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The last thing you would want at your next summer party would be uninvited guests. That would be all the past and bugs who are out in full force during the summer. Back in the day, we thought nothing of spraying on the aerosol bug spray. Although there are a variety of safe chemical bug sprays, they are still chemicals. If you want to avoid a list of ingredients that reads like a chemistry exam, then consider making your own safe bug repellents. You might be surprised at the ingredients you can pull from your own kitchen cabinets to keep the bugs away.
Spice Powders
How often do you cook with garlic, cinnamon or cayenne pepper powder? If the answer is, “Quite a lot,” then you’ve probably got a good supply of these powders in your spice rack. It turns out that the little creepy crawlers don’t much care for the spices. You can sprinkle a heavy line of these powders around the foundation of your home to create a kind of anti-bug force field for the crawling variety like ants.
Vinegar and Herbs
Apple cider vinegar makes a terrific base for safe bug repellents. You might not appreciate having the smell of vinegar on your body. That is why you want to blend in herbs like mint, lavender, sage or thyme. Add a little water to a spray bottle that is half-full of the vinegar and top it off with your herb of choice. Let it all steep over night and you’ve got a wonderful repellent with zero chemicals.
Essentials Oils
You can also make another bug repellent mixture with vinegar and essential oils. Try 10-15 drops of mint, tea tree, spearmint, lemon, clove or eucalyptus in a spray bottle that is half vinegar and half water. Voila. Bug repellent that smells nice.
Witch Hazel
If you’re not crazy about using vinegar in your bug repellent, you can swap out Witch Hazel in the same recipes as mentioned above. This bug repellent might have a bit more of a “kick” when applied to the skin. Just beware of it stinging any cuts or scrapes.
Once you made your safe bug repellents, you can keep them around throughout the summer. They’re also great for camping and beach days. Before your backyard fun kicks into high gear, you want to make sure that your yard is clear of potential health hazards. That includes those things the kids have been having fun on for the last several years. An old trampoline could be very dangerous if it has become rusty or torn. Thankfully, Junk King St. Petersburg is standing by to lend a hand with that trampoline removal. They can also get rid of the rest of your yard debris in the same pick up appointment. The best way to have fun this summer in your backyard is to get rid of all the junk and the bugs.
