Hello jurgen,
Thank you for your question.
You are correct that the most effective solution does contain DEET, at
least as reported in most tests. For example:
WFMY News
http://www.wfmynews2.com/2wk/2wk.asp?ID=1058
"Best Mosquito Repellent
Web Producer: Alan Wagmeister
It is that time of year again, mosquitoes and the West Nile Virus.
Last year, it killed 274 people and made 4,000 others seriously ill
nationwide.
Consumer Reports tested insect repellents to find out which offers you
the best protection...
..."Most of these insect repellents have Deet as their active
ingredient. It doesn't kill the insects, but it just repels them from
your skin."...
...Top ratings went to Ultrathon, an insect repellent from 3M. It
costs about $9.
It kept mosquitoes away for 13 hours and ticks for 10 hours.
Another Plus. Although it's 33% Deet, it's as effective as some that
are 100% Deet...
But, there are cautions aside from th hassle to use this solution at a
party:
..Now Consumer Reports says Deet is generally considered safe but you
have to use any insect repellent with care.
You shouldn't use Deet on infants under 2 months of age and don't
apply Deet near your eyes, mouth or on a cut or scrape.
Safety Tips for Using Deet from Consumer Reports:
Don’t use a stronger product than you need. If you’re going out for an
hour stroll in the evening, you don’t need a product that keeps
mosquitoes away for 13 hours. And if two products give equivalent
protection, choose the one with the lower Deet concentration.
Follow the application instructions on the product. Using more than
the specified amount won’t give you extra protection but may increase
your risk.
Don’t apply Deet near eyes or mouth, or on broken skin. If using a
spray, don’t spray your face directly or breathe in the spray mist.
Spray the product on your hands and then rub it on your face..."
And so on. I agree I would avoid this if possible.
But there are other solutions. Several sites tout the effectiveness of
this product:
http://www.fastpestcontrol.com/mosquito_control.html
""Amazing Natural Mosquito Repellent That Keeps Mosquitoes Away 24
Hours a Day..."
No Toxic, No Unpleasant Odor, Just Safe & Effective Mosquito Repellent
Mosquito Control...
...Can't seem to have a peaceful time watching TV or chatting without
mosquitoes biting you? Sick and tired of mosquitoes buzzing in your
ears during your very important sleep? Frustrated with mosquitoes that
just keep coming back no matter what you do?
If you are like typical homeowners, chances are you have been and will
be facing these problems over and over again.
And until recently, all you could do was 2 things. First, spray
insecticides frequently all over your house to kill mosquitoes.
Second, wear insect repellent continuously on your body or on your
clothes to keep mosquitoes away.
Sad to say, both options are ineffective and dangerous...
...Note: Make Sure You Understand This Before Buying Any Mosquito
Control Solution
1. Insecticides are highly toxic. By spraying insecticides in your
house, you are subjecting your loved ones and your health to
potentially dangerous side effects. At times, even more dangerous than
the mosquito itself.
2. Conventional mosquito repellent, whether it's in spray, liquid,
cream, stick or pre-moistened towelette form usually contains an
active ingredient called N-N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET). The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has received reports on side
effects or adverse reactions such as headache, nausea, seizures and
fainting after the use of DEET on skin.
3. Self proclaimed natural mosquito repellents are not effective.
They contain Citronella, a natural extract from lemon scented grass.
Though relatively safer than other options, tests conducted showed
that they provide only minimal protection against mosquito bites as
their repellent properties are weak and may last for only 10 to 20
minutes. You need to constantly reapply!
4. As for other 'As See On TV' electronic repellents, they last only
for hours and before you know it, mosquitoes are back and you have to
buy costly refills again! Time after time you have to do this and you
end up spending a fortune on refills! Not only that, you have to take
extra efforts to make sure the refills are always available when you
need them!
What you need is a mosquito control solution that repels mosquitoes
safely, effectively and affordably…
Introducing Antimos Mosquito Repellent - The Award Winning Mosquito
Repellent..."
Their product is a blend of ingredients in a container that claims to
keep an 80 sq foot areas clear of mosquitoes for 21 to 25 days.
"...In a nutshell, Antimos Mosquito Repellent disrupts the mosquitoes'
sense of smell so that they cannot find you! And at the same time,
they are also repelled by the smell of Antimos Mosquito Repellent
formulation!.."
More than one site has accolades on this product, so it just might
work for your party. And you can start a few days before to get the
area prepped and adjusted prior to your guests arrival.
The site sells four of these containers for $19.95. You might wish to
read all of their information.
Now, they mention that one of the drawbacks of the "as seen on TV"
solutions is cost of refills .But you may not need to use these
continuously if your goal is a buzz free party. So you might want to
consider this solution:
http://hunting.about.com/library/weekly/aapr_thermacell.htm
"ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent Appliance
Pros
• Provides about fifteen-foot diameter protection.
• One refill lasts about twelve hours.
• Easy to use.
• Works very well, even in the worst conditions.
• Repels Mosquitoes and flies (such as black flies).
• Claims to be odor-free (and I can't smell it).
Cons
• The bottom cap kept falling off--it's gone now.
• When it runs dry, you're hosed without a refill.
The Bottom Line - This little item is great for anyone who wants to
enjoy being outdoors without being bled dry by mosquitoes. It ain't
cheap, but it does what it claims, and when you're surrounded by a
cloud of skeeters that threaten your very existence, it's worth its
weight in gold.
Product Description
• Portable cordless mosquito repellent "appliance."
• Uses a butane cartridge to heat up mosquito repellent mats.
• Electronic ignition means it lights like a gas grill or
Aim-n-Flame--kind of noisy, but dependable.
Guide Review
The Only Way to Fly
I have to admit, I was skeptical about this product at first, but it
was vouched for by someone who had used it in the swamp where I'd
tested the Bug Tamer, so I knew it was worth a try. The results
exceeded my expectations by far.
In the worst conditions, I was surrounded by a black cloud of buzzing,
biting torment. Twenty minutes after turning on the ThermaCELL and
taping it to my stand, it was gone. Every now and then a skeeter would
fly in, but she'd be sluggish and would leave before long..."
These are $29.99 each at the Thermocell site:
http://www.mosquitorepellent.com/
There are many other sites, but most propose skin treatments or
ultrsonics that do not work and are usually a waste of time and money.
My research seems to show that these two might be your best bet for a
pleasant party.
I trust my research has provided a few workable solutions for your
mosquito problem. If a link above should fail to work or anything
require further explanation or research, please do post a Request for
Clarification prior to rating the answer and closing the question and
I will be pleased to assist further.
Regards,
-=clouseau=- |
