Many people, especially those with pets or young children, feel uncomfortable with the idea of chemical insect repellents and are concerned about the long term health effects of these types of products. That concern has many consumers seeking out natural insect repellents but the question is, do they really work? The answer? Sometimes.
Several studies show oil of lemon eucalyptus to be a natural bug repellent as effective as DEET in repelling mosquitoes and there is evidence that it may also work well against ticks. However, oil of lemon eucalyptus may be poisonous if ingested in high quantities and according to the CDC it should not be used on kids under 3.
Picaridin is a plant-derived compound that is effective against mosquitoes and ticks and is another natural bug repellent that can be effective. In field studies, 20% picaridin is comparable to DEET as a mosquito repellent for up to five hours but it’s efficacy against ticks only lasted about an hour.
Beyond that, there are no natural repellents that can effectively protect your family from pests and vector-borne illnesses so the best option for natural protection is to install insect screens on the doors and windows of your home. Contact Luxury Screens today and learn more about protecting your family from dangerous insects without resorting to dangerous chemicals.
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