As soon as the weather gets warm, you will find chiggers everywhere. Planning to spend a day outside in the garden to relax will end up with you scratching yourself because of chigger bites. However, all itching and blisters can be avoided if you learn how to repel chiggers. Here are some simple and natural ways to help you out.
Why It Is Important to Repel Chiggers
You must be wondering why you need to learn how to repel chiggers when they all cause minor bites. Here are a few reasons why avoiding chiggers is a good option.
When you get bitten by a chigger, the area will cause severe itching. It will be hard for you to stop scratching and breaking your skin. It will allow other bacteria to attack your skin and can enter your system to cause infection.
A simple chigger bite can take days and even weeks to heal. It means that you will not be able to get rid of the marks for weeks, and they will stay on your body for some time with the itching.
If you are traveling and the chigger that bites you carries disease-causing bacteria, these bacteria could get transmitted to your body. So, it means you have to be extra careful if you are concerned about your health.
If an Orientia tsutsugamushi bacteria infected chigger bites you, it can cause Scrub Typhus (also called Bush Typhus). Symptoms can be a headache, body aches and fever.
Natural Ways on How to Repel Chiggers
There is a misconception that natural ways do not work when repelling insects or mites. However, some unique and simple ways will surely help you repel chiggers.
1- Have marigold plants around the house
Most people do not believe in this, but chiggers dislike marigolds. Therefore, planting marigolds in your yard or around your house effectively stops chiggers from entering your house. Moreover, marigolds will make your garden look more attractive.
2- Use diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is a very effective repellent for chiggers and other bugs that may cause severe bites and reactions. You can use food-grade DE in your lawn and clothes. When you are getting ready to leave the house, you can dust some of the DE on your pants at least 6 inches upwards, around your ankles, and the sleeves of your shirt. You will not bring any bugs home.
Sprinkle DE in your lawn and garden to prevent infestation of chiggers. You can use 5 pounds of DE if you have a 1000 sq feet lawn.
3- Wear pantyhoses
Wearing pantyhose under your pants is an effective way to repel chiggers. These bugs cannot bite your skin from such fabric, which means you will be protected.
4- Apply sulfur on your clothes and body
One of the most effective and reliable ways to repel chiggers is by applying sulfur.
Sulfur powder: Apply it on your shoes and clothes before leaving the house as a repellent.
Sulfur Supplements: Sulfur supplements will keep all insects away from you, including mites and chiggers. *If you plan to take sulfur supplements, always consult your doctor first. If you have any medical condition, are pregnant, or are a nursing mother, you should not take such supplements without a consulting your Doctor.
Sulfur pellets: Keep sulfur pellets around your lawn and house to prevent chigger infestation. Use this technique before the weather gets extremely hot. If you have pets, do not use this method.
5- Spray your clothes with vinegar
Spraying your clothes with distilled white vinegar is an effective way to repel and kill chiggers. The acetic acid in vinegar is effective in killing insects.
6- Have garlic before leaving the house
A single garlic clove before leaving the house will work as a perfect insect repellent. Properly treating garlic for 2 weeks will make it possible for you to repel insects for a month. It works perfectly for mosquitos.
7- Create a DIY chigger repellent using essential oils
You can create a quick chigger repellent by using the following ingredients.
4 tablespoons water
2 teaspoon witch hazel
5 drops of any essential oil (tea tree, lavender, lemongrass, or thyme)
Mix all these ingredients properly and apply them to your skin. It will help you repel chiggers, and you will not have to deal with any side effects, especially if you have sensitive skin.
8- Skip shade and prefer hard surfaces when outside
Chiggers do not like the sun, so when you go outside, especially in grassy areas like gardens or fields, avoid staying in the shade for too long. The reason is that the chances of having chiggers in the shade are higher.
Similarly, during the chigger season, avoid walking or sitting in areas with vegetation or grass. While hiking, select the path with fewer plants to avoid interaction with chiggers or other insects. While in parks, you prefer to walk on hard surfaces and sit on a bench to have less contact with the chigger habitat.
9- Cover yourself with a strong odor
Chiggers do not go near strong odors. These mites are easily attracted to human smell. So you should cover your smell with a strong odor that is unpleasant to chiggers. You can use garlic or sulfur for this process.
No doubt, the chemical repellents available in the market are highly effective. However, it will damage the environment, and if you are allergic to any of the chemicals, you may not be able to use these repellents. Therefore, using eco-friendly natural options is a reliable and effective solution.
Final Thoughts On How to Repel Chiggers
No doubt, a single chigger bite will take days to resolve, which means you will struggle with itching and irritation. Therefore, learning how to repel chiggers is your best option. Take extra care of yourself during the summer so you will not have to deal with bug bites. If you notice chigger infestation in your yard or home make sure to remove it as soon as possible so you will not have to deal with any bites or other issues. You have to be extra carefull, specially if you have pets.
Miteinfestaion.com blog was started to help others deal with the problems of Mites, bed bugs, fleas, ticks and other small, often unseen critters that give us problems. We hope these articles are a help to you as you deal with these types of issues. Any product or service we provide on these pages have been proven to work. We are solely reader supported so we may receive a small percentage as an affiliate of Amazon and other companies.
[…] Another way to prevent chigger bites is by using natural sprays. Some studies suggest that natural sprays made from oils such as citronella, tea tree, jojoba, eucalyptus, geranium, or lemon grass can help keep chiggers away. These sprays can be applied to your skin or clothing before heading outdoors. Additionally, wearing long pants and sleeves, and avoiding walking in grassy or wooded areas can also help prevent chigger bites. here is another article on how to repel chiggers. […]