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Camping is fun, right? Yeah, right, it will be, until the bugs join you on your adventure. Mosquitoes, ticks, ants, spiders, fleas, bees, wasps, and other bugs can disturb what is promised to be an exciting venture and turn it into a horrific experience.
To have a successful and enjoyable camping trip, you need to find a way to keep the bugs off your tent.
In this article, I’ll be showing you how to keep bugs out of your tent.
1. Inspect your tent for holes before leaving home
Before leaving home, check your tent thoroughly to see if there is any hole in it. If there is a hole, rip, or tear, fix it. Bugs will come in through any hole that is left unfixed. Patch all holes, no matter how small they are. Set up your tent in your backyard or living room to inspect it better.
Check for areas that don’t zip completely and repair these areas. You can clean the zippers with soap and water. You can also lubricate them to get them working smoothly.
2. Keep your tent and campsite clean.
Bugs are attracted to dirty environments. A clean, well-arranged camping space goes a long way in keeping the bugs away from your tent.
3. Use a mosquito/bug net.
You can place a mosquito/bug net around your sleeping bag. These nets will keep the bugs away from your net. They contain fine mesh that is too tiny for lots of bugs to pass through. This way, you can sleep comfortably and have a good night’s rest.
Some mosquito nets have bug-repellant chemicals on them, so the mesh and repellant work together to keep the bugs away.
4. Avoid using perfumes and scented products.
Bugs are attracted to perfumes, colognes, and certain scents. If you can stop using these products, it will go a long way to ensure that bugs do not disturb you or come near your tent.
5. Avoid disposing of food and other waste around your campsite.
Bugs are attracted to food and other waste products. Do not dispose of these around the campsite. Dispose of them at the right place in the campground.
6. Ensure that you do not have water puddles and other damp/moist areas around your tent
Bugs like mosquitoes love to lay eggs inside water puddles. They can live in stagnant pools of water, reproduce there and make your life hell if your tent is close to them.
Get your tent away from stagnant pools of water. Avoid wet grassy lawns and meadows.
If you suddenly find a pool of water around you, fill it up with sand, soil, or any other appropriate thing as fast as possible.
7. Keep your cooking area neat.
Your cooking area must be as neat as possible. Bugs love to feast on leftover food. If you leave waste behind after cooking, you are encouraging bugs to come live with you.
Wash your dishes after cooking and eating. Wipe down the camp table and keep it clean always. Don’t leave crumbs of food on your sleeping bag and other parts of your tent.
8. Store your food supplies in areas where bugs can’t reach them
Bugs are also attracted to uncooked food supplies and fruit. The bugs feast on the food if it isn’t stored properly. Keep your food supplies in a safe, dry place.
9. Use bug-repellent cream on your skin.
There are several bug-repellant creams and lotions in the market that will repel the bugs away. Buy a tube before going to the campsite.
You can also go with lavender as it is a natural insect repellant. A lot of sunscreens and bug-repellent lotions have lavender in them.
10. Use an insecticide
Buy a can of insecticide and take it along to the campsite. Spray the insecticide around the tent at night, about 45 minutes to your bedtime.
Try as much as possible not to inhale the fumes from the insecticide as they are poisonous. Do not stay in your tent after spraying the insecticide. You need to wait for at least 30 minutes before going into the tent.
11. Wear protective long-sleeve clothing, trousers, gloves, and socks
You can wear light, long sleeve clothing and trousers to keep the bugs away from you. You can also wear gloves and socks to protect yourself from bugs.
Some companies sell treated clothing with insect repellent in the fabric. With these clothes, you may not need to apply any lotion or cream on your body anymore.
12. Use citronella candles in or around your camping area.
Citronella oil is a good insect repellant. You can find candles that have been infused with citronella oil for sale. Light a few of them around your tent, and they will keep the bugs away.
13. Place mosquito coils around your camp
Strategically placed and lit mosquito coils will keep mosquitoes away. The coils emit a mosquito repellent smoke and scent that mosquitoes will run from.
14. Use bug repellent lanterns and lamps.
There are some special bug repellent bugs and lamps that keep bugs away. Some of these lanterns emit certain scents that repel bugs. The lamps might come with a removable cartridge that you might need to replace from time to time.
15. Buy a screen room
Screen rooms are special tents with screen walls that will protect you from bugs. They are designed in such a way that you can enjoy the outdoors without accompanying bugs.
16. Avoid camping near thick vegetation.
If you can, do not set up your camp tent next to thick or dense vegetation. Dense vegetation often retains moisture and serves as viable breeding grounds for bugs. Try setting up on dry, flat ground.
When you get to the campground, watch for signs of wasp and bee nests in shrubs and trees. Do not set up your tent around anywhere that you discovered an insect nest.
Conclusion
With the tips in this article on how to keep bugs out of your tent, you shouldn’t have a problem dealing with bugs on your camping trip.