What is your trick for bugs--repel and bites?

14 years ago

I've heard to use dryer sheets to repel them, the commericial sprays, etc. What do you do to repel them (including those annoying gnats that fly around your eyes and face)?

Someone told me that when you get a mosquito bite, to take your fingernail and press an 'X' into the bite.

I also heard that white toothpaste helps the itching.

Any other tips?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

kayjones
14 years ago
I use regular personal repellant without Deet. I put a bit in my palm and rub it onto my neck, forehead and ears - works well for me. As you know, we have misquitos, chiggars, gnats and noseeums as big as airplanes down here!
irishdancersgram
14 years ago
I use Off, either the spray or the little wipes and it works for me....My DH needs nothing, the bugs never go near him...He always said, that was from drinking beer but he hardly drinks...I think he's just lucky....
I'm sure there are all kids of tricks....
Related Discussions
Something Took a Bite Out of My Squash. What to Do Now?
Q
Comments (2)
Thank you for the help. I went out and checked it again tonight and it looked as though it might have started scaring over like you said. I'll just keep watching it and hopefully harvest it soon.
...See More
Insect bites
Q
Comments (15)
I usually have on jeans when I am outside, and try to come in after a couple of hours and take a shower. I keep a spray bottle with about 1/8 cup bleach and the rest water, spray it from toes to chest and then shower. But if I spend all day or all morning outside, it's too late. I did sulphur the yard and have a sock with sulphur dust to hit against my ankles. The problem is, I never INTEND to go into chiggar areas, in fact I never intend to start doing anything in the yard in the morning. I go out to feed the fish or drink some tea on the deck, or I pull a weed here or there, or decide to check the vegetable garden, and the next thing I know, it's 10:30 and I've been out there all morning.
...See More
new puppy biting older dog
Q
Comments (4)
You can use a squirt bottle. Whenever the puppy goes beyond what you want, squirt her. She won't even know where it came from, but it usually makes them stop because they are so surprised. I have an 8 year old dog with lymphoma and just brought in 2 new male dogs. I've done it to the boys and I even did it when the female started teasing one of the boys. She is not healthy enough for him to fight back with all of his energy, so before he could retaliate, I squirted both of them in one shot. I'd never tried this on the female because she arrived pretty well trained at 11 months old. Her reaction appeared to be "What?? That was spooky! Lets go in the other room - this one leaks." And she forgot all about teasing the younger dog with the toy she had.
...See More
Wana Train your Fish to do tricks????
Q
Comments (4)
Hey, Cuz, I kept Betas a few years ago. They never learned any tricks, but they knew their name and came when called by the correct one. (None of them responded to "hey, you.") I taught 'em using raw hamburger, itty-bitty beta-sized bites. Jann
...See More
lindaohnowga
14 years ago
I've read that spraying the area around where you will be with Listerine works as a repellant.
sheilajoyce_gw
14 years ago
I take Benedryl at bedtime for several days till the bite goes away and use the Benedryl spray right away. Bug bites get huge and red and hot if I don't.
phyllis__mn
14 years ago
Cutter Yard spray is good; it's a hose attachment and does a good job of clearing the area of nasties. I also like to just put a dab of ammonia on any bite....works very well.
stephanie_in_ga
14 years ago
If we are sitting outside I set up an oscillating stand fan to blow where we are sitting. If we're moving around and playing, I'm at a loss. We use a bug spray on our skin, but we get "bugged" anyway. Taking a cold shower when we come back in after getting some bites helps keep the itching down.

What's the thing for flies? Something about a baggie of water with coins or aluminum foil? I don't remember. I'd like to know b/c the flies are bad around our community pool. We spend hours there and take snacks and the flies are nasty.
kathi_mdgd
14 years ago
Thanks Stephanie for the reminder.I did the bags with foil and water one year and they did help,don't know why i didn't remember that as we get those darn hovering flies on our patio.
When i did it i just used the bags the newspaper came in put in some water and a good size piece of foil,tied them up and hung on the patio.Now i'll have to use zip locs as our paper no longer comes in a bag.
Kathi
tami_ohio
14 years ago
Our newspaper ran an article about a week ago on mosquitos and vitamin B1. Apparently they don't like the scent your skin gives off when you have extra vitamin B1 in your system. It is a water soluable vitamin, so any extra flushes from your system.

Also, a friend told us about a product called Therapik for the itch relief. I googled it, and ordered it for a total of $14.95. It uses intense heat applied directly to the bite as soon as possible after bitten to disperse or eliminate the chemical in the bite that makes you itch. I haven't needed to try it yet, and it only came yesterday. You can use it on bee/hornet/wasp stings also. I'll let you know after we get back from Michigan if it works!

Tami
sue_va
14 years ago
Luckily I don't get many bites, and I use a generic of Caladryl Clear lotion when I do. Woke up with an itchy bite on my knee this morning, put a dab of lotion on it and the itch is gone.

I wonder why some people get more bites than others. Is it perfumes, etc that attracts the bugs?

Sue
jannie
14 years ago
Afterwards, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply and let dry. It does take the pain away.
ruthieg__tx
14 years ago
We have had a record number of skitters this year but the culprit I'm dealing with at the moment is ant's in my garden...on the peas especially ...I have to wear gloves to pick them and yesterday I didn't have any close and so today my hands are itching like crazy and I have a half dozen bites...Oh and to answer the question...I use OFF it works good for me...I hate the gnats too.
wildchild
14 years ago
I find that almost anyone I'm with acts as my repellent. Skeeters are so busy eating them they leave me alone. Used to go camping with friends and they would cover themselves with bug sprays and potions and still get attacked.. I still rarely got bit.

Now when I was a tot I had a sand flea "allergy". I was cover with weals and hives on a regular basis. Maybe I paid my dues back then with my immune system or something.