Summer is fast approaching in Australia and summer means engaging your kids in lot of outdoor activities like camping, bush-walking, visiting animal farms, gardening etc.
Apart from parents accompanying the kids everywhere, sadly "not-so invited mozzies, bugs and other bities" likes to join the kids to have fun as well!
Insect repellents sold in the shops may not be completely natural and safe for your children.
It is easy to make your own natural insect repellents at home which can be used indoors and outdoors.
All you need is :
1. "Insects not-friendly" essential oils such as eucalyptus, lemon eucalyptus, citronella, tea tree, cajuput, rosemary, red thyme, lavender, eucalyptus, cedarwood, geranium, juniper , patchouli, pennyroyal, pine, and lemongrass.
You don't need to have each and every one of the above essential oils to ward off mozzies and bugs. Using combination of 3 or more types of essential oils can be effective.
*NEVER apply any of these essential oils directly to the skin (with the exception of tea tree and lavender) they could cause burning or other adverse reactions.
2. Base -to which you can add your essential oils can be light carrier oils such as sweet almond oil, Jojoba oil, olive oil or witch hazel and aloe vera juice.
When I am outdoors, I prefer using EOs mixed in aloe vera juice as aloe vera soothes the sun burnt skin.
Insect repellent spray recipe:
You need:
- Empty spray bottle - to hold 60 ml of insect repellent spray
1. Aloe vera juice/witch hazel/carrier oil - 60 ml
2. Essential oils (mentioned above) - 60 drops
How to make it:
Combine 1 and 2 in a spray bottle and shake before each use. Apply every 30 minutes as natural repellents wear off easily.
Other insect repellent ideas and tips:
- When staying indoors, rub the insides of orange peel on to your skin. Mozzies and bugs dislike citrus scents.
- Another beautiful idea from the website "Beautiful Engineering" which makes use of orange peel cups and cloves to be used as a tea light candle.
Please see - http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=503776276300564&set=a.485879308090261.114250.485878071423718&type=1&theater. This is aromatic and serves the purpose of keeping bugs away.
- Applying neem oil on to your skin will keep mozzies at bay as they dislike the strong smell.
- Room spray made with distilled water/ plant based ethanol and essential oils (as per above mentioned recipe) will keep away unwanted visitors.
- When at home,you can mix the "Insects not-friendly" essential oils with few drops of water on a ceramic oil burner with tea-light candle.
- To ward off flies from sitting on your dining table, add 4-5 drops of clove oil on a damp clean cloth and wipe the dining table before sitting for your meal.
- white vinegar can be used as an insect repellent spray. Just put white vineagar in a spray bottle and spray it on to your skin.
- Keep small pots of mosquito repellent plants indoors and outdoors.
Please see http://mosquitorepellentplants.net/ which is a natural and effective way to ward off mozzies.
- Maroma from Auroville sells natural insect repellents in the form of incense sticks, coils, mosquito mats, cones etc.
Please seehttp://www.maroma.com/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=258&Itemid=273
- If you do get bit or stung this season-
Use a few drops of undiluted lavender directly to the bite/sting.
Other ways to avoid the buggies of warmer weather-
1. Avoid soaps and shampoos with fragrance.
2. Avoid wearing dark clothing.
Please share your natural insect repellent ideas in this post.Until then, bye from PetalDew.
thanks bhuvana! I am looking for natural repelents as doctors suggested that these chemical based repelents are injurious to health and our locality is the home of mosquitoes.
ReplyDeleteThanai thalaivi@ Maroma from Auroville sells natural insect repellents consisting of plant and flower oils effective in keeping mosquitoes away. They sell online or you can buy from Maroma shop which is located in Express avenue - level 2, Royapettah. Thanks for your compliment.
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