Keeping mosquitoes away has a number of homemade remedies.
In the late 1990's, the West Nile Virus scare left many people looking for homemade mosquito repellent ideas. One unusual idea, born out of urban legend, was the result of a study done by Professor Raymond A. Cloyd of Kansas State University. The urban legend stated that using Bounce brand fabric softeners repelled mosquitoes. Professor Cloyd's study however was in testing the effectiveness of Bounce softener sheets in repelling the fungus gnat.
The Cloyd Study
A four page paper released in 2010 details the experiments. Different compartments were set up connected by a series of mini tubes. The compartments containing Bounce fabric sheets did show less than half of the fungus gnat adults that were found in other compartments. Though significant, the study concludes with the caveat that there are still "important issues that need to be resolved." It is interesting to note, that although the issue of repelling mosquitoes is addressed, it is mentioned in relation to the use of Citronellol -- not Bounce drier sheets.
The Media Reaction
Whether it was because the media didn't take the time to read the study, or because it made for better television isn't clear. The media reported that the study included mosquitoes and gnats in the experiments, which it did not. One or both of the two media news associations that picked up on this erroneous conclusion, reported it as fact on television, radio and in a few printed publications. Despite efforts to clear this up, Professor Cloyd's study is still cited as proof that Bounce dryer sheets are a modern day wonders -- as insect repellents.
The Fradin and Day Study
In July of 2002, Drs. Mark Fradin and John F. Day conducted a study with 15 volunteers. Each applied different insect repellents specifically marketed for mosquito repellent abilities: These included wristbands and Skin-So-Soft moisturizer, and volunteers and held their treated arms in a container with several mosquitoes inside. Though they did not specifically study Bounce drier sheets, the conclusion of the study applies. They made it clear that products -- even specifically marketed as mosquito repellent -- if they did not contain DEET, did not repel for any significant length of time. To date, no Bounce drier sheets have DEET in them.
Homemade Remedies
Despite the studies and proof to the contrary, there will still be those who swear-by using Bounce drier sheets, Avon's Skin So Soft, or lots of garlic to keep mosquitoes away. The number of bites one would normally receive in an uncontrolled environment is not easily tested. There are other factors at work; including temperature, wind, and location that play a big part in the efficacy of certain mosquito repellent remedies. If you ask the scientists, the answer would be a resounding, "No."
Tags: Bounce drier, Bounce drier sheets, drier sheets, mosquito repellent, away number