The wardrobe choices that give you an edge

Mosquitos are a problem in South Florida throughout the year, but they become a special kind of nuisance as we head into summer. If you don’t want to stay holed up in your home for the next several months, you have to figure out how to deal with them.

Clothing can play a big role. And these fashion tips can help you avoid having to accessorize a big red bite mark:

Lighten up

Mosquitos are attracted to darker colors, so now would be a good time to move those black and dark blue pieces to the back of your closet. The added bonus of wearing lighter colors is that they won’t absorb as much heat from the sun, which will keep you cooler. Cover upClearly, the more you cover up, the better the chance that a mosquito will pass you by and move on to somebody else showing more skin. This means wearing pants and long sleeves made of fabrics that are tightly woven. If just the thought of that attire makes you a little sweaty, fortunately, you have some options …

Go shopping

If you’re really serious about protecting yourself from mosquitos, it may be time to add some new items to your wardrobe. There are actually several articles of clothing specifically designed to keep mosquitos away:

• Bug pants – If you imagine mosquito netting as a pair of pants, you have a clear picture of what bug pants are.
• Bug jackets – Pretty much the same idea, just in jacket form.
• Head net – You guessed it; a mosquito net that covers your head.
• Permethrin-treated clothing – You can now find clothing that has been treated with an insecticide called permethrin. The plus side is that these just look like regular clothes, so it won’t seem as though you’re headed out on an African safari. Companies like ExOfficio, REI, and Columbia Sportswear (among others) make good-looking clothing that is specifically designed to cover skin and ward off insects. Many of them are extremely lightweight and embedded with permethrin.

Start spraying

Bug spray with DEET lets you wear anything. The downside to the spray – aside from the often-greasy feel – is that you’ll have to thoroughly spray yourself and rigorously reapply the repellant, especially after sweating or swimming.

Don’t let mosquitos dictate what you wear!

Any of the above options can effectively help you avoid mosquito bites, but why should you be at the mercy of these tiny creatures – or any fashion choices – in your own backyard?

There’s a much better solution that will let you spend as much time in your yard as you want while wearing whatever you like: a mosquito misting system. The system from Platinum Mosquito Protection uses the same permethrin mentioned earlier, along with pyrethrum.

This combination has been proven to stop mosquitos in their tracks, as well as other biting insects like flies and no-see-ums. For a free onsite consultation to discuss your own misting system, just contact us.