Mosquito repellents aren't always foolproof.
A mosquito bite can be hazardous. In addition to causing an itchy bump, mosquito bites can also potentially transmit the West Nile virus. Even those itchy bumps can cause more serious problems. Excessive scratching, particularly with children, can break the bite open and cause an infection. You can test a mosquito repellent to see if it's effective enough to protect you and your family. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Read the ingredients list carefully. Mosquito repellents that contain the active ingredients DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus are effective at repelling mosquitoes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
2. Spray a light coat of the mosquito repellent onto one half of your body. Do not spray on areas underneath your clothes. The repellent should be sprayed on skin only. Instead of spraying your face, apply repellent to your hand and cover your face. Even when testing, cover your entire face with repellent.
3. Go into an area where the mosquitoes are likely to be. Mosquitoes come out more at night between dusk and dawn, and they are typically near places with water or in bushes and weeds. If you venture into an area thick with trees, you are very likely to come into contact with mosquitoes.
4. Stay outside for several minutes. Don't stay too long. Mosquito bites irritate skin, can cause infection and can transmit the West Nile virus. Be aware of these dangers when testing the mosquito repellent.
5. Go back indoors under a bright light. Check the area of your body that you sprayed with the mosquito repellent against the area that you did not. If you see no bites, then you likely did not encounter any mosquitoes and will need to test the repellent again in a different location outside. If the side of your body that has the repellent is bite-free, but the other side has visible bites, then the mosquito repellent you used passed the test.
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