Bob, a fisherman, takes one vitamin B-1 tablet a day April through October. He said it works. He was right. The odor the tablet gives out through your skin (YOU can not smell it) repels mosquitoes, black flies, no-see'ms, and gnats. It does not work on stinging insects. Hasn't had a mosquito bit in 33 years. Try it. Every one he has talked into trying it works on them. 

Brewer's Yeast:

Stop Eating Bananas:

If you eat bananas, the mosquitoes like you, something about the banana oil as your body processes it. Stop eating bananas for the summer and the mosquitoes will be much less interested.

Wear loose, light colored clothing.  Loose clothing does not allow the insect’s stinger or biting apparatus to reach your skin. Keep shirts tucked in; keep pant legs tucked into socks or boots. A head net works great during problem times. Treat clothing with a mosquito repellant before leaving on your adventure. 

Bathe regularly with peppermint or unfragranced soap.and wash away sweat.  A clean body does not attract them as much as a sweaty, smelly one.

Avoid scents. Avoid hairsprays, deodorants, perfumes, scented sunscreens, etc.

Studies indicate body movements can double the number of mosquitoes attracted to you.  

Sit close to or under fans: Mosquitoes are not  very strong fliers and will not bother you in the wind.  Sleep in the breeze of a fan inside or outside.  

Avoid cool, moist areas, especially at dusk or dawn. Prime feeding times are late dusk and early evening.

Try a cedar oil spray. I get it at PetSmart & use it on the dogs, cats & kids - it may seem a bit pricey but one bottle lasts for awhile. There may be another source for it among herbal shops, natural food stores, etc. One tip for anyone using it for fleas - it's a REPELLANT and works best if used before you see any fleas. If you've already got fleas, the same company makes a shampoo. ~Cindy, Newbury, OH

Bounce® Fabric Softener Sheets:

Best thing ever used in Louisiana - just wipe on & go...

Florida residents have been spotted wearing these sheets on their belts or sticking out of their pockets to repel mosquitoes.  

Some rub the sheets on their skin too. I wonder too about hanging them in strategic places around the patio or in a bedroom instead of a pest strip which is poisonous.

 Effective on Maui - More on Bounce.

I found out many years ago, when I was a young teenager, that just splashing plain rubbing alcohol on me and allowing it to dry would deter mosquitoes from biting me.

I am allergic to mosquito bites and develop huge welts everywhere they bite me. With the alcohol, they never bit me. And once it dries, it leaves a pleasant odor on the skin, not repugnant at all. Thought this might help. And it only costs less than 50 cents a bottle! ~ Linda G from Tennessee

Vick's Vaporub ®: 

This is going to floor you, but one of the best insect repellents I have found and I am in the woods every day, is Vick's Vaporub. I rub it on my pants and legs to ward off ticks. If you can tolerate the smell it's pretty good. 
~  Barbara

Skin-So-Soft ® by Avon:

Here in Jacksonville, NC, home of Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, our "tough guy" Marines who spend a great deal of time "camping out" say that the very best mosquito repellant you can use is Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about half and half with alcohol. I've tried it, and I have to admit it works just as well if not better than the commercial sprays. An added plus -- it smells great too.  ~ Carol D.

Now available: Bug-Guard from Avon.

20 drops Eucalyptus oil
20 drops Cedarwood oil
10 drops Tea Tree oil
10 drops Geranium oil
2 oz. carrier oil ( such as Jojoba )

Mix together in a 4 oz. container. Apply to skin as needed avoiding the eye area. Keep out of reach of children. Test on a small area of skin for sensitivities . Experiment with different percentages of essential oil.  ~ GR

Applying baby oil with vanilla flavoring seems to work for some people. They claim it even repels the big "tote you away" mosquitos.

~

One of the best natural insect repellants that I've discovered is made from the clear real vanilla (not the grocery store vanilla extract which is mostly alcohol). 

This is the pure vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It's cheap there if you know of someone that lives there or in the US close to the border. If not, health food stores usually carry it or can order it for you.

I use it half vanilla and half water and find that it works great for mosquitoes and ticks, don't know about other insects. It's nice that you don't smell like a chemical plant but a cookie! I cannot use chemical insecticides, so I love the way this works and I hope you and your kids will also. ~Sharon

I just read about a pleasant solution, though, that worked for me last weekend in the mountains (lots of biting bugs, but they pretty much left me alone.) Use lavender oil, and dab it on your pulse points (I used it on my wrists, behind my ears, temples, behind my knees, and on my ankles). Smells wonderful, but apparently the insects don't think so. ~ JT

Kiss Off! from Kiss My Face:

Contains citronella oil and Rhodinol (from grasses grown in Sri Lanka) and Terpineol (from pine trees) along with moisturizers and botanicals. 

Miscellaneous:

Soybean oil. Oils of citrosa, coconut, birch, Lantana camara (Linnaeus), Tarchonantus camphoratus essential oil, neem, blue stem grass, rosemary, yarrow, spearmint, menthol, crushed citrosa or lemon thyme leaves, oils of sweet basil, citronella, cedar wood, lemongrass, peppermint (Castile soap) or eucalyptus. 

Kiss Off! from Kiss My Face contains citronella oil and Rhodinol (from grasses grown in Sri Lanka) and Terpineol (from pine trees) along with moisturizers and botanicals. 

There are several things to do when trying to protect yourself and kids from those nasty bugs in the yard during the summer.

One thing to do is plant marigolds around the yard, the flowers give off a smell that bugs do not like, so plant some in that garden also to help ward off bugs without using insecticides. ~ Sandy

There are many insect repellents that contain 'pyrethum' which is actually a natural extract of the marigold plant. It is very safe for use around children and pets but it is quite expensive.

You may also want to regularly spray your plants and grass with a soap and water solution. This will have 3 effects: 

1) it will dehydrate most bugs and kill them without chemicals, 

2) it will help to keep your grass and plants clean of pollution and make them healthier and

 3) it will soften your soil which mean you won't have to water as much.

Use a hose-end sprayer filled with 1 cup of any cheap dishwashing soap for your grass or 1 tablespoon of soap in a hand-held sprayer for your plants. ~ Glenn P. 

Basil:

If this works, this is the best hint of all.

Plant a border of basil around the perimeter of your patio. It's claimed that basil repels mosquitos. While you're at it, intermingle Italian parsley (flat-leaved and the only kind for cooking). They seem to like growing together. Last summer I would leave my patio screen door open at times. In the evening, mosquitos would sneak into the house and, of course, find their way to whatever room I was in. I'd wake in the morning with lots of itchy bites.

This spring/summer I planted these herbs along with thyme, dill and garlic chives in planters outside the patio entrance. I haven't had a mosquito in the house yet. If it fails, you still have the fine herbs to use in salads and cooking, a bonus in itself.  ~ShyAnne

More mosquito control plants:

Plant scented geraniums or citrosa plants, lemon thyme, citronella grass, common marigold, tomato, eucalyptus, sweet basil, and/or sassafras by gardens, walks, doors, windows, decks, pools and patios to   help repel mosquitoes.  Note:  Most plants release significant amounts of repellent oils only when their leaves are crushed.  

Rub crushed leaves on a small portion of your skin to see if you get an allergic    reaction before treating” your whole body or pet.

Zip-Lock Bags:

Bio-control:

Bats, praying mantis, snails. nematodes, toads, birds, dragonflies, fish should be enticed or introduced into the area with houses and/or releases to permanently control these serious pests by natural predation. 

Mosquitoes are a key source of food for many species of amphipods (freshwater shrimp) ants, backswimmers, bacteria, bats, birds, crabs, dragonflies, fish, frogs, toads, fungi, giant waterbugs, ground beetles, hydra, mites, insectivore plants, parasitic nematocles, predacious snails and   spiders.  A mouse-eared bat can eat 600 mosquitoes per hour.  A large dragonfly can eat up to 100 mosquitoes in one forage at speeds up to 30 mph or more.

Mosquitoes are drawn to carbon dioxide/light and are killed by the flame. Citronella candles are said to repel mosquitoes, but never burn them inside; the fumes are also harmful to your health.  

Turn off the lights and let them settle on the ceiling (or wall), then flip on the lights and vacuum them up. 

After the Bite - Removing the Itch:

Apply bleach with a cotton ball to the bite. It takes the itch away. It also works on ant bites and bee stings.

Using a cotton swab, immediately apply hydrogen peroxide on the bite , and it will take away the itch. Rub until you see the white foam bubbling on the bite. It may also help prevent an infection.

Another itch remedy sounds VERY interesting and easy to have wherever you go. Unbelievably, it's Tums™ antacid. Just get it wet. If there's no water, lick it. Rub it on the bite and the itch is gone. Might work with Rolaids™ too.

A store-bought cream that I really like is Gold Bond® Medicated Anti-itch Cream. It works well for allergy itching too. ~ShyAnne

Soak bites in Epsom salt water or apply a paste of salt or enzymes mixed into lard or cold cream.