5 Ways to Stay Chemical-Free and Bug-Free This Summer
Mosquitos, sand fleas, and horseflies, oh my! For many, summer is the best time of the year, with one exception: Bugs.
Not only are bugs pesky (and itchy!), but they can carry nasty diseases like West Nile, dengue fever, and the Zika virus. Here are 5 ways to keep away the bugs so you can have a safe and superb summer.
Your home is your castle and no one wants their castle bug-ridden. Harness the sun’s energy to keep your walkway and yard bug-free in an effortless and safe way.
No chemicals means these lights are safe around pets and toddlers, too:
- All-Natural Bug Spray
For those who want to avoid DEET and other chemicals, there’s a simple way to keep bugs away: Essential oils. They make effective bug repellents and keep skin soft and chemical-free. (Avoiding the harsh chemicals in commercial bug sprays is particularly important if you’re pregnant.)
You can easily make your very own homemade bug spray. Simply fill a spray bottle with half boiled water and half witch hazel, then add 30-50 drops of some mixture of the following essential oils: Citronella, clove, lemongrass, rosemary, tea tree, eucalyptus, cedar, catnip, lavender, mint.
Not only will the bugs stay away, but you’ll smell lovely! A good combo is clove, lavender, cinnamon, and eucalyptus.
Summertime is all about enjoying delicious food al fresco, but humans aren’t the only ones who love it. Keep outdoor summer eating comfortable without worrying about yourself or that dish of watermelon getting covered with mosquitos:
- Sage in the grill
For those who love summer grilling but hate mosquitos, flies, and other summer bugs, here’s a helpful tip: Put a bunch of sage leaves in the grill to repel them.
Pro tip: Sage is known as an energy-clearing herb so your yard will stay clean in more ways than one.
- Use LED lights outdoors
Everyone has seen bugs swarm around porch lights at night, but did you know bugs are less attracted to LED lights? It’s true!
Consider installing motion-sensor LED lights to illuminate your outdoor spaces this summer. The fact that the lights are off most of the time will limit the number of bugs and mosquitos close to your outdoor areas and when they do turn on because they’re LED, they’ll attract fewer bugs.
Bonus: The Light Angel requires no wiring, so it can go on sheds and other hard-to-reach locations, no problem:
Wherever you are this summer, whether sunning at the beach, enjoying a picnic, chatting up the neighbors at a BBQ, or just relaxing in the backyard, have a carefree -- and bug-free – time!
