As I write this, we are getting ready to go camping for 12 days!! Camping is one of my favorite things to do in the summer. Each year we take 12-14 days and camp with my family on a lake and spend the entire time kayaking, swimming, playing games and of course, eating.
Growing up we did a lot of camping. My grandparents would take a bunch of the grandkids camping, and we had such a great time. Some of my fondest memories are from our camping trips. We hiked, rode bikes around the campground, swam and floated in the river, created matchbox car courses under the tree roots, played games, and so many more fun things. It was the best!!
Getting ready for camping is always an undertaking, but I make lists and try to keep them from year to year to make my life easier. I cook and freeze as much ahead as possible, which means food is so much easier when you get there.
One thing that is inevitable almost no matter where you camp are the bugs!! They can be so frustrating. I am not a fan of the chemicals in bug spray from the store and had a difficult time finding a good nontoxic substitute, so I started making my own!
DIY Bug Spray- 10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
- 8 drops Purification Essential Oil
- 8 drops Citronella Essential Oil
- 5 drops Rosemary essential Oil
- Splash of Witch Hazel
- Distilled or filtered water to fill the bottle.
Shake well before each use.
Yes, this actually works quite well!!! It’s is safe to use on your skin, on surfaces that you touch and as a general bug spray for an area to keep the pests at bay.
We use this spray a ton when we’re camping to help with bugs, but it also makes a nice air freshener for public bathrooms, stale tents, and campers.
In the event that you do get bitten, here’s an easy Bug Bite Relief Stick recipe for those itchy annoyances.
DIY Bug Bite Relief Stick
- ½ oz beeswax
- 1 oz. refined coconut oil
- ½ oz. jojoba oil
- 7 drops Lavender essential oil
- 7 drops Helichrysum essential oil
- 6 drops Peppermint essential oil
- 3 drops Vitamin E oil (can use the capsules and pierce it with a pin, if you can’t find the liquid)
- Lip balm containers
Melt the beeswax and coconut oil in a double boiler. Melt slowly. Do not boil. Once almost liquefied add jojoba oil and vitamin E oil. Stir to mix.
Remove from heat and let cool slightly before adding essential oils. Stir in essential oils and pour into lip balm tubes. Let them cool for several hours.
Apply to areas of bug bites for itch relief.
If you love camping as much as I do, you are always looking for ways to keep bugs at bay and get relief when you get bitten. I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I do, and please let me know if you try them!
This post contains affiliate links.
0 Comments