How to Protect Your Dog from Fleas, Ticks, & NeuroToxins in Spot Flea Killers, With A Safe Insecticide | eHow.com
Insect Repellants: Some of Our Favorite Products Can Carry Dangers of Their Own - KFSM
There are two classes of insect repellents: natural and chemical. Chemical
repellents typically use DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide), while the active
ingredients in natural products often include essential plant oils.
Citronella, a pungent grass from Southeast Asia, is a common ingredient that
has been clinically proven to be as effective as DEET. Other plant oils --
including eucalyptus, tea tree, cedar wood, juniper, clove oil, lavender, pine,
geranium, rosemary, lemon grass and peppermint -- help provide a broad spectrum of protection.
Research indicates that insect repellents using essential oils and natural
ingredients protect just as well as DEET to keep pests away. They are,
however, only effective for a short time and must be applied to the skin more
frequently than products containing DEET. In fact, they should be reapplied e
very thirty minutes. Some essential oils might work better with your body
chemistry than others. Experimentation with various oils will determine which
combination works best.
MAKE YOUR OWN BUG SPRAY
You can make your own bug spray by mixing together a carrier oil (listed
below) with any essential oils listed below in a 10:1 ratio in a 4 oz. spray
bottle. Shake well before each use. Refrigerate for up to a week. Be sure to
test on a small area before using. Add a few drops of your home-made
solution to your shampoo or liquid soap for added protection.
--Carrier Oils (choose one of these)
Jojoba oil
Soybean
Almond oil
Olive oil
--Essential Oils (choose one of more of these)
Citronella
Eucalyptus oil
Cedarwood oil
Tea Tree oil
Geranium oil
Juniper oil
Clove oil
Lavender oil
Pine oil
Rosemary oil
Essential oils are not to be used internally! If using for the first time, test the oil or oil blend on a small patch of skin before applying.
Tie a sheet of dryer sheets through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.
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