Insect repellent? Need suggestions

[Kycha]

Can anyone recommend an insect repellent? What is effective for ticks in particular? We'll be visiting my DMom in the back woods of Kentucky next week. When we were last there at the end of April, we found a number of ticks on us and we weren't even out in the woods long. This time some of us will be camping. Any tips you can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

We live in a wooded area in TN and ticks here are REALLY bad this year. We can't even walk around in our yard without getting at least 2-3 on us. My ped recommended anything with less than 7% Deet, so I got OFF Family Care (I think that's what it was called). It seems to work pretty well.

 

[Cloudwatcher]

My DH is in the woods constantly and he uses the 100% deet. You can find it in the camping section at walmart, it is in a small travel tube.

 

[kstategrad]

My son, who is a Boy Scout and camps A LOT (is on a week-long campout this week) uses permethrin. It's made by a company called Sawyer, and you can buy it at Bass Pro Shop.

You spray it on all of your clothes, then lay your clothes out for 24 hours before wearing them.

It lasts for 6 washings, and believe me, it keeps all of the critters (including ticks) off of my DS and my DH.

 

[dixie lolly]

My husband and daughter shoot archery tournaments in the woods and love the avon in the silver bottle or can. It is the one with Picaridan in it. It really works. I am adding a link to it.
http://shop.avon.com/shop/product_l...l2_id=303&pdept_id=344&dept_id=421&cat_type=B

 

[wahmtexas]

We use Melaleuca products, they are non toxic with NO Deet so you can apply as often as necessary without harmful side effects and the Melaleuca oil will kill ticks if you do get a bite.

 

[pixiewings71]

I use both the Avon and Melaleuca, both work great for me.

 

[Kycha]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Does anyone know where I can get the Melaleuca products?

 

[DisTwix]

Hey there!

I don't live in the country, but here in town, I already pulled one tick off my dog - and I use Revolution for him...

I can't use anything with Deet --- the Picaradin has worked well for me in the past - I found a version of Deep Woods OFF with it instead of Deet last summer --- but this year, I'm trying to go no chemical, and have been using various essential oils, and they seem to be working VERY well.

I put drops of Lavendar, Geranium, Lemongrass & Peppermint on my dog's collar, and the black flies and various other bugs are no longer biting him - and I haven't found a single other tick or bug on him. I generally get eaten ALIVE by mosquitoes, and if I spray my mix (80 proof cheap vodka + touch of jojoba oil (glycerin would work too) + essential oils), they totally leave me alone. A-MAY-zing.

The bonus is we all smell fabulous!

 

[wahmtexas]

 

[Kycha]

Hey there!

I don't live in the country, but here in town, I already pulled one tick off my dog - and I use Revolution for him...

I can't use anything with Deet --- the Picaradin has worked well for me in the past - I found a version of Deep Woods OFF with it instead of Deet last summer --- but this year, I'm trying to go no chemical, and have been using various essential oils, and they seem to be working VERY well.

I put drops of Lavendar, Geranium, Lemongrass & Peppermint on my dog's collar, and the black flies and various other bugs are no longer biting him - and I haven't found a single other tick or bug on him. I generally get eaten ALIVE by mosquitoes, and if I spray my mix (80 proof cheap vodka + touch of jojoba oil (glycerin would work too) + essential oils), they totally leave me alone. A-MAY-zing.

The bonus is we all smell fabulous!

Great info! So, where do you get your essential oils? a health food store? Thanks!

 

[pixiewings71]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Does anyone know where I can get the Melaleuca products?

You have to find someone who sells it really, I would send you some but I don't have any that isn't used. I'm signed up but I don't sell it, I use it for myself and my home. The vitamins are great as are the cleaners. And I use the oil in so many things. Anyway, that's where you'd find it. I get essential oils from Michael's actually, and you could probably just get tea tree oil and use that too....I haven't tried that but I will be. You could get the tea tree oil at Trader Joe's, it smells strong tho so be sure you can stand the smell before you oil yourself up with it. LOL

I like the idea of making it myself too......that's sounds neat....DisTwix do you just guess at the measurements?

 

[Kycha]

You have to find someone who sells it really, I would send you some but I don't have any that isn't used. I'm signed up but I don't sell it, I use it for myself and my home. The vitamins are great as are the cleaners. And I use the oil in so many things. Anyway, that's where you'd find it. I get essential oils from Michael's actually, and you could probably just get tea tree oil and use that too....I haven't tried that but I will be. You could get the tea tree oil at Trader Joe's, it smells strong tho so be sure you can stand the smell before you oil yourself up with it. LOL

I like the idea of making it myself too......that's sounds neat....DisTwix do you just guess at the measurements?

No Trader Joe's around here. But I have seen the Tea Tree oil at CVS. Thanks for the tips!

 

[GraysMom]

Kycha,

They've been really bad in the woods around here lately too. DH pulled two off of himself last week. Good luck and I hope you have a bug free trip!

 

[Jsme]

You can buy deet in 100% oil like stuff at sporting goods places or you can buy deet with less than 100% at Walmart. We have always used Deep Woods Off. It works well for us.

 

[DisTwix]

Great info! So, where do you get your essential oils? a health food store? Thanks!

Howdy!

I actually order my oils from Aura Cacia (FrontierCoop) --- there are usually some really good coupon codes out there (right now GIMME20 works for 20% off). Their shipping is actually reasonable, too.

I just ordered some Atlas Cedarwood oil to make a more masculine scented spray --- gotta have something for the boys too!


The oils might seem a little spendy (generally about $5-$6 a bottle, with some as much as $15-$20) - but I've made several sprays from my bottle of lavendar, putting in 25 drops at a time, and it's barely discernable in the level of the bottle. The vodka I found for $7.50 for a little over a liter --- and, really, distilled water could be used as well, which is much cheaper.

Plus, it's fun to come up with new scent combinations and give them out as gifts!