The yearly bug repellant discussion

[Stringy]

What do you use that isn't strait up toxic? For toddlers who will be outside a lot. Ticks and Mosquitos are my main enemies. But both carry diseases around here.

[SAK]

I'm going to try the tto/water in a spray bottle for ticks this year.

I have some of those mosquito repellent stickers for the kids but I often forget to use them. I have a bottle of Off! Family Care that I keep in the garage in the summer. I spray it on my hands and then rub it on the kids clothes if we have to use it.

[kmmd]

I've been reading a lot about essential oil blends that act as insect repellents. I would like to try that but it would be awesome to know if it works first.

[HelgaHuffle]

We've been using Honest Co spray and I like it. It's just a bunch of essential oils. We had some California Baby spray last year and I liked it too.

[cq4lyfe]

May 17, 2015 8:05:15 GMT -5 kmmd said:

I've been reading a lot about essential oil blends that act as insect repellents. I would like to try that but it would be awesome to know if it works first.

I use YL oils. I mix purification and lavender and apply it behind my ears and on my wrists and it works for me!

[CurlieWhirlie]

We use Badger Balm bug stick, it's lemongrass and various other oils. It works, but we aren't completely bug infested here so maybe we're not a good gauge.

[axisofsymmetry]

Last weekend I tried tea tree oil for the first time as a repellant and it seemed to work. I applied 100% strength to a cotton ball then dabbed it onto our tennis shoes near the ankles, on the back of our shorts and other thicker seams and the collars and sleeve of our shirts. It's too strong to apply directly to the skin but it worked great, we didn't see any bugs all day.

[countrycotton]

I had good luck with the California baby repellent lady year. I may try tto soon, that seems easier for me to keep on hand if it works.

[freezorburn]

Eating garlicky foods helps.

I don't like putting stuff on my skin, so if I'm in a buggy place I just try to cover up as much as possible, especially during times that the bugs are active.

I like the clothes that have permethrins(?) infused in the fibers. I don't know if they make them toddler sized, or if it's even practical to have enough pieces for daily use. I pretty much only pull mine out when camping.

[flumma]

Piggyback question- what EOs would you get off you were just starting out? I have the doterra starter kit in my amazon cart,which has lemongrass, lavender, and peppermint. Should I just get those? Add tea tree oil since that seems to have a lot of uses?

[mc13]

May 18, 2015 9:30:18 GMT -5 flumma said:

Piggyback question- what EOs would you get off you were just starting out? I have the doterra starter kit in my amazon cart,which has lemongrass, lavender, and peppermint. Should I just get those? Add tea tree oil since that seems to have a lot of uses?

I started with lemon and lavender. Now I have melaleuca (tto), serenity blend, wild orange and on guard. I've also been using the deep blue rub for sore muscles and the on guard tooth paste. I've found quite a few uses for each of these.

Also wanted to note that I've heard that the DoTerra oils on Amazon are not the same or same quality as sold by an actual wellness advocate. Idk how true that is but a lot of reviews on there states that as well.

[sct728]

Another Badger Balm user. I like the TTO oil idea though! I'll have to try it. The mosquitos are vicious around here!

I also got a bug band thingy to try on DD. I hope it works.

[axisofsymmetry]

I'm pretty new to EOs, I only purchased tea tree and lavender so far. I would pick up a carrier oil too for when you want to do milder skin application. I use jojoba but I think there are a bunch you can use as a carrier.

[Stringy]

See but EWG pretty much says these do nothing for actually preventing diseases? If it was just a bug bite I'd chance it, but West Nile and Lyme aren't really things I want to chance.

ETA: So maybe I have to go toxic if we are really out in the woods or something?

[flumma]

May 18, 2015 11:55:28 GMT -5 Stringy said:

See but EWG pretty much says these do nothing for actually preventing diseases? If it was just a bug bite I'd chance it, but West Nile and Lyme aren't really things I want to chance.

ETA: So maybe I have to go toxic if we are really out in the woods or something?

But the DEET doesn't prevent anything, does it?  And I still get bitten up with bug spray on for that matter too.

[ovenrack]

If you're going to get the toxic stuff, just spray the heck out of clothes and hats (shoes and socks especially, since ticks usually find you at your feet walking in woodsy stuff underfoot).

I have found, anecdotally, that some of the herbal/eo stuff does work to deter both ticks and mosquitos. I'm not in a scientific EWG study, but I do work outdoors. And since bug and tick bites are what transmit those diseases, I'm fine with the hippie formulas for regular use.

[Stringy]

May 18, 2015 12:08:24 GMT -5 flumma said:

May 18, 2015 11:55:28 GMT -5 Stringy said:

See but EWG pretty much says these do nothing for actually preventing diseases? If it was just a bug bite I'd chance it, but West Nile and Lyme aren't really things I want to chance.

ETA: So maybe I have to go toxic if we are really out in the woods or something?

But the DEET doesn't prevent anything, does it?  And I still get bitten up with bug spray on for that matter too.

No, it doesn't prevent if you get bit, just deters bites.

Blech. Bad choices all around. Both? lol

[sct728]

Happy to report that our first venture out with TTO on my clothes (minimal application to hems) and the Bug Band on the toddler's shorts was great! There were swarms of mosquitoes and I only got one bite on my foot. None on the toddler.

[flumma]

I'm bumping this shove I have another question. Had anyone tried the bug off blend from native American Nutritionals? www.nativeamericannutritionals.com/bug-off.htm

[flumma]

Oh, but it has peppermint, which is a no go for the Littles then, isn't it?

[countrycotton]

At the recommended dilution rate I would use it. In a blend then diluted that is very very little peppermint.

[clldll]

We tried this for the first time last year. It worked really well. The main ingredient is lemongrass, but it also has vanilla, castor oil, soya lecithin, lemon and vitamin E.