bounce as bug repellant

Bounce dryer sheets empirically demonstrated to repel gnats.

http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/news/story/repelling_insects011411.aspx

http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/full/45/12/1830

  I heard of this before, but didn't give it much credence. Then it popped up on the jax board (we have bugs) and I looked a little further. Seems it should help and you don't have to put it on your skin. I know I'll be slipping a sheet under my bug hat this weekend.

Sounds great if you have fungus gnats (a horticultural pest) in your lab (a controlled environment).   Also, the control treatments they picked for these choice experiments were a bit weak... dryer sheet vs distilled water... dryer sheet and growing medium vs growing medium. Sure the results were significant, but I'm curious how a paper towel soaked in any random chemical compound vs distilled water would have turned out.

<<skeptical scientist hat off>>... let us know how it works for you.  Don't forget your DEET just in case. 

<<skeptical scientist hat off>>

Gotta love a fish-nerd scientist   

I've had mixed results using "Bounce" brand dryer sheets as a bug repellent, but can confirm two other uses that do in fact work.

1. Air freshener for the car.  Just lay a few under the seats and let them emanate.

2. Great at removing dried highway bugs from the front of an RV, car, bumper, as well as removes hard water stains from glass.  Dip in warm water and wipe in circular pattern thoroughly, and with light pressure and keep it wet.  Bugs will literally melt off the surface right in front of your eyes!  Glass will be so clean that it will look like new glass, and will bead water as if it has Rain-X on it.  It's important to not let it dry on the surface, and to rinse really really well otherwise it will haze the surface, requiring soap and further rinsing to remove. 


Less of a repellent and more of a remover, original Formula 409 in a very fine mist will kill mosquitoes and flies immediately right in mid air.  Great for getting those pesky critters that make their way into the tent, RV, or bedroom.