14 am
[…] Karen at Thrifty Mommy shares two very popular classic posts - 15 Summer Cooking Tips and 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitos. […]
Good old summertime links from Lifestyles at b5
May 22, 2008 at 11:15 am
[…] Karen at Thrifty Mommy shares two very popular classic posts - 15 Summer Cooking Tips and 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitos […]
Lifestyles Channel Is Celebrating Summer
May 22, 2008 at 2:26 pm
[…] Karen at Thrifty Mommy shares two very popular classic posts - 15 Summer Cooking Tips and 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitos […]
Summer Is Top of Mind for the b5media Lifestyles Channel
May 22, 2008 at 3:46 pm
[…] Karen at Thrifty Mommy shares two very popular classic posts - 15 Summer Cooking Tips and 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitos […]
The Lifestyles Channel is Ready for Summer
May 22, 2008 at 6:04 pm
[…] Karen at Thrifty Mommy shares two very popular classic posts - 15 Summer Cooking Tips and 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitos […]
Summertime Fun with the Lifestyles Channel
May 22, 2008 at 8:36 pm
[…] Karen at Thrifty Mommy shares two very popular classic posts - 15 Summer Cooking Tips and 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitos […]
In the good old summertime…
May 24, 2008 at 6:02 am
[…] Karen at Thrifty Mommy shares two very popular classic posts - 15 Summer Cooking Tips and 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitos […]
En god myg er en død myg | Mosquito madness
Aug 5, 2008 at 10:08 am
[…] http://www.thriftymom… […]
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