12 Ways to Keep Mosquitos at Bay

Keep the bites at bay at nighttime with a natural repellent you can make yourself. You only need 3 things to make this DIY lavender mosquito repellent: a spray bottle, lavender essential oil, and distilled water.

Included in our essential camping gear roundup, the Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Outdoor Cordless Lantern (£40) provides a battery-operated "Zone of Protection" that silently repels mosquitoes and other flying, biting insects.

Wrists aren't just for decorative bracelets in Summer — they're also the place for an Insect Repelling Superband (£4 for 4-pack). There are bands from different companies, but I can personally vouch for the Superband, having used it for my last 5 trips to Cyprus — my daughter has never been bitten, and I've only suffered one bite (having been covered in them on previous, Superband-less holidays to Greece). My Superband-less SO got bitten to bits.

It contains geraniol, lemongrass, and citronella oils, is non-toxic, DEET-free, and waterproof, and lasts up to 200 hours. For children over three.

If you don't like using sprays or bands, then you can do other things to decrease your chances of getting bitten, like covering up in light layers and footwear that completely covers your feet.

On the clothing theme, you could also wear light colours to lessen your attractiveness to mosquitoes, as they're attracted to dark colours.

Researchers at New Mexico State University found that a particular perfume repelled mosquitoes for up to two hours — specifically Victoria's Secret Bombshell EDP (£37). The yellow fever mosquito and the Asian tiger mosquito particularly avoided the scent. Bear in mind that the study used high concentrations. The scent of lavender also works . . .

Lavender is one of 12 plants that repel mosquitoes and it makes a great perfume. You can also plant it in your garden to help keep your outside space bug-free. Other plants that deter mosquitoes include basil, catnip, lemon balm, and peppermint, to name but a few.

Mothers often know best, so it's no wonder they can dish out tips for a surprising treatment to cure mosquito bites, like the humble Vicks VapoRub (£4). The menthol, camphor, and thymol can stop the itching by creating a cooling sensation. The anti-inflammatory, redness-reducing properties of nutmeg oil can flatten the bites. The cedarleaf oil acts as a repellent.

To stop that incessant itching sensation, you need to stop the bite reacting with air, and what better way to do that than with a dab of clear nail polish? Surprising, but true. Other ways to block the air flow include sticky tape, a plaster, or a spray plaster, but varnish is one of the best — just make sure you don't apply it to broken skin.

Another way to soothe the itching once you've been bitten is with a spoon — yes, really! This summer hack involves warming it under hot water and then holding it over the bite to let the heat destroy the itch-causing protein.