Barbecues and outdoor fun are one of the best ways to get the family together. But, the pesky bugs might just stand in the way of that. Now, you can repel them naturally without the use of chemicals.
We have all been there before. The sun is out, the pool is just the right temperature, or maybe you just want to go out to sunbathe! We finally pour our glass of iced tea only to go out there to meet a swarm of mosquitoes; mosquitoes are extremely annoying, and no matter how many times you slap your leg you’ll never actually get them. They just keep going back for more, and bug spray might do more harm than good.
Mosquito and Bug repellent is a great idea, but they’re doing it all wrong. One of the most popular insect repellents is DEET-based repellants. DEET (N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) has been used for over 50 years. It is a common active ingredient in many mosquito repellants. However, there has been some concern over the potential dangers of the ingredient. While the EPA has placed DEET in category three, slightly toxic, they do not believe occasional use presents any harm to the human body, but others disagree. If you would like to avoid the risk in total, you can make your own natural insect repellant out of natural ingredients.
There are many natural ingredients that are fantastic for repelling the bugs and mosquitoes. They are easy to find, inexpensive, and safe to spray on your kids too! It takes hardly any time to make and it will change your summer nights. You can enjoy outside fun without the bites and sticky feeling of bug spray.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup witch hazel
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 40 drops essential oils (Eucalyptus, lemongrass, citronella, tea tree, rosemary, or a combination all work great. Mix and match to create a scent you love!)
- 8-ounce spray bottle
Directions:
- Mix witch hazel, apple cider vinegar and essential oils in an 8-ounce spray bottle.
- Spray over all portions of the body, but avoid getting repellent in eyes and mouth.
While the remedy is extremely effective and has guaranteed results if you spend lots of time outside a bug bite or a bee sting is pretty inevitable. But there are easy ways to treat bug bites too. If you fall victim to a bee sting, place a cold (and used) tea bag over the bite or affected area. It has antiseptic and antioxidant properties that heal it fast!