Latest advice for Bug Repellent

[blossomz]

Any new stuff around that is effective against bugs AND Deet free? Just wondering what everyone is using these days since we will soon be there!!

 

[LMC]

I just ordered Skin Skreen. There is a link on the Camping board. I did not have to use it at all in the campgrounds so I can't say how well it works. It has a strong odor but the ingredients all appeared to be natural. If I would have needed to I would have definately used it even though it has a strong odor. The bugs were not that bad and we just got back from our trip (deer fly season and all!) Check out the camping board and maybe someone is talking about it over there!

 

[blossomz]

Thanks..I will!

 

[BuzzLightYear3]

We've had really good luck with the Avon Skin-So-Soft sunscreen with repellent which contains some type of repellent which isn't DEET.....it isn't just the "Skin-So-Soft" either. It does smell a little, but it seems to work great. Only caution is to avoid the blue kind.....it does disappear eventually, but it makes the kids look dirty until it soaks all the way in which can take a while.

I actually wonder how bad the bugs really are.....I'm tempted to try just regular sunscreen and skip the repellent. We won't be camping.....just walking around the parks and resorts. Anybody know how bad the bugs are? If they are biting I'll abandon this plan as 2 of my 3 kids are bug magnets and get huge reactions from what is presumably just a single mosquito. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[blossomz]

When we were there last year, the only time we had bug trouble was waiting for the boat from Hoop dee doo back to WL. Standing near the water seemed to be perfect bait for the mosquitos! The parks seem pretty bug free! We're going to try the Skin skreen to see if it works! We did try those citronella bracelets, but they smelled soo bad people actually moved away from us! LOL

 

[alloyd1170]

I wouldnt be a bit surprised if they spray around WDW. I know in the Keys ever few nights they have a plane fly over and dump spray.

alison

 

[melmel]

I can't find a link of a picture, but both Coleman, and Sunbeam make wonderful mosquito repellants. I'm one of those mosquito magnets, even with bug spray, and I have had wonderful luck with these. They're small enough to put in your pocket, or they have a clip that you can attach them to your belt loop. They take a small battery (that comes in the package) and they put out a high pitched noise (not really loud enough to be noticed by humans). They're avaliable at WalMart for around $5 I think, in the hardware section. Hope this helps.

 

[blossomz]

Where is the best place to clip them? (the battery powered ones)

 

[melmel]

They're fairly lightweight but if your being fairly active, like running for splashmountain, it'll bounce against you and may get annoying. Which is why I usually clip it right above my pocket, so I can easily put it into my pocket if need be.

 

[buckeye]

Melmel,
This may be the answer to our son's problem. He attracts EVERY mosquito, plus he is allergic to them. I hate using DEET and it doesn't even work for him very well anyway. I had never heard of this gadget, but will go look for one tonight!

Thanks for posting this great tip!

Buckeye

 

[blossomz]

I actually have one from last year, but didn't think it did very much! That's why I was wondering where you wore it because our legs still got bit up and we had them on our waist packs. Any ideas?

 

[melmel]

I haven't had any real problems with them. Like I said I'm a magnet, and usually spend the summer with giant welts from the bites. I still get the occasional bite while using them, but overall it's a HUGE difference. I did find that they will swarm a bit more if it's covered over, like the sound isn't loud enough for them. So if I notice them, I tend to move it to somewhere where it's more in the open. I mostly use them when I go to the drive in we put it on the dashboard and they don't enter the car. But I have also worn them out without any problems.

 

[blossomz]

OK...guess we'll pull them out and bring the along too!

 

[buckeye]

Hey, I looked for them today and couldn't find them. Can you tell me what stores you think mught carry them?

 

[blossomz]

Believe it or not...we found ours at CVS! (Sunbeam)

 

[stacilee]

Originally posted by buckeye
Hey, I looked for them today and couldn't find them. Can you tell me what stores you think mught carry them?

Just stumbled onto this thread and your words caught my eye. I too, have a child that is a mosquito magnet and allergic to their bites. We have a moquito machine in our yard. Don't think that is alll that effective. I also sprayed the yard, and I mean SPRAYED it, with a product that cutter makes that attatches to your gardenhose. I used 2 bottles. I sprayed the shrubs, the grass the trees even. All around the house. Our mosquito population is WAY down! It is supposed to last for a month. It has been about 3 weeks since I sprayed and it still must be working. I am used to gardening with long sleeves and pants (in 100 degree weather) and just wimpering in misery the whole time. Those little rascals will even bite my face! Yesterday I weeded my vegetable garden in SHORTS for an hour and only have on bite on my ankle. That is like a miracle.

We've tried almost every anti-mosqito product ever made. We had no luck with these little gadgets that you are referring to but maybe they would work for you. I was always willing to try anything.

I saw them for sale yesterday afternoon in a 3 pack at Linens n Things. Batteries are included (AAA) they have a website too LNT.com . They are definitely pocket sized although I can't see how they would be affective inside your pocket. It seemes to me that the "sound" they give off would be muffled.

The most effective Mosqito repellant we have ever found was actually suggested by my son's allergist. He would rather him use the DEET than become sick by the mosquitos bite. He has had many cases of cellulitis since he was 2 years old, because of scratching. He also has ADHD so it is next to impossible for him to "just try not to think about it." Itching is just too powerful a stimuli for an ADD type person to tune out!

We live in the southeast where it is buggy about 10 months of the year. January and February used to be the only months where my son could go outside to play or he would come in all bitten up.

It is Deepwoods OFF for Sportsmen. It comes in a small, pocketsized pump bottle. We had a dickens of a time finding it at regular stores (bait & tackle stores often have it) until one day I spotted it in the camping section of my local Walmart. It is not shelved with all the other seasonal bug repellants. It is, however 95% DEET, so this is not the product for you if you are trying to go the natural route.

This product has really had a positive effect on my son's ability to enjoy the outdoors, we have used it for 3 years with no ill effects. I only wish it had a better scent. The new "fresh scent" OFF smells great (orangy) but is only 15% DEET. It seems to work for my husband and one daughter but not for my son, little daughter and myself.

Good luck!

 

[buckeye]

Stacilee,
Thanks so much for your post. I have never really talked to anyone who has a problem as bad as my son's, but it sounds like you know where I'm coming from. It's no fun, is it? When he was a baby and would get bit on the head, the bite would swell to gigantic proportions and make hm looked deformed. It looked nothing like a bite.

We at first tried natural products for him, which did NOTHING. Then we went to DEET, which I thought would be better than getting West Nile, which we have in our area. We've used 15% DEET, which helps a bit, but not that much. I saw in K-mart yesterday in the camping section the heavy-hitting DEET that you were talking about. I guess I may try it. Spraying the yard sounds good too--but our yard is heavily wooded in the back which makes it tricky.

I think today I'll look again for the gadgets AND get some stronger OFF!

Thanks for everyone's help!!

 

[stacilee]

Hi Buckeye!

West Nile is here too. My dad had Malaria and it plagued him throughout his life. I don't want my son to suffer.
Just wanted to get back to you and let you know that our yard is heavily wooded too! Everything in SC just grows like a jungle.

I swear I stood out there with that hose and just blasted all the hedges, trees, underbrush, EVERYTHING! I sprayed as high as the hose would go! It took a good ten minutes for each bottle to run out. We've rain in the even two days in arow now and still, it seems to be working. At about $11 a botter it wasn't cheap but I'll gladly pay 20 bucks so I can water my garden or pick a few flowers in peace, AND my son can actually stand out there and talk to me while I do it!

My son's allergist was very sensitive about my concern over using DEET on a child and personally went online to give me supportive documentation showing that it is not unreasonable to use on a pediatric patient who does not respond to other repellants sucessfully. I can tell you that in all honesty we have never had any adverse reactions on any of us using even the strongest DEET product. US military issues 100% to all the troops by the way.
stacilee

 

[buckeye]

Stacilee,
You know, I wore DEET growing up, as did all my friends, and none of us had any adverse effects. I agree with you that it's worth it to protect our kids from disease.

We leave in the morning for Disney, then on up to South Carolina to enjoy your beaches!! I lived in Florence as a kid for a few years, then my brother lived there with his family. We've been going to Myrtle my whole life and I can't wait to get down there!

 

[stacilee]

BUCKEYE, You may have already left but if not- HAVE FUN!