Homemade Insect Repellent
Insects can be annoying at best. With mosquitoes, gnats, and midges buzzing around and landing on your favorite foods, a day out in the sun or an hour at a picnic celebration can be anything but fun. Having to continually purchase insect repellent at local retailers can be costly, with it ranging in price from $3.99 to $22.99 depending on the brand, which is why many parents, campers, and hunters are using home recipes to get rid of unwanted insects.
Things You'll Need
- Antiseptic liquid disinfectant
- Baby oil
- Vanilla extract
- Water
- Silicone sauce brush
- Applicator bottle
- Spray bottle
Instructions
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Insect Repellent #1
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1
Add 4 tablespoons of baby oil and 1 tablespoon of antiseptic liquid disinfectant in a bowl or applicator bottle. Antiseptic liquid disinfectant has many applications and can be purchased online or at large retailers such as Target.
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2
Use a silicone sauce brush to stir the contents. If using an applicator bottle, seal the container and shake until the contents combine.
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3
Sweep the bug repellent onto the skin with the silicone sauce brush or apply using the applicator bottle. You can also apply the repellent by hand. Apply to the arms, legs, neck, and behind the knees, which are the main areas that bugs target. The mixture is not highly absorbent, so rub thoroughly for up to 30 to 60 seconds for complete absorption.
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4
Reapply every 2 to 3 hours and again after swimming.
Insect Repellent #2
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5
Add one tablespoon of vanilla extract to one cup of water. The mixture is very thin, so rub thoroughly into the skin for complete absorption.
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6
Mix the contents together inside a spray bottle. Shake vigorously to combine.
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7
Apply to the skin, rubbing target areas such as behind the neck, the arms, and legs.
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8
Reapply every 2 to 3 hours and again after swimming.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Keep 2 to 3 drops of vanilla extract in a bowl in an open area in your home to keep bugs away. Mosquito, fleas and biting flies hate the smell of vanilla.
Natural bug sprays such as baby oil and antiseptic liquid disinfectant as well as vanilla extract, are safe for children, and do not have alcohols like the commercial brands, which can dry the skin and cause irritation, and most ingredients are already in the home).
Homemade insect repellents are chemical-free, eco-friendly, biodegradable, and serve as an effective alternative when camping backroads where stores are not immediately available.
According to Virginia Hopkins Health Watch, "The natural bug repellents don't last as long, but are still very effective while they last."
References
- Photo Credit insect 1 image by Bruce Hewitson from Fotolia.com
