If you want to enjoy the wilderness, but you don’t want to deal with bug bites, you’ve got to take some preventative measures.
Mosquitoes, ticks, and other bugs can be extremely annoying, but if you are outdoors, that is their area. You can’t do much about their presence, but you can take a few precautions to ensure you don’t become the next meal of these annoying insects.
Here are a few tips to avoid the bug bite problems of enjoying camping, hiking, gardening, or other outdoor activities.
You need DEET
One of the best chemical repellents available is DEET. This product has been studied and offered to the public for more than 40 years, and it’s the best thing going when you want to avoid mosquitoes and other insects. DEET, when used correctly, is not a health risk to any person. Look for bug spray with high concentrations of DEET and keep the bugs off of your skin when you’re hiking through the forest or going up to the top of the mountain.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus is a natural option
If you don’t want to use chemicals to avoid bug bites when in the woods, you can try some natural remedies. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is a plant-based product that has been tested and found to repel insects as well as repellents containing DEET. You can find this product in Repel, BugShield, and Cutter products. This product is not to be confused with the essential oil called “pure oil of lemon eucalyptus,” which won’t help you keep the bugs away.
Apply repellent safely
There is a right way and a wrong way to apply insect repellent to your body. If you’re going to be outdoors in the sunshine, you should apply your sunscreen first. Make sure you don’t put any repellent under your clothes and don’t spray it directly onto your face. Avoid your eyes and mouth; you certainly don’t want to taste bug spray. If you have open sores or skin irritations, don’t apply repellent to those areas. When done applying, wash your hands to avoid adding repellent to other items you might touch.
Clothing helps a lot
In the middle of summer, you might not want to wear long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, or socks, but you should, especially when you’re outdoors. The more you can cover up, the better. Loose-fitting clothing is generally better than snug items for keeping bugs away. Of course, you still need to be comfortable. Using a good insect repellent in conjunction with covering as much as you’re comfortable with could be the right combination for you to have a great time while outdoors.
What about the babies?
Even if all you’re doing is spending time in the backyard, you’ll want to avoid bug bites, and that means protecting babies as well. Thankfully, after an infant is two months old, you can safely apply repellent to their skin. Babies that are two months and under should be in a carrier with a mosquito net. If you have a good net and easy cover, you might feel that it’s a good idea to extend that time without bug spray to an older age.
What should you do in your yard?
There are a few things you can do to ensure you don’t get bitten in your backyard. One of the most common is to employ a yard spray that covers the perimeter of your yard, but not all of these are safe for your pets. That’s okay; there are still a few things you can do. Some of these include:
- Hang mosquito netting
- Use oscillating fans
- Trim green space
- Remove standing water
- Use clip-on repellent devices
- Spread coffee and tea waste
Use some perfume
A surprising twist that can help you avoid bug bites and smell wonderful at the same time is to buy some Victoria’s Secret Bombshell perfume. This perfume is actually proven to repel insects effectively for up to two hours. If you like its smell, it could become your go-to perfume, especially when you’re outdoors for a while. Keep in mind, it only lasts a couple of hours, which means you need to be ready to reapply it regularly during your time outdoors.
How will you avoid bug bites this summer? You want to spend time in the sun and outdoors, but you’ve got to understand how to avoid getting bitten at the same time. Using these tips, you can keep the bugs away and enjoy your time in the wilderness.