Do you have any natural mosquito repellent ideas?

What do you think really works best in a mosquito havan area?Do you have any natural mosquito repellent ideas?
Mosquitoes can be quite an irritation at times, i tend to be a mosquito magnet...if my family and i are out, everyone else is safe from bites because the mozzies are all biting me! So I have come across some really helpful websites that give natural/homemade Mosquito repellents. Hope they help! :-)





http://www.ehow.com/how_5055649_make-homemade-mosquito-repellent-summertime.html





http://www.stretcher.com/stories/980625b.cfm





http://www.motherearthnews.com/Natural-Health/2006-05-01/Natural-Mosquito-Repellent.aspx





http://tipnut.com/how-to-prevent-mosquito-bites/





And when you have been bitten by them and are terribly itchy here is a website that has some ideas that may ease the itch... :-)





http://tipnut.com/over-40-mosquito-bite-itch-relief-tips/Do you have any natural mosquito repellent ideas?
I grew up and spent most of my 67 years on the SE Texas Gulf Coast, right across the border from SW Louisiana.





Until ';Off'; and other ';store-bought'; repellents came about we used CITRONELLA OIL. It is my understanding that it was an extract from the skin of Oranges and Grapefruit, and It was available at all Pharmacies, and most super markets.





It's still available here, but is not as effective as products which contain ';Deet,'; which is what I have used for years now [usually one of two brands - Off, and Deep Woods Off.





If you can get Citronella OIl, and decide to try it as a mosquito repellent, PLEASE USE it VERY CAREFULLY!!!!!





It is a very strong organic oil, and can burn your skin IF applied improperly.





The proper/safe way to use it is to put ONLY ONE DROP in the palm of your hand, then rub both palms together to distribute the oil uniformly over the full surface of BOTH palms.





Then rub it on all exposed skin, being careful not to get it on your eyelids, lips, or the tender mucus tissue of the nostrils. Even a thin amount will burn these areas, and if you get it IN your eyes, immediately flush with large amounts of water and get to a emergency room or doctor as soon as possible.





IF you make the mistake of [for example] applying a drop to just the small surface area of the delicate skin of an arm pit, IT WILL BLISTER that tender skin.





To increase the area of repellent, also apply it in the same manner to your clothes, especially around the neck opening of a shirt, the bottom edges of short sleeves, and for repelling ticks in the woods, apply it heavily around the cuffs, or bottoms of pant legs, and on the shoes or boots.





Good Luck!





P.S. Oh, and if and WHEN you get bitten by skeeters and other biting insects the itch and pain can be reduced or eliminated by using a ';Q-tip'; dipped in ordinary HOUSEHOLD AMMONIA, and dabbed onto each bite.
I have a mosquito plant in my backyard and it really works well. Picked it up at Lowes for about 5 bucks. After plant starts to grow well, you can take several leaves and crush them in your hand and rub them on yourself. Completey safe and nataurl
Are you breeding mosquitoes or just trying to enjoy your back yard? If there's standing water and you're breeding them, a little oil on the surface of the water kills them. If it's enjoying your yard, there's all sorts of insect killing sprays, foggers, etc in the garden section of your local greenhouse, hardware, or discount store. No such thing as ';natural'; that I know of in this case.....citronella?
There's a plant or bush that naturally repels mosquitoes but I don't know it's name. Sorry. Did I read somewhere that carrying a fabric softener in your pocket will repel insects?
I think geraniums repel mosquitoes. So I hear.
Eat lots of garlic and take B complex vitamins.


Use a neem product topically.