Keep Ticks Away This Summer With Easy, Homemade Repellents for Family and Pets

The great part about summer is that it gives us all the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. The bad part is sharing nature with all the nasty little buggers cause issues when they bite. Here's an easy way to keep those pests at bay by mixing together a few common household ingredients.

Since officially becoming "campers" this year after buying a buddy's used pop-up, my family and I have made a few trips to various Tri-State area campgrounds to enjoy time with friends, and just relax, including a trip to New Harmonie State Park Memorial Day Weekend where blood-sucking ticks were a particular issue.

The four of us combined easily found over 10 ticks either climbing on us looking for a meal, or already latched on to some part of our body enjoying a delicious blood buffet. We used over-the-counter bug spray in an attempt to keep them away, which worked fine when we remembered to re-apply, but it leaves you smelling like, well, like bug spray. Which isn't a terrible smell, but when was the last time you bought a bug spray scented candle to freshen up the house? Oh, you haven't? Exactly.

Next time you and the family decide to head outdoors to somewhere you know ticks may be an issue, give this homemade repellent a try.

Ingredients

• 2 cups distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 20 drops of an essential oil such as peppermint or citrus
• 1 spray bottle

Directions

It's simple really. Combine all ingredients and pour them into the spray bottle.

Why does it work? Apparently the vinegar is the key ingredient as its smell is what repels the pests. Of course it can also repel other human beings which is why you add the scented oil.

Like any other repellent, you'll have to reapply every few hours, and its not guaranteed to keep you tick free, so be sure to check yourself (before you wreck yourself?) every so often.

We like to take our two dogs camping with us a well, and like all dogs, they like to spend time laying on the ground, making them a prime target for ticks. eHow.com has a similar repellent concoction you can use on them.