The most
simple things can bring the most happiness.” – Izabella Scorupco
Sometimes it really is the simple things that make the most
difference. For example, I have recently made the discovery that dryer sheets
keep mosquitoes away. Yes, that’s right; sporting a dryer sheet really does
help keep those nasty critters at bay.
I thank my neighbors for this nifty newfound knowledge. They
showed up at our garden gate one evening, each festively wearing a dryer sheet.
Hers was in her pants pocket, his in the pocket of his t-shirt. I found this
only slightly surprising because I often accessorize myself with a dryer sheet,
unintentionally, of course.
Sensing my amusement, my neighbors quickly explained they
donned their dryer sheets, which were new – not used, on purpose because of an
article they read about how wearing dryer sheets has become the rage among old
people in Florida due to the dryer sheet’s amazing mosquito repelling
qualities.
“It works! It really works!” my neighbor said. “We’ll be
rockin’ the dryer sheet look all summer long. You should try it.”
And, so we did; Mr. Clark and I, scientists and gardeners
that we are, immediately did a test. Picking beans without a dryer sheet –
ouch! Those mosquitoes had a feast. New dryer sheet tucked in a pocket –
significantly fewer bites. (I also tried a used dryer sheet with the hope that
economy would prevail, but it didn’t work nearly as well.)
Curious about the mechanism involved, I Googled “dryer
sheets and mosquitoes.” Apparently, the jury is still out as to whether the wonderful
mosquito repelling quality of dryer sheets is real or something we imagine.
The believers are an enthusiastic lot who do specify that
the dryer sheet has to be new; many say Bounce is the brand of choice. Some say
just wearing the sheet is enough; others say you have to rub it on your skin.
The nay-sayers are equally fervent in their belief, saying that
only repellents containing the chemical DEET are effective. While there is some
concern about using DEET on babies and small children, it has been proven time
and time again to be the most effective product on the market to keep not only
mosquitoes, but also ticks, away.
Avon’s Skin So Soft also has a following, so much so that Avon
now offers a version of the product that contains Picaridin, another proven
insect repellent which is considered safe for use on little ones.
The way these products work (including the dryer sheets) is
they block the receptors on mosquito antennae that sense the things that tell
them where their next human meal is – things like sweat, odor, warmth and the
smell of carbon dioxide. The chemical reacts with human skin to produce a
compound that makes us “invisible” to mosquitoes. According to studies at the
University of Florida, Deep Woods Off, which is 23.8% DEET, kept mosquitoes
away from test subjects’ arms for a whopping 302 minutes; Avon Skin So Soft
only worked for 9.6 minutes. They didn’t test dryer sheets.
My Google search revealed some other theories on mosquito
evasion, as well. One fisherman swore all he does to avoid getting bit is take
one Vitamin B-1 pill each day. As long as he does that, he doesn’t need to use
DEET or dryer sheets or anything else. Some say Vicks VapoRub works like a
charm; others swear by pure vanilla (not the syrupy extract.) On a recent trip
to Mexico, my daughter said the native Mayans burn sticks made from a plant
that smells like kerosene…seems like that would repel a lot of things.
Citronella is, of course, a standby to keep the hungry
swarms at bay, but I’ve never found it to be that effective. Combined with a
dryer sheet, however, all those torches and candles might really work…
My quest for bite free backyard time recently led me to take
a $30 chance on a small battery-powered machine called Bite Shield that I found
in a mail order gardeners’ catalog. It sprays essence of geranium oil, which
is touted to be 400% more effective than citronella at repelling not only
mosquitoes, but also gnats and no-see-ums; and, it really works. You can even
clip it on your pocket (right next to that dryer sheet) for mobile protection.
So, yes, it often is the simple things that give the
greatest joy. Pretty soon I’ll be pulling ripe tomatoes off the vine and
enjoying ‘mater sammiches, bug bite free thanks to that cloud of geranium oil I’m
blissfully surrounded by and that fine dryer sheet I’m rockin,’- this time on purpose.
