Keeping Mosquitoes at Bay

What kept me from traveling at times was a fear of mosquitoes. It wasn’t an unfounded fear since I’d really get eaten by them. Hawaii. Thailand. Okinawa, even. But really, Hawaii and Thailand was something.

But now, it’s pointless to fear them when I’d get bit by them here in the comfort of my own home. These pesky things have managed to be vicious not only when I travel but when I go outdoors for a minute or two! Yikes.

So, how do you protect yourself from these buggers when you’re trying to have a good time on a staycation or a legit vacation abroad?

Spray yourself with Listerine
Listerine supposedly works for some people. I can tell you upfront that it didn’t exactly work for me! Despite spraying myself with Listerine here and there, mosquitoes weren’t afraid to come close to me!

I should mention that you’re supposed to use the original Listerine (tan colored) for it to be effective. I was using a different colored Listerine and that could have been why it wasn’t as effective as it could have been, although I doubt Listerine is truly effective at keeping mosquitos away.

Fortunately, despite it not being all that effective, I didn’t get bit all that much while in Hong Kong.

Use an anti-bug balm
Organic anti-bug balms work. Hawaii’s mosquitos adore me and using an organic anti-bug balm was overall quite effective at keeping them away from me. Where I didn’t have this balm on, I got bit! I even got bit on my forehead of all places!

Even though I still managed to get a good amount of bites, I’m aware it would have been so much more gross without the balm. Because of this, I now feel less apprehensive about traveling to places that are known for mosquitos. Tackling mosquitos seem more possible with an anti-bug balm on you. Louisiana, anyone? On second thought, maybe I should play it safe when it comes to mosquitos…

Drink Tonic Water
They say tonic water helps to keep these buggers away from you, but I doubt it. Plus, it seems like you’d have to drink gallons of tonic water for it to be effective at all.

Consume Tamarind
Southeast Asia is home to mosquitos that bite like there’s no tomorrow. So, it makes sense that tamarind, a common ingredient in some Southeast Asian dishes would be effective at keeping mosquitos away. Similar to tonic water, though, the question is how much tamarind would you need to consume for it to be effective? It’s a given that the local who’s been consuming tamarind infused dishes for decades is going to win at this game verses the new boy in town who’s just had a bit of tamarind in their tummy recently.

The ugly way to get around this is to just put tamarind on you. You probably won’t look good but who wants to look good for mosquitos, right?

Use Hand Sanitizers if Necessary
Because the original Listerine contains alcohol, I’m thinking alcohol based sanitizers would help to some extent at warding off mosquitos. Of course, I don’t think it’s wise to apply hand sanitizer all over you. However, as a last resort, maybe you can apply it on lightly here and there when you unexpectedly enter mosquito territory?

Dress in Light Colors
Honestly, if a mosquito is going to bite, it’s going to bite regardless of what color you’re wearing. Mosquitos can smell you and if you smell scrumptious, they’ll come after you even if you’ve camoflauged yourself to look like the sky.

Despite this, it may be a good idea to wear lighter colors as a deterrent against them anyway. If it can ward off even one biting mosquito, know that your effort was worth it.

I hope these tips come in handy for you. If they’re helpful and effective in any way, let me know.