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Of course, even with a fly whip, you can finally get rid of annoying little creatures and buy mosquito sprays. However, they contain a lot of chemicals and are therefore not really environmentally friendly. But anti-mosquito sprays can also be made from natural ingredients – and it’s really easy, fast and organic!
How effective is a homemade insect spray?
Of course, home-made sprays can’t quite keep up with chemicals and need to be used more often – unfortunately, they’re not effective against ticks either. However, the DIY variants are quite suitable for camping trips in the latitudes of Central Europe, as mosquitoes are relatively harmless here. However, in the Scandinavian countries or in Scotland, there are often even borders with the sprayers bought, because the pests are much more reluctant here. In these cases, we recommend mosquito repellents based on the active ingredient DEET (eg Antibrumm DEET), which is also recommended by the WHO when traveling to tropical regions.
These ingredients are necessary
However, for your next camping holiday in Germany or Italy, it’s a good idea to try one really simple recipe. In principle, a small spray bottle is always required for refilling. Home-made products are mainly used as ingredients, and many recipes also work with witch hazel water. It is a plant distillate that also has a supportive effect in the treatment of sunburn and insect bites.
In addition, pure essential oils are often needed, the smell of which drives mosquitoes away. Citronella, tea tree oil, mint, cedar, lavender, anise and eucalyptus have been shown to be particularly effective. Your own fragrance preferences play an important role here, but the advantage of tea tree oil, for example, is that it also helps with itchy bites. Citronella gives the spray a fresh scent and the mint a pleasantly cool. Both essential oils and witch hazel are available in pharmacies, organic shops or well-stocked supermarkets.
More alternatives
The vapor of essential oils has a particularly intense effect in the fight against mosquitoes. As an alternative to spray, you can smoke a few sage leaves or other herbs directly. Alternatively, you can simply grab the freshly ground coffee and let it burn on a fireproof surface – provided your neighbors don’t feel disturbed. In this case, there is still the possibility of using useful plants. Because rosemary, mint, basil, tomatoes, or lemon balm show their effectiveness in a live form: just place them on a hiking table, patio, or windowsill, and most mosquitoes should be scared away.
Proven home remedies for mosquito bites
And if a mosquito strikes in spite of all the action, it is important to act quickly! If cold water is not available at the moment, mosquito bites can be cooled and disinfected with a little saliva. There are several options for those who prefer home-made products: apple cider vinegar relieves itching, but the acidity of half a lemon or onion has a calming effect. Quark is also always a good choice. Mixing honey with St. John’s wort oil or baking soda can also be helpful, but these ingredients are not always available in tents.
Of course, it’s better not to go that far – another reason to just try mosquito repellent recipes!
RECIPE 1:
- witch hazel water
- pure essential oils (preferably blended)
1. Pour 150 ml of witch hazel water into a thoroughly cleaned bottle and then add essential oils (approx. 22 drops).
2. Now just turn the spray onto the bottle and shake well until everything is mixed.
3. The whole thing must be shaken briefly before use. Then apply the spray all over your body. For the face, spray an insect spray on the palms and scatter around the eyes and neck.
RECIPE 2:
- lemon
- lemon oil
- baking powder
1. Squeeze the juice from one lemon and add 4-5 drops of lemon oil and a pack of baking soda (about 16 grams) to the spray bottle.
2. Then fill with water.
3. The spray can be stored in the refrigerator for about three days and is especially suitable for the evening, because lemon makes the skin photosensitive and can therefore cause sunburn more quickly.
RECIPE 3:
- Fresh or dried herbs (your choice: mint, citronella, lemongrass, green mint, lavender, cloves)
- witch hazel water
1. Bring a cup of water to a boil and add 3-4 teaspoons of the herb mixture of your choice.
2. Simmer in a sealed pot for two minutes, then allow to cool warm.
3. Then pour the bride through a sieve into half a cup (approx. 60 ml) of witch hazel water and pour it into a spray bottle.
4. This spray will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.
SUMMARY:
Annoying mosquitoes can really rob you of sleep in the summer and ruin cozy evenings outdoors. Instead of relying on chemical products, there are also simple recipes that make it easy to make an effective yet natural mosquito spray yourself. Essential oils are mainly used, the smell of which scares away pests. But herbs and other household remedies are also a good choice for fighting annoying mosquitoes. | Text: Vera Mergle