G77

My bite from hell has just about stopped itching now - a week to the day when it swelled up! Could do without anymore of those.....

Dave+Jules

Yesterday I experimented with Vinegar as a Mosquito repellent.


I can report it was effective.

Method:
As a control I did some weeding of the veggie patch with no protection and was bitten several times (all in the name of science).

I then applied the vinegar (white pickling) using a face cloth on my hands, arms, legs, neck and face(when applying to your face the smell of vinegar was overpowering for a couple of seconds).

The sense of overpowering vinegar smell for me was only temporary (less than 3-4 minutes). There was no sticky wet feeling that you get with usual mosquito repellent.

I then set off mowing the back lawn and around the veggie patch. 1 hour later finished with zero bites on the exposed skin and a couple on my back were some persistent litle b%gger had bitten me through the tee shirt (I have had them come through jeans before).

Verdict: Seemed succesful and didnt use any DEET. However the Mosquitos are on the wane so perhaps they just couldnt be bothered with a pickled old geezer

Notes: After the hour there was no real smell of vinegar, however flies (biting type) were still avoiding me. I noticed a deer fly land on my arm and take off again pretty sharpish. Normally they would stay and chew a hole in you.

I suspect constant use would dry your skin out, but so does DEET. Vinegar doesnt melt plastic.

I will try it again when I take a hike through the woods again. I may take a small bottle and protect one arm and leg with vinegar and one with deep woods off. I wonder if malt vinegar works differently?

Perhaps we can arrange a great British Expats vinegar experiment with a control group in each area and another group of pickled onion lovers smothered in vinegar?

Falcore

My Auntie who lives in Canada swears by white vinegar as a repellant. Whenever we are there she practically covers us in it, but I have to say it really does seem to work!

ann m

I fear that half way through your hike, you would have this overwhelming urge for fish and chips

Dave+Jules

Well at least I can have a little nibble

Spritzer

Didn't everyone swear by Avon's "Skin so Soft" a while ago? (Sorry if it's already been mentioned).
They've now brought out a cusom made product:

http://www.avon.com/1/3/skin-so-soft-repel-mosquitoes

Anyone tried it ?

Cookie

Not biting bugs, but fruitflies can fly through bugscreens and are a nuisance in the kitchen. The locals here put a piece of banana in a shot glass then cover with clingfilm with a few tiny holes in it.

Viola! attracts them like ummm errrr fruitflies to a banana

Linda P

I wear skin so soft.....I still get bitten.
(not when I was in Waskesiu though....used the hard stuff then )

Linda

emmabell

I react like you and went to the pharmacist the other day as the itching, swelling, blistering etc etc was driving me mad. He advised a allergy formula tablet (Canadian Superstore 'Exact' same as Benydryll) which was about $5. Took them for one day ( as dont usually take tablets) and the swelling and itching have more or less gone, still got big red blobs though which usually stay for weeks.

Dave+Jules

Didnt Johnson buy it and bring out a new Skinsoft version of "Off!" ? if it is the same then the Mosquito's in NB just lick it off and then bite you

Seriously it works for a short while before you have to reapply it. I normally use DeepWoods or Muskol.

However my pickling vinegar experiment continued last night with a walk around the local beaver pond at 8pm (spent nearly an hour around the waterside and edge of woods - prime Mossie real estate) and no bites on the vinegared parts of me (arms, legs, neck and face) and several bites through my tee-shirt though (non vinegared). I am beginning to believe in white vinegar as an option. Albeit a little smelly (for a short while)

G77

Are they gone?

Still saying Medium to High for Windsor on the Weather Network for the little buggers...

Dave+Jules

There has been a definite drop here in Whelbourn Backyard, but the deerfly seemed to have filled the gap

G77

Still not gone here - got a nasty bite on my wrist yesterday, swelling up nicely

Dave+Jules

I hear you and seems to me like you just cannot trust scientists we have a new hatch and they seem to be more urgent than previous batches.

Instead of flying around you looking for a good place to land this new lot just come right up (no messing about), park and suck. The only plus side is they are easy to swat once you have noticed/felt them.

I am mowing the lawn today so I will be in the garage to rub on some more vinegar (it does work) before I venture out.

G77

I'm thinking I should be grateful I don't live there - I mostly only get bitten when out at dusk. I don't think I've seen one during the day, certainly didn't notice the one on my wrist when cleaning out the pool - that was during the day, but wasn't as hot as normal, which is why they were probably out