Proven folk remedies for mosquitoes - how to protect yourself from bites

Roskoshestvo examined sprays from 20 brands and compiled a rating

mosquito repellents. Among the studied products there are both drugs that have passed state registration, and products without it, related to perfumery and cosmetic products.

What is the best mosquito repellent spray? Let's say right away that the experts did not find the ideal spray. A test of mosquito repellents showed that each of the products tested had one or another drawback.

Often the product is not as effective as the label promises. Some samples contained traces of insecticides. Also among the comments is the fact that the products may cause skin irritation or damage clothing. Read more in the product cards and in the Research Details

. And here we will tell you what repellents are, how to choose them, and which products were included in the top 5, and which were at the very bottom of the ranking.

Types of mosquito repellents. What is a repellent?

Repellents are used to protect against insects. Repellent (from Latin repellens - repulsive, disgusting) is a natural or synthetic chemical substance used for household purposes to repel arthropods. It is used to protect humans from attacks by blood-sucking insects (mosquitoes, horseflies, midges), against midges and ticks, as well as to protect household items from damage (against moths, beetles).

Unlike insecticides, repellents are not designed to kill insects, but only to repel them.

Previously, people used cloves, camphor, bird cherry, citrus oils, and chewed garlic as repellents. But the effect of natural repellents is, of course, lower than that of synthetic substances.

Repellents can be classified:

By method of use:

• for application to skin/clothing (sprays, ointments, foams, milk, emulsion, etc.);
• for indoor/outdoor use (candles, lamps, fumigators, etc.);
• in the form of devices/devices (ultrasound devices, bracelets, stickers, patches).

By composition:

• on a natural basis (with essential oils);
• with the main ingredient of chemical origin (usually DEET).

By duration of action (depending on the concentration of the repellent substance):

• up to 2 hours;
• up to 3 hours;
• more than 4 hours.

By target action:

• unidirectional (mosquito repellent only);
• complex action (against mosquitoes, midges, ticks, etc.).

The most common and popular types of repellents are liquids (sprays and aerosols), they are convenient to put in a bag, take to the forest, to the country, or fishing. Repellent is always at hand, it is the best remedy for mosquitoes outdoors.

For information

It is believed that fumigators, plates and spirals are the best remedy for mosquitoes at home. In the future, Roskachestvo will investigate fumigators. Subscribe to our newsletter

so as not to miss important information!

In the apartment

Mosquito nets installed on windows and doors will help keep mosquitoes out of your apartment. However, if the pests do break through, then at home it is much easier to get rid of unwanted biting and annoyingly squeaking insects, because the space is enclosed.

Fumigator Raid

You can quickly and reliably exterminate flying bloodsuckers using a special device - an electric fumigator. The kit includes a bottle of insecticidal liquid containing pralletrin. The device is equipped with an adjustment of the degree of protection and a timer.

Technology for using the Reid fumigator:

1. Read the instructions carefully.
2. Using the switch, select the continuous operation time of the device - 8 or 12 hours.
3. Connect the device to the electrical network - the fumigator is inserted into a regular outlet.
4. You can adjust the desired level of protection depending on the number of insects and time of day - from low to high.
5. The device will turn itself off after the specified time has elapsed.
6. According to the given scheme, it will continue to work every day.

Cost - 300-310 rubles per device with liquid for 30 nights.

Inaday's InaTrap Insect Trap

Innovative insecticidal night light GR-330, operating without chemicals, odors, noise and any harm to the environment. The operating principle is based on the photocatalytic method. Reliably catches all mosquitoes and midges in the room.

The Indias-Inatrap trap works this way:

1. The device is installed on a table or bedside table so that it is at a height of 75-80 cm from the floor.
2. A light touch turns on the device.
3. A soft and pleasant violet light immediately lights up and slight heating and the release of carbon dioxide begins.
4. A second touch sets the device to turn off after 12 hours.
5. It is best to use the trap at night.
6. Mosquitoes fly up to the lamp, are sucked into the flask by the air flow, where they die within 24 hours.
7. The container needs to be cleaned from time to time.

How much does it cost: 3450 rubles.

Fumigator REXANT 71-0034

A USB-powered home fumigator with a range of about 30 square meters. Maximum effectiveness is guaranteed by uniform heating of the insecticidal plate. The most important thing is that any replaceable cartridges are suitable for operation of the device.

Application procedure:

1. A replacement plate is installed (valid for up to 6-8 hours, after which the cartridge needs to be changed).
2. The device connects to the USB port of any device.
3. Provides protection from mosquitoes.
4. No other actions are required.
5. If necessary, simply unplug the device from the outlet.

Price - 225 rubles.

Exterminator EcoSniper GC 1-16

An electrical device equipped with two ultraviolet lamps of 8 W each works effectively over an area of ​​up to 50 m2. The device does not repel mosquitoes, but kills them. Recommended for indoor and outdoor use, provided that protection from precipitation is provided.

Use the EcoSniper exterminator in this way:

1. Install on any free horizontal surface or hang on a hook using the chain included in the kit.
2. Connected to the electrical network.
3. Mosquitoes fly towards the trap in the dark, attracted by the soft blue light generated by heat and carbon dioxide.
4. When approaching the mesh or flying through it, the bloodsuckers are struck by an electrical impulse and die.
5. When filling the pull-out tray with “insect germabria” it needs to be cleaned.

Cost - 3500-3950 rubles.

Note: Harmless to pets and humans.

How to choose a mosquito repellent?

1. Take the freshest product possible. When purchasing, look at the production and expiration dates. The closer to the end of the expiration date, the less effective the product may be.
2. Pay attention to the category. Repellents are divided into categories: highest, first, second and third. The longer the protection time, the higher the category.
3. Look at the concentration of the active substance. Look on the label for how much DEET it contains. If the DEET concentration is less than 30%, the product is ineffective against ticks. Products with a lower concentration of the active substance should be preferred if the repellent will be used by a hypersensitive person, an allergy sufferer or a child. Low concentration products may be effective, but they will require more frequent treatment.
4. Don't be fooled by the enormous efficiency time. If they write that the product is effective on clothing for up to 30 days, then, most likely, such a repellent will only protect against some insects and midges after 20-25 days. But it won’t protect you well from mosquitoes.
5. See if it is really a repellent or a perfume and cosmetic product. Many products are classified as perfumes and cosmetics; they are not tested for compliance with regulatory rules during the state registration of repellent products.
6. Focus on the place in the Roskachestvo ranking
   . Of course, sometimes, neither by its composition nor by its appearance, you will be able to determine how effective the product is and whether the labeling is deceiving you. Therefore, when choosing, pay attention to the rating.

Salt and essential oil spray

The main active ingredient in this spray is essential oil.

Take ¼ cup of non-hot water, add a small amount of table salt (about a pinch), 18-20 drops of any essential oil that mosquitoes do not like.

The salt should be dissolved in water, then the oil should be poured into it. The spray can be poured into a spray bottle for easier application. The liquid is sprayed onto the body, hair and clothing. Shake the liquid well before applying.

To protect against insect bites, many people use folk remedies. They cope with their function no worse than special chemicals. Another advantage is that they are harmless to the human body, especially for children. These simple recipes are easy to remember and will help you forget about annoying insects and have a good summer.

Rating of mosquito repellents: five best and five worst

The top five of the rating included repellents from the brands “Deta”, “Taiga”, Drago Family, OFF! and Help. They scored more than 4.4 points out of 5 possible. The best mosquito repellent (based on the totality of all indicators of quality, safety and reliability of labeling) is “Deta”.

Drago family Repellent Drago family

4.59

139 p/100 ml

OFF! Repellent agent OFF!, aqua spray for mosquitoes

4.59

135 p /100 ml

Help Spray lotion Help Ultra, protection against mosquitoes, midges, ticks, horse flies, more than 4 hours of protection, repellent

4.405

163.2 p /100 ml

Deta Water-based repellent "Deta", aqua spray

4.69

415 p /100 ml

Taiga Repellent product “Taiga”: spray with clove oil to protect against mosquitoes, biting midges, mosquitoes, horseflies

4.64

41.6 p /100 ml

Antitop (products that scored less than 2.5 points) were TM Super BAT, Mosquitall, Argus and Nadzor.

Mosquitall Repellent agent “Mosquitol spray” “Hypoallergenic protection”

1.98

191 p /100 ml

Nadzor Repellent “Denzer-super” Nadzor

1.255

75.9 p/100 ml

Super BAT Highly effective spray lotion against mosquitoes, mosquitoes, midges and midges Super BAT

2.155

150 p /100 ml

Argus Repellent "Denzer-super" Argus

1.655

72.5 p /100 ml

Mosquitoes in Russia and the world

There are about three thousand species in the world, more than a hundred species live in Russia.

The following types are common in Russia:

• Squeak mosquito, common, Culex - found everywhere, transmits meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, belongs to real mosquitoes, found in the Krasnodar region;
• The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, transmits yellow fever, Zika virus, and Dengue fever. In Russia it is found in the southern regions;
• A true mosquito, Culiseta - carries many diseases, such as: West Nile fever, Japanese encephalitis, filariasis, malaria, St. Louis encephalitis. The squeak mosquito is mainly widespread in the Russian Federation.
• Anopheles messeae - carries malaria. It is found in the south and central part of the country, in the Urals and Western Siberia. In the Far East.

Although they can all carry various diseases, this does not mean that they carry it, since this disease may be absent in the territory where they live, and in the Russian Federation they are extremely rare due to the cold climate, mainly rare cases of diseases are found in the southern regions of the country. Don’t be afraid of every mosquito you see that bites you and immediately run to the hospital for examination.

Mosquito habitats include stagnant bodies of water, marshy shores, forests and meadows. Rain and high humidity favor their appearance, as they like to lay their eggs in puddles.

Big puddle

The natural enemies of mosquitoes are various aquatic insects, fish and amphibians. But they live in bodies of water, so there are always more mosquitoes in forests and wetlands.

We recommend: How to choose a hiking water filter

They are usually active in the evening.

Female mosquitoes bite; when they bite, they inject poison, such as histamine and others, which causes itching and burning after the bite.

Rarely, and in a limited group of people with allergies, it can cause anaphylactic shock, but in most cases, the consequences of a bite do not cause symptoms other than itching.

Male mosquitoes are harmless and do not bite; they feed on pollen.

The life cycle of a mosquito is short and lasts up to several weeks.

The female mosquito uses blood to produce her eggs due to its high protein and other nutritional content. After laying eggs, the female dies. In rare cases, if she manages to replenish her blood supply, she can carry out a second clutch.

Rating of anti-tick products

Five of the 20 sprays studied, according to the label, protect not only from mosquitoes, but also from ticks. Among them, Help turned out to be the most effective: the experimental tick crawled in the opposite direction from the fabric treated with this spray (the effectiveness was 97%). In second and third places are “Absolut” and “Lyutonya”, their effectiveness against ticks was 90%. But “Cosmos” and “MoskitOFF” did not cope with the stated task.

Lutonya Repellent agent "Lyutonya", spray against mosquitoes, as well as midges, mosquitoes, horse flies, biting midges

3.785

212.8 p/100 g

Help Spray lotion Help Ultra, protection against mosquitoes, midges, ticks, horse flies, more than 4 hours of protection, repellent

4.405

163.2 p /100 ml

Absolut Repellent spray against mosquitoes, ticks, midges, horse flies “Absolut”

2.705

364 p /100 ml

Mosquito exterminators

There are two types of exterminators – carbon dioxide and propane. Among the first, summer residents speak well of Grad Black installations; in the second category, SkeeterVac devices are popular.

Mosquito exterminator SkeeterVac - popularly nicknamed “mosquito genocide”

How they work

They cunningly and sophisticatedly impersonate living warm-blooded creatures. This happens thanks to three things.

1. Attractants that imitate the smell of sweat

. For example, Octenol. Placed in a reservoir blown by a built-in fan, the substance evaporates and attracts mosquitoes.

2. Heat and carbon dioxide

. In propane exterminators, they are released during combustion (this is also what powers the fan). In carbon dioxide, CO2 is supplied from a cylinder, and the body is heated by a built-in electric heating element.

3. Backlight

– the same as in UV lamps, only here it imitates movement (“running” lights).

The mosquito is sure that this is an animal. After all, what he is flying towards:

a) warm and breathable;

b) smells appropriate;

c) moves.

Having flown closer, the insect is sucked into the device if the exterminator is propane, or is killed by electric shock if the trap is carbon dioxide. That's it, finita la comedy.

Advantages

❏ Allows you to completely get rid of mosquitoes in your summer cottage, and we are talking about a large area (manufacturers claim a range of up to 50 acres).

❏ They work continuously - a cylinder with propane or carbon dioxide lasts for a season.

❏ A completely safe way to control mosquitoes for people and animals.

Flaws

The only sad thing is the cost. Although it is more than compensated for by efficiency, the fact remains: not everyone can afford shredders.

How does a propane exterminator differ from a carbon dioxide exterminator?

The principle of operation is almost identical, but from the point of view of operation there are differences. There are three important points to note here:

1. carbon dioxide traps must be connected to a 220V network, and since it is recommended to install the device on the far border of the site, stretching wires to it is, to put it mildly, inconvenient;

2. CO2 exterminators kill insects with electric current, which is accompanied by a loud, but almost constant crackling sound;

3. It is more difficult to fill a cylinder with carbon dioxide - in the regions there is sometimes nowhere to do this (and propane is available at every gas filling station).

The best mosquito repellent sprays based on protection time

If there are too many mosquitoes around and it is not possible to spray with a spray every hour, you should pay attention to products with a high DEET content and the longest action time.

What mosquito repellents are the best in terms of time of action and effectiveness? Among the products studied, they provide 100% protection against mosquitoes and midges for 3.5–8.5 hours when applied to the skin from brands such as Absolut, Help, Drago Family, Taezha and Deta. When applied to clothing, the product is effective for 4–5 days. (Other studied products act on clothing for less than two days, and on skin for less than three hours; details are in the product cards.

)

Why these five products are so effective is not surprising: they contain DEET from 20 to 40%.

“Absolut” became the leader among all the products studied in terms of the actual degree of protection: when applied to the skin, the repellent protects for eight and a half hours. However, the rating of the product was reduced due to deception in the labeling. The label says that Absolut guarantees protection for up to 12 hours!

When choosing, it is worth considering that only “Deta” and Help do not cause skin irritation. But “Taiozha”, “Absolute” and Drago family can provoke itching and irritation.

For information

Sometimes a proven mosquito repellent may stop working if you leave the repellent in the sun or cold. Follow the storage conditions, usually indicated on the label.

Ultrasonic repellers

Ultrasound against mosquitoes has been used recently. The operating principle of the devices is based on ultrasonic waves. Are mosquitoes afraid of ultrasound? The opinions of scientists are divided; 100% effectiveness has not been proven. But, some models really work. Devices that are plugged into the network, battery-powered, and portable devices are sold.

When purchasing a device, keep in mind that ultrasound works at a distance of up to 5 meters if it is a stationary model and up to two meters for portable models.

Ultrasound is not dangerous for humans, since we cannot hear it. What frequency are mosquitoes afraid of? The creators say that bloodsuckers cannot withstand a frequency of 30 kHz. And the devices are produced with a floating frequency, from 4 to 40 kHz. It is believed that mosquitoes are afraid of the sound that imitates the flight of dragonflies, and this is 30 kHz.

What is the best mosquito repellent to buy?

It all depends on the number of mosquitoes and how dressed (or undressed) you are. If there are a lot of mosquitoes in the area, and you are dressed lightly, your arms and legs are bare, then you will need the strongest possible spray or aerosol with a high content of DEET (more than 25%) that can be applied to the skin.

Look for the indication on the label: “the time of protective action against insects when applied to the skin is more than 4 hours, when applied to clothing – up to 20 days.”

Attention! Strong repellents with a validity period of more than four hours should not be used on a child!

If there are a lot of mosquitoes, but you are wearing thick clothes, then you can use not only a spray for treatment, but for example, cream, milk, or special wipes. At the same time, the amount of DEET in the product should also be high (more than 25%).

Ointment based on aloe oils and juice

Natural insectoacaricides perform a protective function and have a beneficial effect on the skin and overall health. The pleasant aroma will not only scare away itchy insects, but also calm the nerves and relieve accumulated fatigue.

How to make mosquito repellent ointment with your own hands? For this you need:

• one and a half tbsp. spoons of agave juice (aka aloe);
• any base oil that is well absorbed (olive, chamomile, shea, peach or coconut);
• essential oils that repel insects.

Mosquitoes cannot tolerate the smell of basil, rosemary, lavender, menthol (found in peppermint and lemon balm), cloves, geranium and citronella.

Grind the aloe leaves and place in cheesecloth or a small strainer to collect the juice. The resulting liquid will be similar to a gel. Add 2 or 3 types of essential oil to choose from, 8 drops of each. Pour a little oil into the prepared mixture. Apply the resulting cream-oil to bare parts of the body shortly before leaving the house; The product is also safe for delicate facial skin.

The mixture retains its properties for 30 days; keep it out of reach of bright light in a dark glass jar.

What mosquito repellents are suitable for children?

If there are few mosquitoes and they are not particularly aggressive, then you can pay attention to products with a low DEET content (<10%). They are suitable not only for adults, but also for middle-aged children. Among the products studied, Go Out and Crush were the most effective in this category.

Repellents containing DEET are contraindicated for children. For young children and pregnant women, repellents with IR3535 are suitable - this substance is less effective, but has low toxicity.

Products with IR3535 are approved for use in children aged one year and under. The label must indicate the minimum age of children and say: “the time of protective action against insects when applied to the skin is up to 3 hours (or up to 2 hours), when applied to clothing – up to 3-5 days.”

For information

Among the products tested, only one contained IR3535, Mosquitall. As testing showed, it protected only for 20 minutes and not 100%, but only 87%.

Remedies after a bite

There are many traditional ways to cope with itching and swelling after a mosquito bite. There is an important point: you should not allow scratching of the sore spot, since the wounds will take longer to heal and they must be treated like scratches and other damage to the skin - folk remedies will not help here.

If you don’t have gauze, a bandage or a cotton swab at hand, you can use a handkerchief or any other fabric for lotions. The main thing is that it is clean.

Soda

Baking soda, which is found in almost any home, will soothe the bitten area.

1. Take 200 milliliters of warm water and a tablespoon of soda.
2. Mix the ingredients well.
3. Apply lotions to the bite site by soaking gauze pads in the resulting mixture.
4. The duration of the lotion is 10–15 minutes.

I wipe the bite area with baking soda! I do it this way: I take just a little bit of Soda in a small bowl, moisten a cotton pad with lukewarm boiled water, dip it in the soda and for a minute or so gently rub the child’s bite area! This procedure relieves itching and stops the inflammatory process! After two such procedures, the bite site noticeably decreases and no longer burns like a lantern! And after a couple of days it goes away completely, leaving no traces behind.

KetiTyT

https://irecommend.ru/content/soda-protiv-zuda-i-vospalenii-posle-ukusa-komarov-foto

Salt

Regular table salt also relieves itching well.

1. Mix salt with very little water.
2. You should get a mushy mass.
3. It is applied to the bite sites.
4. The duration of the procedure is the same as for the soda lotion.

A tingling sensation will be felt for some time after applying the product. This is not scary, it indicates the beginning of healing and passes quickly.

If no other means are at hand, ordinary salt will come to the rescue.

Chamomile infusion

Herbal infusion of chamomile will relieve itching and inflammation.

1. Pour a tablespoon of dried chamomile into 250 milliliters of boiling water.
2. Leave for 15 minutes.
3. Filter the infusion.
4. Soak a cotton or gauze lotion in the resulting liquid.
5. Apply to the bite site.
6. Keep the lotion until it dries.

Chamomile tea filter bags are also used. Pour a glass of boiling water over this bag and wait until it cools down. When the liquid temperature is equal to room temperature, you need to take it out, squeeze it a little and apply it to the bitten area. Keep it on like a lotion until it dries.

Essential oils

To relieve itching and irritation, use a product with essential oils of tea tree, lavender, mint and lemon balm.

1. Take 2 tablespoons of base oil (almond, jojoba, peach, apricot, calendula or other odorless) or low-fat cream.
2. Add 5-10 drops of one of the listed oils into it.
3. Apply the product to the bitten area three times a day.

other methods

You can mash a bay leaf (dry - grind) with olive oil and apply the mixture to the bitten area. Bites are also wiped with a cotton swab soaked in:

• corvalol;
• valocordine;
• ammonia;
• lemon juice diluted in cold water.

It's great to have fresh aloe leaves. They should be cut into thin slices and applied to the bite for 20 minutes. And the healing Russian herb - plantain - can be scalded with boiling water and ground into a paste, and also applied to skin damaged by bloodsuckers. For convenience, both products are fixed on the bitten area with a bandage.