Apr142011

Choosing an Insect Repellent, DEET-based Repellents

Off! Deep Woods for Sportsmen

Parents usually face the problem of choosing repellents for protecting their children from insects. Another problem is when it is right to start applying insect repellents on kids.

The answer seems easy from now, when the American Academy of Pediatrics set out that it is safe to use insect repellents containing DEET on children since 2 months old.

How to Get Rid of Insect Bites

Besides insect repellents you have a lot of preventive measures for protecting children from bites. These measures can be used together with or instead of chemical repellents. They include:

dressing children in long-sleeve clothes of thin materials, avoiding bright colours in clothing;
during the risky periods of day encourage your children to wear shoes with socks, and not sandals – this helps to protect feet;
in the period from evening till dawn avoid your children to stay outdoors – at this time mosquitoes are the most active;
don’t use aromatic soaps and other cosmetics that may attract insects;
use a bug screen when walking with your baby in buggy;
use measures for controlling biting insects in the places where you kinds usually play.

Of course it can be a problem to make children wear long-sleeve clothes during warm seasons due to heat, but this measure is double-protective – it preserves a kid from harmful sunbeams and insects. Use clothes of thin fabrics to minimize heat.

DEET-based Repellents

The most of specialists consider insect DEET repellents as the most effective protection from biting insects. However, sometimes it can be difficult to choose the right repellent among available offers.

For choosing the right one take a look at DEET concentration in different repelling preparations. For instance, OFF! Skintastic Family contains minimum of DEET – only 4.75%.

Repellent Towelettes contains 5.6% DEET. OFF! FamilyCare series has 5,7 and 15% DEET concentration packages. OFF! FamilyCare Insect.

Cutter All Family Mosquito Insect Repellent contains 7% DEET. A little higher concentration (7.15%) of DEET has Cutter All Family Mosquito Wipes. The biggest concentration of DEET have OFF! Deep Woods and Off! Deep Woods for Sportsmen (25% and 95% respectively).

Mention that higher concentration of DEET doesn’t mean better effectiveness! The effect of repellents with higher content of DEET just lasts longer. According to the EPA, “there is no limitations in concentration of DEET in repelling products for children”. However this doesn’t mean that it is better to use repellents with the highest DEET concentration you can ever find.

If a child is going for a walk for about a few hours outside, repellents with up to 10% DEET content is enough for him. If a child is going to walk outside for longer time (4 – 5 hours or more), apply repellents with 20% DEET concentration or higher.

Read more about – Non DEET insect repellents.

By admin | Posted in DEET-based Repellents, Mosquito repellent rules, OFF! mosquito repellents | Tagged bug screen for baby buggy, Choosing an Insect Repellent, DEET concentration repellents, DEET-based Repellents, How to Get Rid of Insect Bites, insect repellents, Mosquito Insect Repellent, mosquito repellents, OFF! Deep Woods, OFF! Deep Woods Sportsman, repellents containing DEET | Comments (2)

Apr112011

Non-DEET Insect Repellents, Natural Insect Repellents

By admin | April 11, 2011 | Posted in Citronella oil insect repellent, Natural mosquito repellent plants, Organic mosquito repellents, Rosemary | Tagged DEET free insect spray, DEET repellents, DEET-free repellents, Lemon eucalyptus oil, Natural Insect Repellents, non-DEET alternatives repellents, Non-DEET Insect Repellents, non-DEET repelling aerosol, Picaridin mosquito repellents | Comments (2)

Non DEET insect spray

Despite of definite DEET effectiveness in preventing insect bites on children, there are a range of non-DEET alternatives that are quite popular among parents. A lot of old reports state that DEET may cause toxic side effects, such as seizures. Now it was proven that DEET is safe in using even by children. Additionally there are a range of DEET-free repellents that also can be effective for your children. One of such repellents is Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard Insect Repellent. OFF! series also offers non-DEET repelling aerosol that contains lemon eucalyptus oil. It is OFF! Botanicals Plant Based Insect Repellent. Mention that repellents that contain lemon equcaliptus oil are allowed to be used only on children over three years old.

Other DEET-free repellents are:

Repel Plant Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent
Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent (Picaridin)
California Baby Bug Repellent Spray with Citronella
Bull Frog Mosquito Coast
Burt’s Bees Herbal Insect Repellent ( based on Lemongrass Citronella and Rosemary Oils)

Picaridin is also a chemical repelling product, it is considered to be as effective as DEET. That is why it is a good choice for parents who are looking for alternative to DEET.

Must-Know Information:

The AAP recommends using DEET repellents not more than one time a day. Don’t reuse it on children during a day.
It is not recommended to use insect repellent together with sunscreen. The problem is in different ways of using these means. Sunscreen needs to be reused once a few hours, while repellent doesn’t. Combined using of sunscreen and repellent is OK when you stay outdoors not longer than fore a few hours.
Limit using repellents by applying it only on exposed skin areas. Don’t use it on skin under clothes, child’s hands, areas near mouth and eyes. Also it is not recommended to use repellents on irritated or wounded skin.
To protect your child from over application, apply the repellents on your hands and only then rub it on your child’s skin.
After you child comes from the outside, wash off the rests of repellents from his skin.

By admin | Posted in Citronella oil insect repellent, Natural mosquito repellent plants, Organic mosquito repellents, Rosemary | Tagged DEET free insect spray, DEET repellents, DEET-free repellents, Lemon eucalyptus oil, Natural Insect Repellents, non-DEET alternatives repellents, Non-DEET Insect Repellents, non-DEET repelling aerosol, Picaridin mosquito repellents | Comments (2)

Apr092011

Repelling mosquitoes, Does it really repelling mosquitoes?

By admin | April 9, 2011 | Posted in Mosquito repellent rules, Mosquito repelling | Tagged device for repelling mosquitoes, mosquito generator of sound frequency, Mosquito Repeller, mosquito repeller solar powered, Repelling mosquitoes | Comment (1)

Repelling mosquitoes

So I should say some tips about repelling mosquitoes. Mosquito Repeller is built on the effect of creating sound with a frequency that mimics the sound buzz and alarm mosquito males, which is intolerable to the female mosquito “halves” during the breeding season. So, this invention is against mosquito “women” ? Yes, because they – bloodsuckers, vampire and do crafts with you on our skin. Sound effects of mosquito repellents is very weak – and in the daytime and evening “cacophony” sounds almost imperceptible to humans.

Technically, mosquito repeller is a generator of sound frequency (the most commonly used frequencies in the range of 4.8 and 7 kHz). Meals in mosquitoes served as a deterrent from household batteries, and from the power adapter (fixed model). Author of the article even saw a mosquito repeller solar powered, it was repelling mosquitoes very good!

Does it really repelling mosquitoes?

Using multiple frequencies the devices that are repelling mosquitoes are trying to expand the spectrum efficiency of the device, since it is no secret that in nature there are more than 200 major groups of mosquitoes. These groups are mainly regional division. There are models with a “floating” rate, or frequency, adjustable manually by the user.

Mosquito Repeller is used as a stand-alone, strengthening even on clothes (miniature wearable repellents, so called “key rings”) and stationary (in different rooms: apartments, cottages, offices).

Appeared a few years ago in our market definition characterizes a fairly wide range of electronic devices designed to deal with these pesky creatures – they are really repelling mosquitoes!

Most of the tools against the mosquitoes have been constructed on the basis of chemically active substances that are either deterred mosquitoes strong odor, or destroy them with insecticides (chemicals that kill insects).

I think no need to explain that such an effect can not affect the rights, especially in an age when our body is greatly weakened by environmental and psychological influences.

By admin | Posted in Mosquito repellent rules, Mosquito repelling | Tagged device for repelling mosquitoes, mosquito generator of sound frequency, Mosquito Repeller, mosquito repeller solar powered, Repelling mosquitoes | Comment (1)

Apr062011

Interesting Facts About Mosquito Bites

By admin | April 6, 2011 | Posted in Mosquito bites, Mosquito info | Tagged fact about mosquitoes, histamines antibodies, mosquito bites, mosquito bite allergic reactions, mosquitoes dangerous diseases, painful affliction mosquito bites, sound of mosquitoes | Comments (2)

Mosquito bites

Those who spend some of their free time outside in spring and summer are most likely familiar to the irritating sound of mosquitoes buzzing and being swatted. However, you are usually left with a mosquito bite, which is always a simple annoyance, most of us put up with. Nevertheless, the bites are able to cause allergic reactions in some individuals, becoming a very painful affliction.

The most well-known fact about mosquitoes is that those who feed on blood are females, while male mosquitoes feed off nectar. When a mosquito bites a human, it injects proteins and enzymes into their body, which are to numb the skin. This is done with the sole purpose to make a person not notice the insect and swat it. This also prevents the human blood from clotting so the mosquito can drink it easily. Human body, however, will anyway notice the enzymes the insects leave behind in the wound. In order to protect the body from the injury of the bite, it starts releasing antibodies and neurotransmitters known as histamines. This is what makes the bite sites itch, usually causing bumps to rise under the skin.

The mosquitoes are known for carrying a number of dangerous diseases, such as encephalitis, West Nile virus, Malaria, and fever. Considering that those insects are able to transmit such diseases, it would be best to avoid being bitten. The easiest way to do so is to stay away from the areas full of mosquitoes. These insects breed in standing water, which means that areas like marshes, swamps and places by stagnant water are most likely infested with them. In case you have to be in some of those locations, do you best to schedule your time there to the middle of the day, since the insects are more active at dawn and dusk.

Instruction to Electric Bug Zapper

By admin | April 4, 2011 | Posted in Electric Bug Zapper | Tagged Bug Zapper manual, electronic mosquitoes killer, Flowtron BK-80D 80-Watt Electronic Insect Killer, Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer, insects zapper, Instruction to Electric Bug Zapper, kill the insects, Koolatron FT24 8 Watt Electronic Bug Zapper | Comment (1)

Electronic bug zapper

When the bugs are feeling very hungry, people feel very annoyed, because mosquitoes are able to quickly turn a late afternoon get-together into a cacophony of yelps and gesticulating arms. Here comes the time to use the bug zapper, but to use it wisely, because if you position it too close to people, you will actually cause more harm than good. Below are some recommendations on how to use an electric bug zapper properly.

First of all, it has been discovered recently by Kansas State University researchers that miniscule parts of a flying bug destroyed by an electric bug zapper can easily shower down on the crowd standing up to 7 feet away from the zapper. Secondly, lots of people mistakenly believe that placing the zapper closer to the crowd will kill the insects attacking the guests, which is wrong. The reality is that the insects are attracted, not deterred from the glowing light of the device, which means that the mosquitoes are invited to approach the picnic attendees. After coming closer, they would more likely choose to feast on fresh meat rather than to get interested by the blue light.

Taking into account both those problems, you will come to a conclusion that the best position for the electric bug zapper is about 12 feet away from people, particularly if you have a food preparation area outdoors or kids playing outside. After choosing the right place, you will be able to set up the device anywhere you want if you use a shepard’s hook, which is the metallic hooked pole usually used for displaying hanging baskets. All you need to do is place the hook in the chosen location and hang the trapper on the hooked end. You will also need to run an outdoor extension cord to the device in order to power it up. Don’t forget to inform all the guests and their kids about the cord and to watch out for it.

Are You Attractive for Mosquitoes? Mosquito repellent rules

By admin | March 29, 2011 | Posted in Eucalyptus, Mosquito repellent rules, Mosquito repelling | Tagged attractive to mosquitoes, Lemon eucalyptus oil, minimize attractiveness to mosquitoes, picaridin mosquito repellent, repellent rules, repellents form sprays lotions | Comments (0)

Attractive for Mosquitoes

You are not the only one. The process due to which mosquitoes are attracted to their victims is called chemotaxis. It is a biological process of motor reaction of microorganisms on chemical irritants. The biting insects are attracted by people’s biochemistry regardless of any physical features.

The two chemicals that are most attractive to mosquitoes is cholesterol and uric acid. If one or both of these chemicals are excreted via your skin, you become much more attractive to mosquitoes than any other person in the neighbourhood. In this aspect Northern Europeans are the most attractive ethnic group for mosquitoes. If you come to an area where mosquitoes are swarming or there are a lot of them, most likely you will be bitten despite the level of your attractiveness, as insect will look for any possible opportunity to get some food.

Fortunately, there are a few ways of how to minimize your attractiveness to mosquitoes and get much fewer bites than you usually get.

The first thing you should do is to assume measures of freeing your home from mosquitoes. Get rid of standing water sources, even if they are small ones. A small puddle of water on your floor can be enough for mosquitoes to ovipost there. If there are some community pools of standing water near your house, talk to officials in order to solve this problem correctly.

The second preventive measure is avoiding walking outside in the periods of a day when mosquitoes are maximally active. These are dawn and evening time. If you go outside, wear clothes that maximally cover your skin.

Third, try to use some repellents. The most of them contain DEET, picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil. First two are chemicals, the third one is natural repelling matter. Repellents are available in the form of sprays or lotions. The repellent for non-skin use (applying on tent surfaces, hats, etc.) is permethrin.

There are a few rules of using repellents that you should follow:

Always read all the details of instructions before using the repellent, never overdose it.
Use repellents only on open skin areas.
Do not imply repellents on inflamed or impaired skin.
Don’t apply repellents directly on your face: at first put it on your hand and then rub on your face skin.
After returning indoors clean off the rests of repellent from your skin using soap and water. If repellent was applied on your clothes, wash it before wearing again.
If you are using repellent for your child, make sure it is labelled as a safe product for children. Minimize using repellents on children by encouraging them to wear long-sleeve clothes, socks and shoes. Remember that repellents based on lemon eucalyptus oil are allowed to be used on children over three years old. Repellents are not recommended to be used on children under one year old.
In case of reaction to a repellent, whether it is itching or rash, you should immediately clean it off your skin with the help of soap and water, and contact your poison control center.

By admin | Posted in Eucalyptus, Mosquito repellent rules, Mosquito repelling | Tagged attractive to mosquitoes, Lemon eucalyptus oil, minimize attractiveness to mosquitoes, picaridin mosquito repellent, repellent rules, repellents form sprays lotions | Comments (0)

Mar242011

No Mosquitoes Around You: Amazon’s Bestselling Repellent Only for $9.99!

By admin | March 24, 2011 | Posted in Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus mosquito repellent, Natural mosquito repellent plants, Organic mosquito repellents | Tagged Amazon’s Bestselling Repellent, buy Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, effective mosquito control, Eucalyptus mosquito repellent, Lemon eucalyptus oil, natural repelling ingredient, Repel HG-406T Lemon Eucalyptus | Comments (3)

Repel HG-406T Lemon Eucalyptus

If you don’t want to become a tasty dish for the swarm of mosquitoes, buy an effective repellent for breaking up their attacks!

Not to make experiments on yourself, you should use only proven repellents like Repel HG-406T Lemon Eucalyptus. It is Amazon.com bestseller among mosquito repelling sprays approved by millions of satisfied owners. Repel spray provides 100% effective mosquito control in any environmental conditions. That is why it is perfectly suitable for indoor and outdoor using, hiking and travelling all over the world!

Active Repel’s ingredient is lemon eucalyptus oil. It is the only natural repelling ingredient whose effectiveness and safety was approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This natural repelling agent scares away mosquitoes, no-see-ums and other biting insects, keeping your skin totally protected. Thanks to 40% concentration of lemon eucalyptus oil a wee bit of Repel is enough to protect you from bites for up to 6 hours! It is 100% natural repelling product that has non-greasy texture and pleasant scent. Handy pump provides optimal dosing of repelling liquid. As opposite to chemical repellent, lemon eucalyptus oil based Repel has no side effects. That is why using it is totally safe for your health. It is recommended for using on adults and children over 3 years old.

If you have Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, no other repellents are required. It provides effective natural protection for all your family. When it is applied on skin, all biting insects will give you a wide berth for at least a few hours.

Customer Reviews

By Mare Astra (United States)

I am allergic to Deet. I’ve been the one at the back of the camping/hiking/fishing trips silently feeding millions of mosquitoes and other biting insects in misery for years- until now. I’ve tried everything on the market and was always disappointed, since all the deet free products I tried either triggered my allergies or just plain didn’t work. This year, my doctor recommended I try the deet-free Repel, and I am sold. The difference is like night and day. We took it on a trip photographing butterflies and dragonflies in swamps in the Rio Grande Valley, TX, and came away bite free. Didn’t work on chiggers, but I don’t think it’s supposed to. I’m not sure it lasts as long as the deet-containing products- my husband started using it exclusively as well, and he has to apply it more often than the Off or Cutter products he used to use. But I’m talking a drop from six hours of effectiveness to four, hardly a problem if you have room in your pack to carry the stuff. Also, it smells like Eucalyptus, which some people don’t like, and you will smell of it for HOURS, even after it has lost it’s effectiveness or until you take a shower.

By Stephen Kalman (Hawley, Pa USA)

Ya know the guy in the crowd who always has the army of bugs flying around his head? That guy is me. I’ve tried everything, sometimes at the same time (not safe, by the way).

Yesterday I went on a 5 mile hike on the Appalachian Trail in Northern NJ. Great walk, but there were a million bugs, all of whom told their friends about me. The guy I was walking with told me to try this “deet free” stuff. I kept saying no, until I shared the can of OFF I brought with the crowd at the Rutherford Shelter. They used it up so I figured I’d try the Repel.

This stuff is great. It worked for two solid hours. Probably more, but we were back at the car by then. I’ve just ordered a bunch. Go for it! As a plus, it smells a lot better than the typical stuff, too.

Buy Repel HG-406T Lemon Eucalyptus for as cheap as $9.99 – it is the most affordable 100% protection from mosquitoes!

By admin | Posted in Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus mosquito repellent, Natural mosquito repellent plants, Organic mosquito repellents | Tagged Amazon’s Bestselling Repellent, buy Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, effective mosquito control, Eucalyptus mosquito repellent, Lemon eucalyptus oil, natural repelling ingredient, Repel HG-406T Lemon Eucalyptus | Comments (3)

Feb092011

Herbal mosquito deterent weapon, mosquito deterent plant

By admin | February 9, 2011 | Posted in Citronella oil insect repellent, Foods that repel mosquitos, Natural mosquito repellent plants, Organic mosquito repellents, Rosemary | Tagged herbal mosquito deterent, herbal mosquito repellent, herbal mosquito repelling, mosquito deterent, mosquito deterent herbs, mosquito deterent horsemint, mosquito deterent herbal repellents, mosquito deterent plant | Comments (2)

Fighting mosquitoes is a matter of long and expensive researching, when scientists try to find some new effective chemical that would be maximally safe for humans but mortally dangerous for mosquitoes. Why not to use what nature gives in order to simplify the fight against mosquitoes in your home environment? Using mosquito deterent herbs are totally safe for people. Being a beautiful decoration of your garden and courtyard, such plants can make mosquitoes refuse from coming inside.

The matter is in substances that herbs contain and produce. If you want to create a natural barrier for big amounts of mosquitoes, keeping them away from your house, plant these herbs. The first one is horsemint. It is well-known mosquito deterent plant, also called citronella. This is a common herb for the Eastern USA, grows on sandy soils. Horsemint also is used in medicine to cure flu. It acts as a natural antibacterial and fungicidal medication. The active ingredient of its essential oil is tymol, it acts as a mosquito repelling element.

Another popular mosquito deterent herb is rosemary. It is one of the oldest mosquito repellents from the Mediterranean climatic zones. It can grow in gardens and is well-adjustable for cultivation at home, even with moderate climate. If your climatic conditions don’t allow growing rosemary in the garden, you can buy its essential oil. By mixing a few drops with 50 ml of olive oil you can make an effective repellent for your body. The mix can be used for a long time, if to keep it in cool and dry space. Essential oil, as well as olive spoil very slowly. Rosemary is a useful plant, both as a seasoning and a repelling weapon from mosquitoes. So if you have proper conditions, it is better to plant it near your home.

One of the most useful medical herbs, marigolds can be also used for keeping mosquitoes away from you. The flowers of marigolds
have specific odor that act as a mosquito deterent element. The herb is not whimsical, the only thing it needs is enough sun light. They can be grown from seed.

The other plant whose odour makes mosquitoes fly away is ageratum. This small herb with charming blue and white flowers is widely used in perfumery, as well as in producing of herbal repellents. It is not recommended to use ageratum oil or some derivative elements directly on your skin, but as a stand-alone mosquito repelling bush it works perfectly. And ideally suits the most of house exteriors.

The real winner of herbal repellents is catmint. It was proven by researches that its effectiveness is a few times more than DEET. It is a small perennial plant, can be easily grown from seed, and it won’t cause any inconvenience in cultivation. Besides its repelling qualities and intoxicating influence on cats, catmint is also a good ingredient for an aromatic herbal tea. It has useful influence on human body, so can be used for different therapies.

All aforementioned plants can be used for repelling mosquitoes. To do this just cut off its leaves and crush to make it aroma more intensive. Rosemary and catmint can be used directly on skin – just pound a few leaves and rub on skin or clothes. They have pleasant odour that won’t spoil the atmosphere.

By admin | Posted in Citronella oil insect repellent, Foods that repel mosquitos, Natural mosquito repellent plants, Organic mosquito repellents, Rosemary | Tagged herbal mosquito deterent, herbal mosquito repellent, herbal mosquito repelling, mosquito deterent, mosquito deterent herbs, mosquito deterent horsemint, mosquito deterent herbal repellents, mosquito deterent plant | Comments (2)

Feb082011

A wide choice of mosquito repelling means

By admin | February 8, 2011 | Posted in Calendula, Mosquito repelling, Natural mosquito repellent plants, Vanilla | Tagged carbon dioxide mosquito repelling, chemical repelling substances, female mosquitoes, marigold, mosquito repelling, propane-powered mosquito repelling | Comments (0)

Mosquitoes are quite widespread almost in all continents, and each one has its own remedies for annoying insects. Their bites are not as painful, as dangerous because mosquitoes are carriers of dangerous diseases like dengue, malaria, yellow fever and many other. By biting people these tiny insects can cause aggressive allergic reaction.

Some mosquitoes prefer animals and birds instead of people, some use mixed diet, biting both humans and animals. The most of insects are attracted by the heat produces by human body, as well as by carbon dioxide produced by breathing lungs. This peculiarity was used for creating propane-powered mosquito repelling zappers that attract mosquitoes in the same way as people do, distracting them from the real victims. These devices are usually put near living houses and in the gardens, where there is a danger to be caught by a flight of biting insects.

Mosquito zappers send signals similar to human body, producing heat and carbon dioxide trails that are two major attractive features for blood-seeking bugs. However this trap makes them imprisoned in a net where they have nothing except dehydration. Sometimes the devices also contain some other chemicals that are used for attracting wider range of insects.

The effectiveness of such devices is rather high, however they are not enough to get rid of all mosquitoes around your house or in the courtyard. There are lots of insects flying around, and the zapper should be turned on constantly. Female mosquitoes can hide in shadowy garden even during the daytime.

It is far more efficient to use such mosquito repelling zeppers together with more commonly used repelling substances that are widely spread and available for everyone. Among such substances there are vitamin B-1, natural vanilla, marigolds, citrosa plant, garlic. These natural herbs and substances act as repellents. Some creams with real vanilla can be used as a repellent for skin, as well as marigold and citrosa plant oil. These traditional ingredients act less aggressively than chemical repelling substances, however they do not affect skin and body badly. For better effectiveness, you just need to re-use them more frequently.

According to specialists, one of the most effective mosquito repelling methods is physical barriers. If you like to spend the time outside, try to wear shirts with long sleeves, long pants, socks and closed shoes. Try to use light-toned clothes, it seems less attractive for bugs. Face still remains unprotected, however you can use herbal repelling cream on it.

The other physical barrier is a mosquito net. It is very popular in southern countries as a protection while sleeping. For a good effect the net should be pulled around the bed with some spare space on its sides, as while your body is close to the net, it is an achievable target for mosquitoes.

Besides mechanical, herbal and physical barriers there is one more method of fighting mosquitoes – a chemical method. Repellents make your body tasteless for bugs, tricking them by misleading them with the help of chemical substances. There are also chemical insecticides, poisons that kill mosquitoes after the contact with covered surface.