Alberta summers are often hot and buzzing with all kinds of life, including the kind that likes to bite! But we aren’t going to stop spending our days out in the sunshine just because of a few bugs that get up in our business. Did you know that some of the most common bites, like those from hornets, wasps, ants or mosquitoes can all be soothed with products you can find right in your home?
Hornets and Wasps
As kids, we scattered as soon as we heard that angry, menacing buzzing. Let’s be honest, we still scatter as adults, but now we can remedy potential bites without mom’s help! If you have the unfortunate luck of dealing with a wasp or hornet bite, apply white or apple cider vinegar directly onto the area to reduce the swelling. The bites of these angry little bullies is a potent alkaline, which the acidity of the vinegar counteracts. If you’ve gone to battle with a yellowjacket however, their venom is the opposite. To fight back against an acidic bite, use baking soda and a hint of water to make a paste! If you’re fresh out of both of these options, a slice of ginger against the bite will soothe and encourage swelling decrease. Don’t forget to remove the stinger before using your at-home remedies.
Ants
The last thing you want is ants in your pants. If you’ve had a run in with ants that attempted to take a chunk out of you, try the vinegar method for this kind of bite too! Vinegar is an all natural, antibacterial agent and works wonders on ant, wasp and hornet bites alike. If you have lemons handy, they act as an excellent relief for swelling. As an added bonus, you can make lemonade to soothe your palate as you recover from your scuffle.
Mosquitoes
On the scale of most annoying insects, mosquitoes absolutely take the cake. They might be the most aggravating, but relief from the itchy swelling they leave behind is relatively simple and you probably have several remedies in your kitchen right now. When mixed with water to create a paste, baking soda is an almost instant relief and provides a cooling sensation because of the alkalinity. Honey is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory and you can apply a drop right onto the swelling to soothe! If you’re on the hunt for another instant relief method, grab an ice cube and press that right onto the swelling and you’ll feel pretty cool in no time.
There’s no doubt that we’ll have our share of run ins with any and all of these little buggers this summer, but it’s easy to care for insect bites if you know what to reach for! If that bite turns out to be from an infiltration of pests in your home or on your property, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 403.262.1666. We aren’t afraid to bite back when it comes to safeguarding your property!
