Maintenance & Restoration

honda03842 · 04-20-2011, 08:37 AM

We used Deet based products because they actually work. There are a number of new varieties. I do not know how well they work but these links provide info.

One is a variety that just clips to your clothing. Another is a dry variety. There is also a frequently asked question link.

Clip-On Mosquito Repellent | OFF!® Insect Repellents

Mosquito repellent & mosquito repeller, protect from insects or ticks | OFF!® Insect Repellents

Mosquito repellent, DEET, bug repellent FAQs | OFF!® Insect Repellents

Norm

CindyL · 04-20-2011, 09:04 AM

I had no luck with the clip on orange thing that I tried.

CindyL

Chris Z · 04-20-2011, 01:29 PM

Walmart has little bottles of 100% DEET. Works for us.

Maggie R. · 04-20-2011, 02:31 PM

We use "Natrapel" ... no DEET ... citrusy. Works well, but it does need to be used fairly often (like, every 3-4 hours).

Maggie

rgrugg · 04-20-2011, 05:26 PM

When a friend moved to Alaska, I put together a mosquito control kit for her. Consists of a block of wood and a mallet. Drawbacks are it's slow and it's hard to get them on the block and then sit still until you whack 'em with the mallet. You could probably make one pretty cheap.

Byron Kinnaman · 04-20-2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggie R.

We use "Natrapel" ... no DEET ... citrusy. Works well, but it does need to be used fairly often (like, every 3-4 hours).

Maggie

I was quite curious about this and did a bit of internet research. Here's a study I found.
http://ddr.nal.usda.gov/bitstream/10...ND43639746.pdf

Mark P49 · 04-20-2011, 08:32 PM

DEET has been the best for me when on the move. But after showering the stuff off, the only thing that works are the OFF mosquito coils. Just stocked up on them for the summer at home and camping. Found skin Skin So soft and citronella to be usless for me,but that's my opinion.

Raz · 04-23-2011, 09:36 AM

That's quite the study. I wonder why the USDA would be studying mosquito repellent and how much of our money it cost for them to do it?

Ed D · 04-23-2011, 10:40 AM

We use the OFF Clip On. Works really well for us. No mess, no fuss. Set it on the picnic table or bench,clip it on your belt or clip it on the chair.

Ed D

Bobbie Mayer · 04-23-2011, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

I was quite curious about this and did a bit of internet research. Here's a study I found.
http://ddr.nal.usda.gov/bitstream/10...ND43639746.pdf

Interesting but meaningless study.

Quote:

Each repellent was tested once on
two of Þve subjects (threewomenand two men) using
a completely randomized design

Since individual humans already repel mosquitoes to different extents, the only way to test would be either on an inanimate object or every repellent tried on every human. And it really helps to have a subject size greater than five!

Francesca Knowles · 04-23-2011, 03:27 PM

A True Story:

Anybody who's been to Alaska knows how vicious their mosquitos are...
My health-nut sister spent a summer working in an Alaska fish camp.
Their save-me-from the-skeeters method?
They worked ALL DAY with the cheapest, stinkiest cigar they could buy clamped (lit) between their teeth...

Even, after holding out for a few days, my sister!
Wish I had a picture of that...

Francesca

Alf S. · 04-23-2011, 07:46 PM

Hi: All...After our South Wet Ontario spring you'll be able to feel them B52s land!!! They use DEET for refueling!!! Meanwhile... you can use a Scud Skeeter Swatter while they fillup on ya!!!

Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

theresa p · 05-15-2011, 02:44 PM

saw yesterday at costco that they are selling WATKIN'S 30% spray/25% cream DEET mosquito repellants in a 3 pack--1 pump spray bottle, 2 creams---for $23. someone i know who sells watkins' products says their price for those 3 items is $60....and the stuff works VERY well with very little odour, as james kent has attested to.

Byron Kinnaman · 05-15-2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobbie Mayer

Interesting but meaningless study.

That's a typical "I have my mind made up, don't confuse me with facts" response.
There's been a large number of studies done over the past 30 years and all point to DEET as the most effective.

Francesca Knowles · 05-15-2011, 03:30 PM

You know what's funny?
I read that mosquitos find their "dinner" by finding the carbon dioxide we mammals exhale.
Does that explain why those propane "activated" mosquito vacuums work?
Is the CO2 given off by the propane combustion the attractant?

Francesca

honda03842 · 05-15-2011, 04:08 PM

Correct, it's the CO2 is the attractant.

Norm

Francesca Knowles · 05-15-2011, 05:21 PM

Problem solved!

ATTENTION EVERYONE:

DO NOT BREATHE OUT WHEN YOU ARE IN MOSQUITO COUNTRY!

Francesca

2yax2go · 05-15-2011, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

Problem solved!

ATTENTION EVERYONE:

DO NOT BREATHE OUT WHEN YOU ARE IN MOSQUITO COUNTRY!

Francesca

Francesca...I love your sense of humor...Alf's, too.

We have a screen room we use. We also spray the perimeter with Yard Guard....it's a fogger that seems to set up a barrier to keep the critters out. It works pretty well. The trick I think is having those screens closed before that magical time at dusk when the suckers are active.

Fans...yes....O-2-Cool makes a battery operated fan we've used when camping without electricity. Takes D cell batteries and on the low setting will last all night. (buy 2 sets of rechargables that can be recharged once you get home or inna spot with juice)

My sister (who is extremely allergic to mosquito bites) tried the clip on things and said the fine print says that they are not for active people (like her) that you sorta have to be sitting still. She loves to work in her garden and found them to be useless for her. Her tried and true is to pin a used dryer sheet to her shorts or shirt....she swears by it....I haven't tried it yet.

Taking Brewer's Yeast (a B vitamin) works OK, but you have to take it for a while and be aware that it is water soluable so you....ahem...pee most of it out every day. I prefer the pills over sprinkling the stuff on food cuz it is a very strong grainy yeasty flavor. I give it to the dogs in addition to their regular flea meds.

Now...if you opt for a bug zapper...put it up several feet AWAY from your rig or you'll have your neighbor's bugs as well. We'd go camping and see folks with them right at the doors to their rigs complaining how bad the bugs were. They'd ask us why ours was out in the woods. Late hubby would explain that the way they work is to attract the bugs so he didn't want them attracted to our door. Next night our camping neighbors also had theirs in the woods. Course...now that I think on it...I'm not sure zappers were all that effective for mosquitoes....it was another lifetime ago, so I can't be certain.