Bugs - any old style repents?

ajfy2k

Right once again I have gone to bed only to spend a good 10mins jumping around in my pants swatting Mosquitos & similar with a paper-back! I counted 10 tonight (which has got to be a record after a few days of none). I can't go on like this apart from anything else I'm going to have to repair my ceiling to cover up the smudges!

Not been in this house a year yet so don't know if this is normal for the area but there's lots of woodland & ponds about. I do leave my windows open during the day but close them well before dusk.

Before I start ordering zappers similar does anyone know of any old style repellents that I can use to keep them out the house?

Also be interested in any comercial repelents that you have experience with? Nothings that's going to poison me in my sleep thou,

Thanks,

Ash

booter

Years ago, my mum used to apply Oil of Spike Lavender (an essential oil) to us kids as an insecticide - it seems to work, but it does whiff a bit Also, others seem to swear by Citronella oil. And of course, the old faithful Avon Skin So Soft original http://avonshop.co.uk/product/skin-so-soft/skin-so-soft-original-dry-oil-spray.html.
There's a thread on the Health & Beauty board about mossie bites - it seems the little blighters are particularly prolific this year (must be all the wet weather ) https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4113361
There's a couple of suggestions on there! HTH

blossomhill_2

Yes Lavender oil - will help you sleep too!

ajfy2k

Thanks I'll try the lavinder oil, have already tried teatree oil in a dish on the window cill which stunk the room out but didn't stop the them

valk_scot

When we go camping we use citronella candles to repel bugs. You can get citronella tea lights easily enough so perhaps if you lit one in your room at dusk, in a good safe enclosed holder, it would get rid of the bugs before you went to bed? But it would have to be in a safe holder if you were going off and leaving it.

The other thing you could use is a full length net curtain on your bedroom window and add some citronella to the final rinse so it was impregnated with the smell. Once again this is an old camping trick, to close down the net doors as much as possible and dab citronella on them. Or you could make a lightweight screen to block the open part(s) of your window? The fine net we use in tents is called no-see-um mesh and you can get it easily by the metre from camping suppliers like Pennine Fabrics.

GreenQueen

If you do get bitten, make sure you dab with antiseptic straight away and keep an eye on it. I got a bitten ankle last week and it got infected - I ended up with a swollen leg, looked like I was wearing a scarlet sock.

GP said it is particularly bad this year and he's seen a lot of people.needing antibiotics/anti-inflammatories, etc.

blossomhill_2

I had that leg too GQ - couldn't bend my knee or walk more than 5 paces - ironically I got bitten in a field of lavender. 3 days antihistamines, calamine and lavender oil sorted it out, as my GP wont give antib's until after 5 days (previous one would dish out like Smarties)

PipneyJane

You can actually buy mosquito netting now in B&Q! It's in the gardening section and costs about £4. The packs come with some adhestive so that you can stick it to your window frame on the inside and lift a corner to open/close the window. (I haven't bought any - but checked it out for a friend who lives next to a canal. Mozzie heaven.)

Sadly, they don't do it in large enough packs to cover the sliding door in my kitchen. One day, I will pay to have the door rebuilt with a screen door attached. Or so I tell myself....


PS: Another vote for citronella. Wipe the oil around the edge of the window - it helps to discourage mozzies.

PPS: And another vote for Avon Skin So Soft in the original scent (green bits on the bottle). In Australia, Avon market that as mosquito repellant.

ajfy2k

Thanks guys n gals,

Think I'll give Citronella a go (and mabey a trip to b&q)

Thanks again

mavisangelica

For DS's bedroom I bought an ordinary net curtain and used 2 of the expanding, non drill net curtain poles. One at the top (to hold the curtain up) and the other just below the small opening window. This ensures that the curtain doesn't blow (and defeat the object).

If it was a larger opening window, I think I would perhaps buy a longer length curtain and then sew (or wonderweb) a hem at the bottom. Then use two expanding poles - top and bottom in the hem (and perhaps a third across the middle of the window to stop it blowing).