buzz off

I pretty much love everything about the 4th of July — the fireworks, the barbecues, the patriotism. What's not to like? Well, the only thing that sours a sweet party is swatting at bugs all day. (And even worse, trying to avoid scratching the bites when you go to bed that night.)

The Today show just ran a segment that debunked some of my firmly held bug beliefs. Did you know that citronella candles don't repel insects any more effectively than regular candles? It's actually the smoke that keeps critters away instead of the citronella, and it only works if you're standing within a few feet from the candles. And those annoying bug zappers actually do more harm than good by killing the insects that would eat mosquitoes. Fail!

What does work? According to the expert on the show, sticking a fan on your porch or patio will help keep bugs at bay. But even more effective, and this shouldn't come as a shock to anyone, is insect repellent.

I don't know about you, but the thought of that old-school, smelly, drippy bug spray makes mosquitoes seem not quite as annoying. That is until I came across Off! Smooth & Dry. I took two cans of it with me on my honeymoon to Tahiti (a.k.a. mosquito paradise) and was a convert by the end of the trip. It not only sprays on dry, but it actually smells pretty nice. When it came time to head home, I was bite-free unlike the poor girl sitting next to me at the airport who was covered with them. If only she knew how far bug spray has come.

Happy 4th, everyone! Don't let the bad bugs bite!

Comments

Ooh, Tahiti! I like essential oils for bug repellent cuz I get freaked out about the chemicals in bug spray. (No doubt the essential oil version won't keep bugs away for as long as products containing DEET will, but it's not like I'm going camping in the Amazon or anything.) Anyhow, insects are repelled by the scent of essential oils (which you can get at the Body Shop or in some natural food stores), so you can mix a couple of drops of an essential oil with about a teaspoon of olive oil and just dab it on pulse points. Though most bugs don't like most essential oils, lavender oil is apparently particularly good at fending off a variety of pests, and it smells nice too.

This is so true! Those sprays and candles don't do anything to trap or kill the bugs, just kind of confuse them temporarily. The best way to avoid bites is reduce the population of mosquitoes in your yard with an insect control device that runs on propane to lure the skeeters into a trap, and kill 'em before they breed and make more skeeters. Check out the newest generation of these propane-fueled CO2 traps at www.farewellmosquitoes.com (we're on Facebook too... search for Mosquito Vacuum). Lots of "survival guide" tips on the website, or email me at mosquitovacuum@gmail.com. "Catch" you later.

I just used this product on my trip to the Dominican Republic. It worked GREAT!

Another product that actually works is the OFF lantern. We can sit out on the deck and no one gets bit in the area.