Mosquitoes are one of many bugs that can be a nuisance in the yard.
With DEET and a variety of other chemicals on the market used to repel insects, it's difficult to know what is safe to use and what is not. Many people choose to avoid chemical insecticides and repellent and instead look for more natural ways to protect their property from bug invasion. Luckily there are natural homemade formulas that you can use as an effective bug spray to protect you while you are spending time on the lawn. Does this Spark an idea?
Lawn and Skin Safe
For an all-natural spray that is safe on the plants in your lawn and on your skin as a personal repellent, combine various essential oils. For a small batch of personal spray, put 8 tsp. of distilled water in a spray bottle with 2 tsp. of witch hazel. Add 4 drops each of eucalyptus, rosemary and tea tree essential oils and shake the contents. Spray this mixture any place you want to keep bug free.
Mint Spray
For a pleasant-smelling and insect-repelling natural formula, use 1/2 tsp. of a mint plant. Choose from catnip, spearmint or pennyroyal -- all of which are mint plants -- and place it in a bottle with one cup of isopropyl alcohol and one cup of water. Let the mixture combine well and spray it directly on the skin or around the area where you and your family are spending time outdoors.
Vodka Mist
It turns out vodka is good for more than drinking. According to the Green Your website, you can use one ounce of vodka combined with 50 drops each of jojoba and lavender essential oil and 25 drops each of lemongrass, eucalyptus, patchouli and catjeput oils, mixed well. This can be used to spray an area or be applied directly to the skin. Apply some jojoba oil on the skin before spraying on the vodka mist.
Lavender Mosquito Spray
Mosquitoes are not fond of lavender. The good news is that human beings tend to enjoy the fragrance of these flowers. Make a bug spray out of lavender oil, alcohol and water. Also use the flowers by themselves to defend against mosquito bites. Tuck a lavender flower behind your ear or rub the oil from a flower on your wrists or on other parts of your body to repel them.
Tags: drops each, alcohol water, bottle with, directly skin, essential oils