Bugs are part of the outdoor experience, but that doesn’t mean you have to be their constant prey. Regular bug sprays are often pungent, sticky, expensive and filled with suspect ingredients. There are many natural ways to get bugs to back off, and all of them involve a visit to your pantry. That’s right, common household foods can compel bugs to fly in the opposite direction. |
Onions As soon as you notice a bite, slice a raw onion and press over the bitten area, releasing the juices. This reduces the itch and pulls the fluids out. Rubbing onion over your skin also repels the bugs to start with. This trick works best with fresh slices. Rub a new raw slice on a bite several times a day to make it disappear completely. This works well for wasps, bees, ants and spiders too Milk Dairy can sooth burns, which is especially useful if you have overexposed your skin to the sun without protection. Milk also soothes the itch bug bites cause. Stop yourself from going crazy by applying a little milk paste. All you need to do is mix one part powdered milk with two parts water and a pinch or two of salt. Dab this mixture onto the burn or bite. The enzymes present in the milk help neutralize the insect venom and also provide relief to the pain caused by sunburn. Similarly applying fuller fat yoghurts can also offer some relief. Salt Salt is a natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory and can provide great relief to mosquito or chigger bites. Soaking the affected area in salt water offers much relief. Apply a layer of lard or vegetable oil after. You will feel a burning sensation initially but after this the sting subsides. If you live on the coast, taking a swim in the sea helps too as the seawater has a natural salt presence. Plus swimming has vast health benefits. Garlic Not only does this fragrant bulb inject your food with flavor, but it can scare away the bugs. This solution requires a bit of forethought and is a great way to repel bugs in the wild, perfect for camping trips and a hiking trip. Begin by ingesting garlic cloves for several days. You will sweat out the garlic, releasing a garlic odor that will make sure the insects stay away. Keeping some gum or mouthwash on hand helps keep your breath garlic free. Orange and Lemon Peels Some people might be put off by the idea of rubbing onions over their skin. For a more pleasant odor but equally effective bug repellant, you can also try using orange or lemon peels. While this scent is aromatic to people, mosquitos and gnats are completely repulsed by the scent and will leave you alone for the evening. Vegetable Oil Any still body of water can be a mosquito breeding grounds. This doesn’t mean you have to empty your garden’s bird bath. Adding a few drops of vegetable oil to the water surface keeps the mosquitos from turning your bath into a mosquito baby factory. Just in case I recommend changing the water twice a week to prevent any larvae from having time to hatch.
|
Apple Cider Vinegar There’s an old army trick whereby consuming one tablespoon three times a day keep ticks and mosquitos at bay. Not so mad about the taste? You can also just apply the vinegar directly to any bites with a cotton ball swab. The acidity removes the urge to scratch, restoring the skin to a natural pH balance. Regular white vinegar also helps but the apple cider variety is less acidic. Vanilla Another pleasant smell that bugs really can’t stand is vanilla. This sweet-smelling flower repels mosquitos, blackflies, and ticks. Apply a mixture of one tablespoon vanilla extract diluted with one cup of water directly over your skin and enjoy a bite-free time. |
h/t: www.rd.com
Mold Will Be a Thing of the Past With These Home Remedies
Mildew and mold are pesky household invaders. Here are 5 easy ways to get rid of them using just natural household ingredients.
You Won't Need a Prescription for These Natural Antibiotics!
5 natural antibiotic treatments you can prepare at home to help prevent acid reflux and indigestion from occurring.
Suffer from Dust Allergies? Try 8 Natural Treatments!
Do you suffer from dust allergies at home? If so, here are 8 natural remedies that you should definitely try!
Suffer from Dust Allergies? Try These 8 Natural Treatments
Do you suffer from dust allergies at home? If so, here are 8 natural remedies that you should definitely try!
Easily Create These 8 Natural Sprays
Eight wonderful recipes to make eight natural sprays that can make your life easier and healthier.
Got Dark Knees and Elbows? 8 Remedies That'll Help
Put an end to dark knees and elbows with these 8 natural remedies.
These 15 Charts Are Both Useful and Interesting!
The 15 charts cover topics like health, animals, and classical music, and they are full of useful information, perfect for a lifelong learner like you.
12 Home Maintenance Mistakes I Wished I Knew Earlier
Care to find out if you’ve fallen prey to some of these home maintenance myths?
11 Uses of Nail Polish Remover That'll Surprise You
Nail polish remover does not only do what its name suggests. In fact, it has many other surprising uses, and here are 11 of them.
Don’t Throw Out These Foods When They Hit The Expiry Date
All 14 of these foods shouldn’t typically be tossed when they reach their expiration date, and you’re about to find out why.
6 Popular Grocery Items You Should Definitely Stop Buying
Many companies have become masters at selling us stuff we don't need. Here are some of the worst offenders.
These Construction Tips & Hacks Might Come in Handy
Knowing these construction tips and tricks might come in very handy someday!
This Special Kind of Bread is Both Beautiful and Delicious
Tired of regular bread? How about surprising everyone with this beautiful and delicious "Watermelon Bread"? It's so easy to make!
7 Easy, Low-Carb and Guilt-Free Pasta Recipes
Pasta is one of the most popular dishes in the world, and rightfully so – it’s easy to make, delicious, and the sauce options are numerous. Enjoy these 7 recipes that will make your cuisine dreams a reality.
Black Pepper Is More Than a Seasoning - Here Are 10 Uses
Black pepper has so much going for it. It's already in your cupboard so you might as well get these 10 extra uses from it.
Professional Chefs Swear by These Clever Cooking Hacks
We can all probably agree that one cannot possibly know too many cooking hacks, as these clever little hints always help us save precious time!
13 Daily Objects We Could Be Using Better
You probably think you know how to use most of these objects already. Don't worry, all of us thought the same...
How to Spot a Liar with These 8 Tell-Tale Signs
It's actually really easy to tell if someone is lying to you. Follow this simple 8 part guide and you'll know who's telling porkies.
How to Increase Water Pressure in Your Shower: 9 Tips
Is the water pressure really slow in your shower? Here’s what you should do to improve it.
Here's Why You Should Never Wear Shoes Inside Your House
Here are 7 reasons why you should get into the habit of taking your shoes off before you enter your house!
39 Smart Cleaning Tips You Just Have to Try
You can never know enough about cleaning. In This Video you can finds 39 great cleaning tips to make your life much simpler.
We Bet You Never Knew Rubbing Alcohol Was This Useful!
Most people use rubbing alcohol for cuts or to cool a fever, but it has so many other fantastic uses. Here's 15 of them.
Keep Spiders Out of Your Home with This Helpful Guide
Here are nine effective ways to keep spiders out of your home:
8 Everyday Activities That are Damaging Your Spine
Here's a list of everyday activities that harm your spine.
Where is YOUR Dog From? The Full Dog Breed Compendium
The complete guide to dog races by country!
Stay Clear of These 9 RISKY Google Searches
You can search anything on Google, but it’s advisable not to do so for these risky things.
Woah! Who Knew Baby Powder Was This Useful in the Garden?
If you have excess baby powder lying around your house, you'll be pleased to know that it has plenty of uses in the garden.
Struggling to Wake Up Early? Here are 8 Habits to Avoid
Do you do any of these bad habits in the mornings?
12 Unusual DIY “Hacks” People Used to Improve Their Lives
Take a look at some weird and unusual "inventions" made by people to solve their everyday problems.
Guide: Did You Know About These Extra Uses?
This collection features the best tips and alternative uses for many of your household items. Each of these posts has a lot of information for alternative uses to make your lives easier.
10 Fantastic Tips for Perfectly Folded Clothes
Folding can be such a chore, and hard to get right. Here are 10 incredibly easy ways to fold your clothes fast and right!
This Is Why You Should NOT Reboil Your Water!
It can be tempting to reboil water for your hot drinks. But when ordinary water is over boiled or reboiled, the chemical compounds change for the worse. Learn about it here.
12 Recipes That'll Add Much Needed Green to Your Diet
If your kids or you hate eating your greens, try these 12 recipes and enjoy the health benefit without the taste you don't like.
The Art of Persuasion: How to Be More Convincing
Learn the basics to becoming a more verbally persuasive person.
Are Your Sofa Cushions Sagging? Here's What to Do
Got saggy sofa cushions? Here's what to do.
This Town Was Built Especially for People with Dementia
This small Dutch village is designed for and entirely populated by residents with dementia and Alzheimers.
Fold a Napkin Into a Rose for a Unique Table Setting
Learn to set a table with napkin folding, giving a unique touch to your dinner table.
A Smarter Approach to Measuring Body Mass Index
The body mass index can actually be misleading. Here’s what you should use instead.
Amazing! How Can One Small Tool be So Useful?
18 brilliant ways to use Command Hooks. These will come in handy in the future.
This Is Why You Should Never Throw Away Your Lemon Peels
25 reasons why you should definitely keep your lemon peels.
Guide: The Alternative Uses of 21 Common Food Products
This guide will give you the useful tips and helpful information you need to find alternative uses for most of your common food products. You'll be amazed at the surprising uses for some of these common food items.
Say Goodbye to Shrunken Clothes with This Neat Laundry Trick
Recently I accidentally shrunk my favorite pair of pants. I was preparing to bid them farewell until my friend suggested a laundry trick that would revert them back to their former length. I didn’t even know this was possible. See how it's done!
16 Survival Gadgets for Any Emergency Situation
These cool gadgets can be extremely useful in any emergency situation.
What to Do if Someone is Drowning: The Complete Guide
Whether someone is a strong swimmer or not, drowning's always a potential risk. So you need to know how to deal with the situation. Here'a complete guide.
Grow These Plants to Banish Mosquitoes For Good!
No one likes mosquitoes, but if you're smart, you can prevent them from bothering you by having these plants in your home.
Have You Been Making These Toilet Paper Mistakes Too?
The next time you use toilet paper, avoid these mistakes.
Wow, I Never Knew it Was This Easy to Check a Battery!
Did you know you can actually find out if your battery is empty or not? This little tip only takes 2 seconds to do.