Chemical-Free Ways to Keep the Bugs Away

Spending time outside is something most people do a lot more often during the summertime months. People take part beach sports like surfing and water-skiing. Picnics and nature hikes are also popular during the summer. Even at home people like to stay out of the house when it is hot-working on gardens, running under the sprinkler, and having family barbecues are all fun summer activities.

As much as people enjoy being outside during the summer, there is one aspect of being outside that is not so loved-the insects. It seems that once the summer fun starts, the bugs start to feast on everyone. Sure, you can go to the store and buy insect repellents, but these are full of chemicals-do you really want to spray chemicals on your family's skin? Citronella candles are another option, but unless you remain quite close to the candle, the bugs are still going to snack on you. Bug zappers really don't work very well during the day-and besides, you really can't take one of those with you to the beach or to a national park. Are there any natural, chemical-free ways to keep the insects away?

Luckily, there are a quite a few ideas you can try that should keep your family insect-free-without having to resort to relying on potentially harmful chemicals. Here are some options:

Try an onion.

Rubbing a slice of onion over your skin can help to keep mosquitoes and other biting insects away. I know the idea of smelling like an onion all day may not be all that appealing, but wouldn't that be worth trying to keep the bugs from feasting on you?

Citrus peels can help.

Mosquitoes and gnats hate the smell of oranges, lemons, and limes, so try taking a bag of citrus peels along with you on your summer outing. Rub the peels over any exposed skin to keep the bugs away.

Make your own repellant with vanilla extract.

Who doesn't like the scent of vanilla? Insects! Take a clean, empty spray bottle and fill it with one cup of water and one tablespoon of vanilla extra. Spray and wipe onto your skin and you won't be bothered by some types of bugs.

Vinegar keeps bugs away.

Get a small travel-size bottle (the size used for shampoos, for example) and fill it with white vinegar. Bring it and a stash of cotton balls along when you leave the house for a summer outing. Moisten a cotton ball with a little vinegar and rub it over your skin and insects will likely leave you alone.

If you do happen to get a few bug bites, don't worry-here are a few ways to stop the itching and/or pain and take care of the bite:

Try a drop of ammonia.

This works for bites that you have not already scratched open (otherwise it will sting). Simply drip a little ammonia on the bug bite and the itching will stop instantly.

Baking soda can take pain away.

Some insect bites can hurt. A good way to take the pain away is to make a paste with about a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with a little bit of cool water. Let the paste dry on insect bite. Obviously, take care to look for signs of allergic reactions such as dramatic swelling and severe redness with any painful bite-those types of bites need quick medical attention.

Milk can soothe itchy skin.

If bug bites have you feeling all itchy, try making a past with one part powdered milk and two parts water. Add a small pinch of salt. Pat the paste onto the itchy skin and you will soon feel relief.

Grab that onion again.

For a painful insect bite (again, one that does not require medical attention), a slice of onion can ease the soreness. All you need to do is place a slice of onion over the insect bite for a few moments. This is a good tip to keep in mind for when you are at a barbecue-you can snatch up one of the onions from the burger tray if you need one!

Try one (or a few) of these ideas the next time you and your family head outside for some summer fun. You will enjoy yourselves even more without all of the bugs around-but even if a few insects do sneak in and snack on you, you will be prepared to deal with the problem. And you can do all of this with items you likely already have in your house right now-no harsh chemicals at all! What a great way to care for your family and the environment at the same time, right?