Use This Genius Hack To Bug-Proof Your Campsite With An Ingredient You Already Own

Nothing ruins a camping experience like a swarm of annoying insects, and the incessant buzz of mosquitoes playing hide and seek around your ears is frustrating. Searches for genius hacks to keep bugs away often lead to chemical repellents, which aren't always ideal around food or wildlife. But sometimes, simple and natural solutions can work wonders. Garlic is one easy yet effective kitchen item that can help you repel bugs from your campsite. So it's not just a cooking staple, but in fact a practical deterrent against those impish bugs.

Studies, including one conducted at Cornell University, have proven that garlic can effectively keep bugs away for hours or even days when properly applied. The good thing is that it's eco-friendly, inexpensive, and readily available for reuse. It's also easy to apply: No stress here. Keeping yourself safe from campsite insects may only require just a few cloves, and you're good to go.

Garlic's ability to repel bugs isn't magic at all: it's just chemistry at work. The flavorful little bulbs contain compounds like allicin and some other sulfides, which naturally have toxic effects on many insects. This makes it a strong repelling force, either on contact or through air, potentially pushing insects away for even up to a month. To buttress the effectiveness of garlic, even gardeners also use it to get rid of pests. SavATree Plant Health Care Program Director, Patrick Parker, explains that, "When garlic extract is absorbed by a plant, biochemical changes take place in its foliage which cause it to actively repel insects."

Whether it's mosquitoes you're battling, or its aphids, mites, ants, caterpillars, or spiders, garlic works quite well against both crawling and flying insects. And unlike DEETS, which tends to irritate your skin and eyes, garlic is considered to be milder, and is biodegradable. Since it's natural, there's no need to worry about its possibility of having harmful additives. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that "no significant adverse effects to humans or the environment are associated with the use of garlic as a pesticide."

Smoldering will let you enjoy the repellent benefits of garlic. One way to do that is to crush a few cloves of garlic, and sprinkle them on hot coals in your campfire. About three to five cloves should be enough. With the smoke produced, insects can be kept at bay as the scent wafts through your surroundings. Alternatively, you can make a garlic spray by blending some cloves with water. Let it all soak for a few hours, then strain the mixture, and you can spray around your tent flaps, the tables, or food areas.

If you don't mind eating garlic, it's another possible way to repel bugs. Isn't it more interesting when you're a repellent yourself? You may chew the garlic directly or take it in the form of capsules, but be aware that the strong garlic odor that'd stem from your pores may prevent fellow campers from coming near you, too. Another option to consider is to just incorporate garlic as an ingredient in your meals, making it both a spice for your tastebuds and a savior to your body. Finding yourself the best campsite isn't always all you need for a perfect camping experience, coming with the right items — like the insect-repelling garlic — also goes a long way.