Insect Repellent

[vikkib]

Well 8 hours on the lottie uesyerday and 13 gnat/mossie bites!

Can anyone recommend an effective insect repellent?

I'm off the find the antihistamines!

[Muppet194]

Aaaaagh! You have my sympathy because the mozzies really like me too but unfortunately I get an allergic reaction and swell up at the bites to the point I can't bend my limbs properly. I use Avon skin so soft dry oil spray as a deterrent, the green woodland one, I also put it on the dog as fleas don't like it either. But yes if you do get bitten reach for the antihistamines fast!!

[julesapple]

The Avon SSS is the only thing that works for the BH and I. We're both very allergic to many insect bites. I still have a big itchy red weal on my leg from a mozzie bite I got at the beginning of July. We also sleep under a mosquito net.

Oddly our children, who sleep totally uncovered and unprotected, never get bitten.....

[Bren In Pots]

Another one here who finds that Avon SSS works

[Glutton4...]

And another on the SSS list!

For friends at the stables, I make up a concoction at home - as repellents are hugely expensive in the large quantities needed for Horses. I bought the recipe for £3 on eBay many years ago, and have adapted it from there, adding ingredients as I learn about them.

Make a strong 'tea' of Elder leaves - any quantity you like - I use the biggest mixing bowl I have.
Make a strong tea from all last week's left-over tea bags.
Make a strong 'tea' from all last week/month's Lemon and Lime slices from your G & T.

The longer you let them 'stew' the better - I left these overnight at least.

Leave them to cool, squish as much juice out of the solids as you can. Then mix the liquids in a clean plastic bucket. Add a squirt of washing-up liquid to make it stick, and some citronella oil if you have any (I didn't).
'Bottle' it - I use plastic milk bottles - filling them half way, and topping up with water.

You can dilute it further as required, once you've worked out which strength works best for you.

I use it in a washed-out spray bottle, a friend wipes it over her horse with a rag, and says it works better than anything she buys.

Give it a try...

[KittyColdNose]

We use neem oil on us ad the dogs, keeps flies and ticks away. Although, saying that we have been a bit lax this year with it and OITC has had to have two lots of antibiotics over the school holidays for infected horsefly bites.

[vikkib]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Just ordered some of the Avon SSS on Am@zon!

=D

[marchogaeth]

There was a thread about this a while ago, as well as sss a few other products were mentioned.

[Shadylane]

I've been eaten alive this year - horrendous. Started taking vitamin B again and it seems to be working. We went camping at the weekend and only got a couple of bites, although one of those was not a midge (a black and white fly type thingy) as I caught it in the act and flicked it off. My dad swears by it too and the mozzies love his blood.

[Two_Sheds]

Can anyone recommend an effective insect repellent?

Long sleeves & trousers

Don't leave standing water around the place: put lids on butts, or have goldfish in the butts to eat the mozzie larvae

[Glutton4...]

^^ That's why my legs are still luminous white!

[vikkib]

Long sleeves & trousers

Don't leave standing water around the place: put lids on butts, or have goldfish in the butts to eat the mozzie larvae

If only the long sleeves and trousers had worked! I just want to know why they go for me, fully clad, instead of all the people working away in shorts and sleeveless tops!

[vikkib]

^^ That's why my legs are still luminous white!

I'm with you, my legs and daylight... never the twain...

[Littlefox2000]

I've just ordered some SSS too. I got bitten yesterday at the lottie (and I was wearing long trousers). I had a doctor's appointment this morning for something else. And I mentioned the bite. Walked away with a prescription for antibiotics as the bite from yesterday is infected, it's bigger than my whole hand, bright red and burning. 😟 And it hurts alot.

I've had some really nasty bites from working on the allotment this year. They've all been infected and painful (I just didn't know what an infected bite was). I usually wear long trousers etc and buggers just bite me through the material. I was spraying my clothes and me with jungle formula, but am very hopeful the Avon stuff will work. I hate the smell of insect repellant.


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[vikkib]

I've just ordered some SSS too. I got bitten yesterday at the lottie (and I was wearing long trousers). I had a doctor's appointment this morning for something else. And I mentioned the bite. Walked away with a prescription for antibiotics as the bite from yesterday is infected, it's bigger than my whole hand, bright red and burning. �� And it hurts alot.

I've had some really nasty bites from working on the allotment this year. They've all been infected and painful (I just didn't know what an infected bite was). I usually wear long trousers etc and buggers just bite me through the material. I was spraying my clothes and me with jungle formula, but am very hopeful the Avon stuff will work. I hate the smell of insect repellant.

Ouch! Hope the antibiotics kick in quickly for you!

I saw one of the little buggers biting me through the clothes too... there's only so far you can go wrapping up in this heat!