social

Keeping Bugs Away When Sitting Outdoors

March 13, 2008

Fly on Blade of GrassThe weather is going to get warmer and we'll be spending time up north which means you can't be outside without gnats and mosquitoes bothering and getting in your face. Any suggestions to keep them away from my face would be appreciated. Bug spray doesn't work.

Advertisement



grammamre from Charlotte, MI

Answers

March 14, 20080 found this helpful

Mix a small bit of lemon juice in a spray bottle of water and apply lightly to your face.

 
March 17, 20081 found this helpful

I swear that I have been less bothered by mosquitos and gnats since I have been taking Vitamin B-12 (2000mg a day), and B-6 (200mg a day). Check it out. I didn't start using it as a repellant, it was a by product. Then I read that it was a repellant. Read about it. Try it. At the least, you'll have more energy to swat them!!

 
By Lisa from Lena, WI. (Guest Post)
March 17, 20081 found this helpful

I learned recently that if you spray Listerine around your outdoor areas it will keep the bugs away. I guess I would try it in your mouth (as it was intended) to see if it would help.

Advertisement

I heard that mosquitos are attracted to the CO2 that we exhale and that is how they find us in the first place.

 
By Ted (Guest Post)
March 17, 20080 found this helpful

Well as stupid as it sounds and as stupid as it looks a wide brimed hat with dangleing beads will work, someone sells them so try Googeling for a skeeter hat, there's like a dozen or more beads hanging but from what i've read they work.

 
March 17, 20080 found this helpful

dryer sheets! tie or pin some on you and the bugs scram...penny

 

Silver Feedback Medal for All Time! 378 Feedbacks
March 17, 20080 found this helpful

Make yourself a beekeeper's hat. There are meshes in your local fabric store that are thin and light so they won't bother your vision at all, and you will have zero bugs on your face. Cover the hat with enough extra on the sides to hang far enough down, trim into a round shape, then hem with ribbon and tie around your neck.

Advertisement

Then button your shirt over that. You will look delightful and feel wonderful! God bless you, Kim

 
By Grammamare (Guest Post)
March 17, 20080 found this helpful

Thank so much for all that responed thus far about my gnats question. I've tried the dryer sheets, and used the bughat, but I shall the others and see what works best. I appreciate all the help as the gnats are bad upnorth and I love to be outside when the weather is nice, which should be any time now, right?

 
By marie (Guest Post)
March 17, 20082 found this helpful

Avon Skin So Soft bath oil is a great bug repellent, & it smells much better!

 
March 18, 20081 found this helpful

I make a cup of chamomile tea and then use the wet bag to dab on my face and ears where I don't want chemicals. Actually, I use this for all exposed skin and I find it works better than sprays.

Advertisement

Cantate

 
March 18, 20080 found this helpful

Don't use any shampoos, conditioners (such as Fructis), perfumes or colognes with a floral or fruity scent. They are attracted to the scent.

 
March 18, 20082 found this helpful

I can't recall where I found this... but there's a note with the original that it works really well. I haven't had a chance yet to use it.

Mosquito Deterrent recipe

Put some water in a white dinner plate and add just a couple of drops of Lemon Fresh Joy dishwashing soap. Set the dish on a porch or patio. Not sure what attracts them, the lemon smell, the white color, or what, but mosquitoes flock to it, and drop dead, or fall into the water, or on the floor within about 10 feet. Works just super!

 

Silver Feedback Medal for All Time! 337 Feedbacks
March 18, 20081 found this helpful

Use a repellant with Deet. Home remedies and repellants without it or in small concentration are a waste. Deep Woods Off is a good brand.

I live in northern Saskatchewan, and can testify to it's effectiveness.

 
August 28, 20160 found this helpful

The lemon joy on white plate water u said u never used it then at end of statement u say works super WHOA I realize thrifty Fun may not b ur pg r whatever there is no Fun in fighting insects n t like perhaps I should accept what's posted here w/title thrifty fun just sying contradictions (fun) n all.

 
June 12, 20171 found this helpful

Should you be drinking anything, bugs seem to be attracted to what people drink, put a complete total cover on the drink, no holes, no straws or slurpee lids.

Advertisement

Just Google drink container protector and you'll find many. One of the best is made in the USA at Pittsburgh Pa.

 
September 3, 20170 found this helpful

Vicks vapor rub, dab a little bit under your neck, on your temples, and around your nose. We have them bad in the south too, my great grandmother taught it to me, its a old school remedy.

 
Anonymous
October 4, 20170 found this helpful

How do you clean yourself?

 
April 7, 20180 found this helpful

Flu

Colds

Illness at the offices

Every article written misses one big germ spreading fact, things float in air, (even dead skin cells) they land on all surfaces, look around you, see any drinking containers with an open top, any straws sticking up, a sippy lid on a coffee cup, well they all have germs landing on and In the containers.

Advertisement

The best way to avoid other peoples germs is use your own drink container and put a lid on it both when using and not.

Bob Ebitz
www.bugnot.us

 
May 31, 20180 found this helpful

What kinda skin so soft I have the jell kind..does it have to be the spray kind?

 

Silver Post Medal for All Time! 267 Posts
May 31, 20180 found this helpful

It can probably be any kind because it is the smell that keeps the bugs away. I would try the one you have and see how it works out.

 
June 4, 20180 found this helpful

It hasn't done either for me.

 
August 14, 20180 found this helpful

Avon products have known carcinogens and other harmful ingredients that consumers have the right to know about. I would not use any Avon products at all, as they all contain numerous questionable and harmful ingredients. publicsright2know.org, www.EWG.org

 
Answer this Question

9 More Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

June 21, 2011

Does anyone have an idea to make me less attractive to biting gnats/noseeums? I spend a lot of free time outdoors gardening and playing with my canine babies. These gnats are brutal. They get you before you know they are around. Living here, mosquitoes have always been a problem, but I believe the gnats might actually be worse. Help!

By amy

Answers


Bronze Tip Medal for All Time! 64 Tips
June 22, 20110 found this helpful

Ty Avon Skin So Soft. It has a good rep as an insect repellent

 
June 22, 20110 found this helpful

"Deet" 100% is supposed to be the best (but only for Adults). It can be bought at camping supply stores, or the likes of Dunham's. The little bugger's love to go to the top of your body, that of coarse being your head. But they don't seem to notice it's actually your head, just going to the top of the body. We used to raise our hand in the air when encountering a large group of them. And they always circle around the hand. This results in a sore arm after awhile, but helps for the short term.

Again 100% Deet can be bought in a small, 2 to 4oz container. You'll also notice that it's the main ingredient for sprays like "OFF".

 
June 23, 20112 found this helpful

I used vanillia and had great results . the bugs fliew around but did not land on me.

 
June 23, 20110 found this helpful

Thanks so much.

 
August 15, 20130 found this helpful

I can tell you what does not work, that's dryer sheets and off.

 
August 14, 20180 found this helpful

three known carcinogens in this product, mineral oil(from gasoline a known carcinogen), urea (formeldyhyde) petrolatum (gasoline). I would not touch this product at all. the public has the right to know about these known carcinogens. publicsright2know.org

 
Answer this Question

April 13, 2010

What will keep gnats away from my kids and I this baseball season? The gnats seem to be immune to everything I use.

By taychahan from Port Wentworth, GA

Answers

April 13, 20100 found this helpful

My grandfather used to say his pipe smoke kept them away so wondering if lighting a punk stick would do the trick. I would also try bug spray and see if that keeps them from swarming around you. They are the worst!

 
April 14, 20100 found this helpful

What I use at home is table salt pour a thin line outside each doorway; they will not cross into house. If your outside you can but 7dust 5% and rub on your skin or the child's it's harmless been having it used on me all my life & I'm 56 I still use it when I go outside in the evenings to keep away mosquitoes. It also works on pets for fleas.

 
April 14, 20102 found this helpful

If a gnat is a mosquito, I use Skin So Soft. A product of Avon. This smooths the skin and for some reason, the bugs don't like it. I am not sure if Avon is in the states it is in Canada.

 

Silver Feedback Medal for All Time! 407 Feedbacks
April 16, 20100 found this helpful

Gnats can be impervious to most remedies. But you can try bathing and shampooing your hair with peppermint castile soap and chewing peppermint gum. That's what I do when I go camping and the bugs leave me alone.

 
June 4, 20120 found this helpful

Try vanilla extract. A little elderly man told me this and I was skeptical. Everyone I tell is skeptical but I'm the only one at the outdoor party without gnats. I put some on a cotton ball and rub it on my cheeks and neck. Works for thirty minutes or so. Test a patch of your skin for sensitivity first.

 
June 13, 20160 found this helpful

Does help somewhat but not entirely. When the gnats are really bad, I'm afraid they are the winners at the ballgame one is trying to sit thru.

 
May 22, 20180 found this helpful

A while back while living in Bibee, Arizona, I initially did not know gnats or as they are frequently known as noseeums here. One day out, I kept noticing these tiny critters just flying all over my face, neck, ears and nose. As I got home, I itched almost as much as we itch from poison ivy, scratched and scratched until I was sore. Later on, all these little bites turned into fluid-filled craters, continued itching and my scratching opened up all these bumps. I felt and looked horrible and have been vigilant ever since.
Skin so soft really repels them and mosquitoes. It is a pleasant, mild oil which smoothes your skin and really helps with the tiniest of all pests.

 
Answer this Question


Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 205 Posts
April 6, 2010

I live in southeastern NC and lately the outdoors has been overrun with small black mosquito-like bugs. They come around in a swarm. Does anyone know what I can do to get rid of them? Even just taking clothes off the clothes line or just walking to the mail box is a battle. I've never seen them this bad and I've lived here all my life.

By Cricket from Parkton, NC

Answers

April 6, 20100 found this helpful

Could they be gnats? They are harmless but such a nuisance. When we lived in DC area, they would swarm, usually around late afternoon/early evening. Not sure what you can do about them though

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 205 Posts
April 6, 20100 found this helpful

They are very similar to gnats, but much bigger. Wonder if they are simply bigger this year, just like the pollen is more of a problem than normal? They are driving me nuts tho! And yes they swarm, but these aren't swarming just in the late afternoon/early evening the way gnats normally do. These are swarming 24/7! Crazy! Sure hope somebody can help me!

 
April 8, 20100 found this helpful

LOL well sounds like the NH state bird has migrated south. We call them black flies and they bite and draw blood. They usually last about a month up here then the skeeters come out. I prefer the skeeters! LOL

 
Answer this Question

August 18, 2020

I don't like bug buildup around exterior lighting. In the past years, I've been through many different types of LED lights. This year, I've enjoyed one I found that works great and actually has kept most of the insects away. Not al, but most, for southern Florida that's big!

A light with many bugs surrounding it.

Archives

ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.

August 17, 2010

Is there any tips for keeping bees and wasps away from you when your outside? I'm a stay at home mom. The kiddies and I do a lot of outdoor things in the summer months.

 
Read More...

April 13, 2010

We were almost driven crazy Thursday at a school baseball game by the gnats or no see 'ems. What can we do?

 
Read More...

April 9, 2010

Will bleach repel bees?

 
Read More...

September 17, 2009

This honestly works! To rid your outside areas of bees: Fill to 1/2 full a clear plastic sandwich bag. Toss a shiny penny inside the bag then tie the bag tightly shut with a piece of twine.

 
Read More...

March 24, 2009
Click to read more ideas from older posts on ThriftyFun.
 
Read More...
Categories
Home and Garden Pest Control BugsJanuary 14, 2013
Pages
More
🐰
Easter Ideas!
🍀
St. Patrick's Ideas!
🌻
Gardening
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube
Instagram
Categories
Better LivingBudget & FinanceBusiness and LegalComputersConsumer AdviceCoronavirusCraftsEducationEntertainmentFood and RecipesHealth & BeautyHolidays and PartiesHome and GardenMake Your OwnOrganizingParentingPetsPhotosTravel and RecreationWeddings
Published by ThriftyFun.
Desktop Page | View Mobile
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Generated 2024-03-13 07:06:43 in 9 secs. ⛅️️
© 1997-2024 by Cumuli, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
https://www.thriftyfun.com/tf57113617.tip.html