When the weather starts to warm up that means it’s mosquito and tick season. Here are the best bug sprays for you can buy for keeping the mosquitoes and ticks away.
DEET has long been the most effective ingredient found in bug sprays, but there are some new ingredients that might be equally effective, or more. Consumer Reports did some extensive testing—shown in the video above—with live mosquitoes to see what products worked the best. Here’s what to look for before you head out on your camping trip:
Top pick: Sawyer’s Fisherman Formula with 20% Picaridin.
Runner up: Repel Lemon Eucalyptus with 30% oil of lemon eucalyptus.
With DEET: Repel Family with 15% DEET and OFF! Deep Woods with 25% DEET.
Keep in mind, there’s a lot of debate about whether DEET is harmful for you or not (the most common side effect being skin irritation). Generally, DEET is safe for most people over the age of 3. If you’re interested in avoiding the DEET, however, there are definitely some effective options available now. Just make sure you always follow the directions listed for bug repellents. Some can be corrosive and have the potential to damage your eyes and even your clothing. If you’re looking for a great way to keep the mosquitoes away without any sprays, an outdoor fan is more effective than you might think. You can read more about the testing at the link below.
What really works against bug bites | Consumer Reports