There are nearly one million positive cases of Lyme disease in dogs every year. Lyme disease is transmitted through bacteria from a tick bite, which your dog could get in grassy or wooded areas. If Lyme disease is untreated, it can lead to damage to the kidneys, nervous system, and heart, and can even be fatal.

So, pet owners go to great lengths to prevent tick bites on their dogs. For many dogs, the ideal topical tick preventative may be the synthetic, topical formula recommended by veterinarians. It contains fipronil, a powerful chemical used to kill adult fleas and ticks on animal fur. But just like people, some dogs have very sensitive skin. So, those harsher chemical tick repellents can cause itching, irritation, and even skin lesions on pets. For this reason, many dog owners choose to use gentler, natural products. But which options work?

Related Topic: What to Do If a Tick Head Is Stuck in Your Skin

Four Natural Tick Repellents for Dogs

Don’t forget to consult your veterinarian before using any of these products on your pet. They may suggest testing a product on a small portion of your dog’s skin before using it all over.

1. Store-Bought Formulas: There are many pre-mixed natural tick repellents for dogs on the market, all with differing ingredients. Many of these contain essential oils. Be sure to read the instructions, as some products may require dilution before you apply them to your pet.
2. Homemade Essential Oil Tick Repellent for Dogs: Essential oil tick repellent for dogs is also a popular choice of pet owners looking to keep their dogs protected in the warmer months. The essential oil commonly used to repel ticks on dogs is lavender oil. It has a sweet, calming scent that is attractive to humans and dogs but loathed by bugs like fleas and ticks. Amazingly, lavender oil also prevents tick eggs from hatching. You may have heard that lemongrass is a good tick repellent for dogs, but it could upset your dog’s stomach if they licked it, so it’s generally not recommended as a topical treatment.
3. Natural Tick Spray for Your Yard: One of the best ways to prevent ticks on your dogs—and on your other family members—is to keep ticks from coming to your yard in the first place. Mosquito Joe can help with that! Using our natural tick treatment on strategic areas of your yard, we’ll make sure no pesky ticks can bother your fur babies.
4. Reduction of Tick Habitat: Eliminate tick breeding grounds in your garden and lawn by cleaning up debris they might hide in. Mosquito Joe will provide some guidance for this if you’re already having us spray for ticks outside.

So, those are the four major ways to repel ticks that might bother your pets. Here are more details about the homemade option.

How to Make Your Own Tick Repellent

You may think a DIY tick repellent for dogs would be tricky, but it’s quite easy to make your own! Here’s a method you can try at home with the approval of your veterinarian:

• Thinly slice a lemon into a large glass jar.
• Boil a quart of water, and slowly pour it over the sliced lemon. Let the mixture steep overnight.
• Strain the lemon water into a glass spray bottle, filling it about half-full. Save any remaining water for later.
• Add 1 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
• Add ten drops of lavender oil. Shake it up and put it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
• To use it, lightly spray the mixture on your dog’s fur, using your hand to work it in. Avoid spraying it around your pet’s eyes and mouth. Apply the spray every two hours when your dog is outside.

Pull Out All the Stops to Keep Ticks Away

Your dog is a member of the family, and you want to protect your whole family from ticks. While you might try any of these natural methods for tick repellent, the most effective plan is to use a combination of all these things: a topical (vet-approved) treatment, a professional yard treatment, and tick habitat removal. You can trust Mosquito Joe for professional yard treatment and advice about habitat removal. We’re experienced and equipped with a proprietary, all-natural formula that works for weeks. To get started, give us a call at 1-855-275-2563 or request a quote online.

While your garage is the perfect space for your vehicle, bikes, and tools, it’s also an ideal shelter for pests looking for protection from the outdoors. If you’re wondering how to keep insects out of your garage, you’ve found the right resource. The best way to keep bugs away is to keep your garage clean and free of temptations such as food, water, and nesting spaces.

How to Keep Bugs Out of Your Garage

Declutter: Keeping your garage organized and clean is the best way to avoid and spot pest infestations. Use plastic storage bins or other weather-tight containers, rather than cardboard, to keep critters and bugs from nesting in your belongings. Make sure you check your items and storage containers for pests before putting them away.

Reduce water and humidity: Most bugs are attracted to water lingering around your garage. Make sure you don’t have any leaky pipes, standing water, or condensation. Get a dehumidifier for your space, if necessary.

Remove food: Cleaning out any loose food removes a major temptation for bugs in the garage. Sweep up crumbs immediately after they’re dropped, tightly tie your garbage bags, and use sealed containers for pet food and birdseed.

Weatherproof: Seal up cracks around your windows, doors, and garage door to prevent pests from making their way into your garage, especially during seasonal transitions when bugs seek a warmer or cooler place to live. You may use silicone caulk, weatherstrips, and rubber seals for this project. The local professionals at Mr. Handyman® can help you weather strip your garage door to not only keep the bugs out but also keep the temperature of your space comfortable all year long.

Contact the professionals: Our Mosquito Joe® professionals can help you find and remove existing pests, as well as identify conditions that may be attracting pests to your space. We offer perimeter pest control services, applying a specialized spray around the garage to keep insects away. Contact a Mosquito Joe near you today to get a quote, or call us at 1-855-275-2563.

Related Topic: Preparing for Winter Pests

Common Garage Pests to Look Out For

Pests in your garage can range from a few buzzing flies to a complete rodent infestation. Some of the most common garage dwelling pests include:

Deer mice: These small rodents are notorious for nesting in boxes and wall gaps during cold months. This can pose a threat to your property, as the mice may also find their way to your vehicle and chew through wires while attempting to find the perfect space.

Spiders: The garage is ideal spider habitat, as other bugs become confined to the space, and spiders feast on them. Keeping your garage free of other pests is the best way to avoid spiders, as their food source is diminished. Frequently sweep along baseboards, doors, and windows to remove spiderwebs.

Flies: These bugs are attracted to strong odors. The best way to avoid a fly infestation is to keep your garage free of pungent smells and food.

Crickets: In warmer and dry months, these loud bugs are often drawn to a cool and shaded garage. Their jumping abilities allow them to make their way to even your highest storage containers.

Silverfish: These small bugs easily make their way under doors and through small cracks. Food temptations and loose clutter will easily attract these pests, as they feed on anything from meat to cloth. Garage insect repellent can help deter these pests.

Sowbugs: Sowbugs are crustaceans more closely related to shrimp and lobsters than to insects. They’re attracted to cool, damp, and wet spaces because they’re unable to retain moisture in their bodies.

Related Content: Mosquito Control—Even in the Winter?

When to Clean Your Garage to Deter Pests

Keeping your garage clean and sealed throughout the year is the best way to keep pests away, no matter the season. However, in colder months, bugs are especially attracted to your garage because they want an escape from the cold. Cleaning your garage in the fall will prevent pests from finding small and hidden spaces to hunker down in throughout the season. It’s also a good idea to clean your garage in the spring as the new year can bring on more pests.

Protecting babies from mosquitoes is important for their health and comfort, but it’s hard to determine which repellents are safe to use. Many store-bought insect repellents list DEET (diethyltoluamide) as the active ingredient. Others contain picaridin as an alternative. Both are considered safe for children over two months old when used as directed. But there are so many types of repellents out there with various added ingredients. Here’s how to navigate which product is right for your child.   

The Right Mosquito Repellent for Babies

Sprays may not be the best choice for babies. (You can’t just ask them to hold their breath while you spray!) Fortunately, there’s a variety of formulations, including lotions, patches, wipes, balms, and clip-on devices, that are available at most retail outlets. DEET products have been available for public use since 1957. They have a long history of safe use and are considered by many experts to be the most effective at repelling mosquitoes. Look for lower concentrations of DEET, and never use products that have more than 30 percent DEET on babies. Higher concentrations are not more effective at repelling bugs, but their protection lasts longer. A 10 percent DEET formula works for about two hours, while a 30 percent one offers roughly five hours of protection. Picaridin is a synthetic compound derived from Piperine, the plant-based chemical that gives black pepper its strong flavor. It was developed in the 1980s but has only been used in the U.S. since 2005. It is non-toxic and non-greasy, and it doesn’t damage plastics or fabrics like DEET might. (Side note: Unlike DEET products, picaridin is not considered to be harmful to pets, although this hasn’t been fully researched.) 

When it comes to mosquito repellents for babies, parents may be drawn to natural options made from essential oils. There are some essential oil products on the market that are considered safe when used as directed. Just avoid oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is potentially harmful to young children. You can also make homemade mosquito repellents for babies. Be aware that essential oils typically need to be diluted with a carrier oil (coconut or jojoba oil, for example) or other substance before using, and essential oils may irritate sensitive skin. 

Related content: How to Keep Mosquitoes Away from Babies 

Products to Avoid

Besides wondering, “Can I put mosquito repellent on my baby?” parents also worry about using the wrong product, especially if it has atypical ingredients. These guidelines should help you sort things out: 

• Review product warnings, and follow package directions exactly. 
• Avoid using “extra” or “maximum-strength” formulas. Use the lowest concentration available.  
• Never use products with more than 30 percent DEET on children.  
• If using products with DEET, limit application on your child to once a day. 
• Do not use items that contain oil of lemon eucalyptus on children under three years old. 
• Skip wrist-band repellents, due to risks of accidental choking and ingestion of residue. 
• Avoid using candle-style bug repellents around babies. The fumes may hurt sensitive lungs. 
• Do not use combination sunscreen–insect repellent products. Although convenient, sunscreen requires liberal applications throughout the day, which leads to excess exposure to the insect-repelling ingredients.    

Where to Apply and Not Apply 

• Avoid applying products near your baby’s eyes or mouth. 
• Skip applying to their hands and feet, too. These tiny appendages often end up in little mouths! 
• Only apply sprays to exposed skin and over clothing. Do not apply repellent underneath clothing or to large areas of your child’s body. 
• Never spray near a baby’s face. 
• Avoid applying products on cuts or irritated skin. 
• If using patches or clip-on devices, be sure they are attached out of your baby’s reach.
   

No matter how devoted you are to keeping bugs at bay, you can’t prevent every mosquito bite! When the inevitable bite happens, wash your baby’s skin with soap and water, and soothe it with a cold compress or a paste of baking soda and water. Check out these treatment tips from our Mosquito Joe® experts to learn more. 

Other At-Home Solutions to Prevent Mosquito Bites

Perhaps the easiest solution of them all is getting professional mosquito barrier spray treatments from your local Mosquito Joe. Our trained and certified technicians apply specialized formulas that begin working immediately and keep working for 21 days. We offer both traditional and natural treatment options for your yard. Schedule service online or call 1-855-275-2563 to get started today. 

Remember playing outside for hours on end when you were growing up? Adventure was found in your own backyard under rustling leaves. Today, some kids are missing all that fun. They’ve traded blue skies for blue screens, and they don’t even know they’re getting the raw end of the deal. 

Too much screen time—whether on smartphones, game consoles, or computers—is linked to sleep disturbances, obesity, and a host of other issues. And a 2018 study by the National Institutes of Health found that two or more screen-time hours correlated with lower language scores! 

Fortunately, coaxing your bleary-eyed child into the great outdoors may not be as hard as you think. Create a backyard nature playground, and watch them head for the back door! 

1. Choose a Location

Select a playground location that is both safe and convenient, away from traffic, deep water, and other hazards. If swings will be included, allow plenty of clearance between fences and other obstacles. To make supervision easy, find an area that is clearly visible from a convenient vantage point. Choose a shady spot so that direct sunlight won’t overheat play surfaces, but steer clear of thick weeds and shrubs or heavily wooded areas, where ticks might be lurking. 

Look for existing natural features within your yard that appeal to your inner child. Is there a tree with gnarly roots or an old stump to climb and balance on? What about a small hill, a thicket of trees, or large rocks? Grown-up eyes might not see the magic in these objects initially, but kids are innately drawn to simple nature-based settings and materials. Don’t forget to include wide-open space for running, too.

2. Find Intriguing Materials, Starting with These Backyard Playground Ideas 

Wondering how to build a natural playground without breaking the bank? Don’t worry—kids’ backyard playgrounds don’t have to cost a fortune. Peruse your storage shed and attic for materials that are languishing. Look for fun items at yard sales and thrift stores. Use your imagination. For example, you can transform old tires into swings or string them together to make a bridge or climbing feature.  

Here are more natural playground ideas that are simple and inexpensive: 

• Repurpose an old canoe, rowboat, or under-the-bed storage box as a sandbox. Add oars, and it’ll double as a play prop. You may also consider raising the container on a stand and adding tools like measuring cups, scoops, sifters, pots and pans, wooden spoons, and a balancing scale to inspire exploration. Bury items like small rocks, fake jewels, coins, or rubber fishing worms, and let the treasure hunt begin. 
• Line up a few landscape timbers to use as balance beams. Make sure the ground and other surfaces near the beams are soft. 
• Fill shallow plastic bins with water. These are a favorite, but always supervise young children during water play! Toy boats, turkey basters, sponges, funnels, clean squirt-top containers, and plastic cups for pouring will keep kids busy. Add a splash of dish soap occasionally, and let your kids wash the toys!  
• Build an obstacle course or a fort with miscellaneous items. You may choose to use bricks, logs, tires, sturdy boards, tarps, and rope. Interesting “sets” like this boost children’s creativity and logical thinking skills. 

• Hang wind socks, chimes, garden flags, and wind spinners. Easily found at dollar or discount stores, these items create a whimsical atmosphere that inspires imagination. You can also create your own wind spinners using old CDs: glue pairs of disks together with the shiny sides facing outward, and string them together with fishing line or string.  
• Make a fun “garden” with artificial flowers and plants. Section off a small plot of dirt or a raised garden bed. Let the kids “plant” and rearrange flowers and other items to design their own unique landscapes. Kick up the creativity by adding small garden statues, fairy houses, and plastic toys (dinosaurs, farm animals, action figures, etc.). 
• Turn a fence or a sheet of plywood into a chalkboard. Use chalkboard paint or any dark-colored outdoor paint to cover a section of wooden fencing or an old sheet of plywood. Provide your budding artists with colorful sidewalk chalk, and they can draw and share messages on the board.  
• Make a tennis ball maze with plastic gutters and drainpipes. This is like a marble track but bigger! Attach straight pipes and elbow pieces to a wall or other vertical, flat surface, to create a track for a tennis ball to roll down. Arrange gutters and pipes at different angles so your kids can drop balls in from various points. If you have older kids, challenge them to build their own mazes with Velcro®-backed pieces.

3. Design Around the Materials You Found

Once you’ve gathered materials, it’s time to organize and set up. Ask your children for their ideas, and encourage them to help with the design. To accommodate a variety of interests and moods, try creating zones or stations for different types of play—from creative to active to calming.  

Consider your children’s ages and abilities, and think about skills you would like them to further develop. Items like climbers, swings, and slides promote balance and gross (large muscle) motor skills. Water tables and sandboxes provide sensory input and help develop fine motor skills. Tunnels, forts, and lookout towers stimulate creative and social play.  

4. Make Landing Surfaces Soft 

No matter how skilled your aspiring gymnasts are, occasional tumbles are inevitable. Be sure that swings and climbing or balancing items are placed over soft ground surfaces like loose sand, wood or rubber mulch, or other spongy materials. Remove large rocks, sticks, or other hard objects in potential fall zones, and teach children to keep those spaces clear of toys and other items. 

5. Establish Rules 

Neighborhood kids seem to be blessed with a sixth sense that draws them to anything new and exciting. If you build it … they will come. Set ground rules about always checking in with a household adult before playing in your yard. Always provide age-appropriate supervision. 

Engage your children in helping establish safety rules. For example, ask your kids to create colorful posters that highlight expectations. Laminate the posters to protect them from rain, and hang them in easy-to-see places.

6. Make It Safer with DIY Maintenance and Home Services

Regularly inspect the play area, structures, and equipment for damage and hazards. Seal or paint wood surfaces to protect them from weather damage. To reduce the risk of ticks—which can transmit Lyme Disease and other illnesses—keep the grass mowed and move woodpiles away from play spaces. Be sure to drain standing water regularly to reduce the mosquito population. 

When it comes to your children—and their friends—fun and safety should go together. Consider scheduling regular tick, flea, and mosquito barrier spray treatments from our Mosquito Joe® experts. We even offer all-natural pest control options. Simply book online or call us at 1-855-275-2563 to get started. 

The Benefits of Natural Playgrounds  

Natural backyard playgrounds foster creativity, critical thinking skills, and independence—three essential skills for a successful life. According to Stanford Health, kids who play outside often are happier and healthier. Simple activities like digging in the dirt can reduce stress levels and strengthen their immune systems! Building a reliable, intriguing backyard playground that offers ample opportunities for unstructured outdoor play is one of the best gifts you can give your child. Time to grab your kids and get started! 

It seems like some people have all the luck. Especially when it comes to getting bitten by mosquitoes. The lucky few who seem to repel the buzzing, biting marauders of summer swear their repelling power is associated with what they eat and/or drink. We’ve all heard the myths that eating and/or drinking certain foods and beverages will deter mosquitoes from using us as a buffet. Well, despite what our grandmother, neighbor, or the Internet tells us, nothing we eat or drink will keep the pesky insects from feasting on us and our loved ones. So, it’s time to sort out the facts from the fiction so we can all enjoy the outdoors – eat and drink what we want – without downing a gallon of pickle juice first. 

Mosquito Myth 

Most of us are hesitant – and for good reason – to apply gallons of insect repellant each summer so we can enjoy the outdoors. We’re all anxious to find a more natural way to keep mosquitoes from biting us. Here’s a list of the foods most talked about as mosquito repellants.  

Garlic and Onions 

Two of the most common foods touted as natural mosquito repellants are garlic and onions. While these foods can work wonders at keeping your spouse, significant other, and the occasional blood-sucking vampire away, they have no effect on mosquitoes. Mosquitos don’t really care how bad our breath smells. So, if garlic and onions are on the menu at the next BBQ, enjoy! Just don’t expect them to keep the mosquitos away.  

Hot Peppers 

Another common myth related to mosquitoes and dietary choice is the one about hot peppers. Rumor has it, hot peppers – especially jalapenos or habaneros – will keep mosquitoes away. Wrong. Visions of a mosquito bursting into flames after biting us because we consumed a healthy portion of peppers is simply not true. The only way these hot foods will keep mosquitoes from biting is if we take off running in search of the nearest glass of water to put out the fire in our mouth.  

Apple Cider Vinegar 

Apple cider vinegar is great for a lot of things. However, preventing mosquito bites is not one of them. So, unless you’ve grown accustomed to the bitter, face-puckering taste of apple cider vinegar, skip it and spare yourself the discomfort.      

Mosquito Facts 

While there are no foods that will keep mosquitoes away, there are some things we can do to minimize our attraction to these flying pests during cookouts or other outdoor activities.  

Avoid Beer (insert sad face emoji) 

Yes, studies have shown that drinking beer can make people seem more attractive. Well, the same holds true for mosquitoes. The odor of beer attracts mosquitoes as does the rosy appearance of our face as we become flush from the alcohol consumption. This gives the term, “getting a buzz on” a whole new meaning. So be aware and drink responsibly.   

Apply Lemon Eucalyptus Oil 

Lemon eucalyptus oil is a fantastic, natural mosquito repellant. Bonus fact – it’s also good for muscle spasms and osteoarthritis. So, if mosquitos aren’t the only thing bugging you, rubbing a little lemon eucalyptus oil on your skin just might help take the sting out of what’s ailing you.  

As long as there are mosquitos there will be myths about how to prevent them from making a meal out of us. Fortunately, when it comes to mosquitos, Mosquito Joe knows what’s up. They know the difference between fact and fiction and can help make the outdoors fun again! 

So Why Do Bugs Love Me but Never Bite My Spouse or Kids? 

Ever wonder why you seem to spend an endless amount of your outdoor time swatting at mosquitos, but your kids or spouse can enjoy the outdoors without getting bitten? Well, there are a few factors at play.  

Blood Type 

People who have Type O blood are twice as likely to be bitten by mosquitoes. They are also more likely to produce a secretion that tells mosquitoes what blood type they are. So, if your spouse or kids don’t have these risk factors, chances are, mosquitos don’t find them as tasty.  

Clothing 

Darker colors are much easier for mosquitoes to see and zone in on when they are hungry. If you are someone who always wears blue or black, you are much easier for them to see. This is especially true in the evening or late afternoon when mosquitoes are the most prevalent.  

There are more factors that come into play when determining how appetizing you are to a mosquito. But there is still one sure-fire way to keep mosquitos away, Mosquito Joe! So as you’re planning your next barbecue, garden party, or just want to make outside fun again, contact your local Mosquito Joe today!.