How to keep Skeeters away?

[richoso1]

I'm going a little crazy trying to keep the skeeters away during the evening. I didn't have this problem at the old digs, but now I'm paying double. Those candle things don't work for me. Anybody got a bulletproof method? I don't want to use that zapper, not cool to be biting down on a rib and hear a zap (skeeter being given the electric chair). I'm open to all/any suggestions... in the mean time DEET sales is up.

 

[mcp9]

old southern thing- works pretty good. get a clear ziplock bag and fill it with water and hang it in the area. they saw there scared of it.

 

[stacks]

I had heard "bug zappers" didn't work on skeeters because they are drawn to your breath and sweat not light. They do have several propane fueled mosquito killers on the martket. Google "mosquito repellant" for a huge range of options. I've heard the propane models work very well attracting and killing skeeters and can range from .5 to 2 acres, but I've also heard that they "attract" mosquito's that wouldn't normally hunt in your yard bringing more of the little blood suckers in.
I have the same problem you do. I cured it by screening in my back porch. Now I can watch my smoker, drink my beer and enjoy the evening west nile free.
Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[ibsmoking]

Rich, I saw a post the other day from Fireguy, he said ThermaCell works great I did a search on the web on found it Bass Pro.

 

[richoso1]

Thanks for the heasd-up, with my luck, I'd screen myself in only to walk through it after a few (?) brewskies. I'll pursue the search options on the net.

 

[lcruzen]

This may sound silly but if you know someone who sells Avon try Skin So Soft. I use it in the summer time at my northern Michigan hunting camp and it is amazing how well it works. I wouldn't have believed it either had I not tried it.

 

[jocosa]

Usually the smoke helps keep them away (if you've got the smoker fired up)... We also set up a few tiki torches with the citronella flavored fuel... it seems to help some...

 

[vlap]

Eat lots of garlic!!!

 

[krusher]

take listerene muthwash and put it in a spray bottle, and spray it all around the perimiter of where you are going to be ( back porch deck ,, whatever ). you can also spray it directly on them, it will kill them

hope this helps

 

[1894]

Ditto that , heard lots of great things about the Thermacell

 

[firebaugh]

I can second the Skin So Soft recommendation. We've been using that in the bayous of southeast Louisiana since I was a little kid. I will not go fishing without it.

 

[walking dude]

krusher.........i looked this idea up at snopes.........www.snopes.com......and according to them, it is a false theory..........i was excited, when i was emailed this solution......but being burnt on some many "INFO" emails, i now check everything out at snopes......and according to them, it is false........

 

[krusher]

we have been doing it down here for about 3 years, my mom lives at the beach and she told me about it, It works for me, if you dont want to try it then dont.. thats just what we do.

 

[walking dude]

didn't mean to ruffle your feathers dude.........just stating what "I" found out........kewl.........I will give it a try then.........but skin so soft werks great.............

here is the link, i was relying on......maybe you should get ahold of em, and set em str8

http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/dishsoap.asp

 

[cinnamonkc]

We use it too. And I also ordered some of the garlic spray to spray the yard before the Grad party and it worked great! Was a little stinky for a couple of hours right after I sprayed it, but it goes away.

 

[master_dman]

Skin so soft does seem to work.. just as good as the deep woods off.

I have several tiki torches in my yard.. Still not convinced.. but I do like the look.

Third.. and best.. I just light a small fire in my pit.. (firepit.. not my smoke n pit) every once in awhile.. throw some green weeds on top.. it'll smoke a lot and confuses/repels the darn blood sucking varmits.

 

[teeotee]

I gotta find something to control them. We're out in the country and they are real bad right now. Although it seems like we have more flies then skeeters.

Like dan i have six tiki torches around a 16 x 12 deck ...... still not convinced on them yet either.

 

[richoso1]

Looked into the Thermacell products and ordered two patio lanterns. Works on batteries, and you can use it as a lantern and/or repellent. They say it has been tested and approved by the U.S Army for use in the sand box. here's the link
http://thermacell.stores.yahoo.net/thpala.html
Thanks for the heads-up, and I'll let you know how well it is going to work for me.

 

[walking dude]

yeah, tip.......we also need to have some plans for this, for the gathering, end of july

 

[lcruzen]

I bought 2 of them and they did nothing. We'll they didn''t land on the Thermacell so I guess they worked a little bit.