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Insect repellants can keep pests from nibbling, biting, stinging, and, well, annoying you outdoors, but some insect repellants are, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which determine the safety and effectiveness of a. studied safer than other wide variety of consumer products. The group recommends that people use repellants with one of three main ingredients: picaridin, DEET and IR3535: “Each of these agents has low safety concerns and is highly effective in preventing bites from a wide variety of ticks and biting insects,” the organization writes in a report. Recommended brands by EWG include: Sawyer Picardin ($ 8.70 at Amazon) and from! Family Care Clean Feel ($ 5.14 at Walmart).
You should also consider where you live to determine what repellent you might need: “If you are at risk for Lyme disease or West Nile disease or other insect-borne diseases, use a higher concentration insect repellant,” writes the EEC. Consider a product with picaridin at 10 to 20%, DEET at 7 to 30%, and IR3535 at 20%, ”David Andrews, a senior scientist at EWG, told MarketWatch. “Choose higher concentration products if you plan to be outdoors for extended periods of time.” Here are five specific insect repellants that professionals and reviewers recommend.
1. Sawyer Picardin ($ 8.70 at Amazon)
Stay mosquito and tick free for up to 12 hours and flies, mosquito and mosquito free for up to 8 hours with this 20%, fragrance-free solution from Picaridin. Also, Wirecutter lists this as their best insect repellent pick because it’s EPA approved and comes in a bottle that sprays more evenly and accurately than its competitors.
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Buy from Walmart
Walmart
2. OFF! Family Care Clean Feeling ($ 5.14 at Walmart)
This insect repellent is made with picaridin and drives away ticks, biting flies, mosquitoes and chiggers as well as mosquitoes. You don’t even have to spray it on your skin, you can spray your clothes with a slow stroking motion from 15 to 20 cm away and this will also repel the insects.
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Buy from Amazon
3. Coleman Insect Repellent SkinSmart DEET-Free, $ 4.87 at Walmart
This 20% IR3535 bug spray ranks highest among Consumer Reports’ tests for bug spray containing IR3535. It provides up to 8 hours of protection from mosquitos and ticks, and is a quick reminder that it dries on your skin and gets the job done.
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Buy from Walmart
Walmart
4. Cutter Backwoods Aerosol Mosquito and Insect Repellent Spray, $ 4.27 at Home Depot
CNN Underscored rates this as the best DEET bug spray among its competitors. With 25% DEET, you’ll find that this spray doesn’t smell as strong or greasy as others. It is sweat-resistant and keeps mosquitoes away for up to 10 hours.
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5. Proven mosquito and tick spray, $ 7.95 on Amazon
This odorless picaridin solution repels mosquitoes and ticks for up to 12 hours. It comes in a 2oz travel-size spray bottle so it can be conveniently stored in a handbag, backpack or belt pouch. And Wirecutter recommends it as a top option because the main disadvantage is the single cap and the limited bottle sizes.
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Amazon
