I grew up in southwest Louisiana, where I became intimately familiar with the insect the CDC calls "the world’s deadliest animal": the mosquito. But it wasn’t just mosquitoes—there were also ticks, chiggers, and a whole host of other biting pests. With all the camping and hunting I did as a kid, I spent most of my youth covered in bug bites, and I learned early on that staying protected was essential.
Those were the days before climate change really took hold, but now I find myself more concerned than ever about the spread of insect-borne diseases moving into new regions. West Nile, Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya, and Lyme disease are no longer just southern problems—they’re becoming more common in places that used to be safe.
When it comes to protection, DEET is still my go-to for repelling everything from mosquitoes to ticks. It works well, and I trust it. But what do you do if you're stuck without it? Maybe you're in a short-term emergency with no bug spray, or maybe you're in a long-term survival situation and commercial products are gone. In those cases, you need alternatives—even if they aren't as effective as store-bought repellents.
Below are two DIY solutions that, while not as strong as chemical options, can still make a real difference when you're in a pinch. They use materials you might already have on hand, and they’re easy to apply.
Ticks and Chiggers: Nylon Pantyhose
One of the simplest and most underrated methods for keeping ticks and chiggers at bay is nylon pantyhose. These provide a physical barrier between your skin and the bugs, which is especially effective against ticks and chiggers—and even leeches, according to some sources. However, they don’t work well against mosquitoes.
Pantyhose are stretchy and can easily be worn around your arms, legs, and neck. But the most important place to wear them is your legs, since that's where ticks tend to latch on. Just make sure to pull them up over your socks and tuck them into your boots for maximum coverage.
The downside? They get hot. In the summer, wearing nylons can feel like a sauna, so they’re best saved for cooler weather or when you’re in a sheltered environment. Still, they have plenty of other uses in a survival scenario—like filtering water, making makeshift cordage, or even as a temporary bandage. As the old saying goes, you just have to know how to use them.
Mosquitoes: Avon Skin So Soft
If you're looking for a natural alternative to DEET, many people swear by Avon Skin So Soft. There's a lot of debate online about whether it actually works—some say it’s great, others say it’s barely effective, and a few say it doesn’t work at all. But from personal experience, I can tell you that it does work—at least for me and the people I’ve seen use it.
I remember using it during Boy Scout campouts, and after a while, your skin definitely feels like it’s coated in something slick. But it keeps the mosquitoes away. The trick is to apply it generously. If you slather it on thick enough, it creates a protective layer that mosquitoes won’t want to land on.
Another benefit? It smells way better than most chemical repellents. That might sound trivial, but in an emergency, feeling clean and smelling good can do wonders for your morale. Plus, going to sleep with the scent of Skin So Soft on your skin can be oddly comforting.
That said, the protection isn’t as long-lasting as DEET, so I’d only use it as a backup option or when you're heading to bed. Apply it in the evening, and you’ll wake up feeling a little less gross—plus, you’ll have a pleasant smell to start your day with.
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