Say Goodbye To Sprays (Win! A $250 Thermacell Prize Pack!)

After two long months of isolation, we’re eager to get outside and enjoy the summer—even if it’s just on our decks. But, while Canadian summers are beautiful, they often come with a heavy dose of mosquitoes. That’s why this year we’re counting on Thermacell Repellents, whose innovative, DEET-free spatial repellents create an invisible, odourless 15-foot barrier of protection from mosquitoes, eliminating the need for greasy, odorous sprays. We chatted with Thermacell rep Kyle Adelman about why these products are a summer essential for anyone looking to maximize their time outdoors this summer—whether enjoying backyard barbecues, having a private backyard camping experience, or just a cosying up on the patio with a glass of wine. —Vita Daily

Hi Kyle! What parts of Canada or what types of places are usually the worst hit when it comes to mosquitos?

People living in the province of Manitoba jokingly refer to the mosquito as the unofficial provincial bird, and in fact the town of Komarno calls itself the mosquito “capital” of Canada. It has a large mosquito statue and even the word “komarno" is Ukrainian for—you guessed it—mosquito-infested. Aside from Manitoba, mosquitoes are prevalent in virtually all parts of Canada.

Besides being incredibly annoying, what are some issues/challenges associated with mosquitos?

Sadly, mosquito-borne diseases claim 725,000 lives annually—more than any other animal. Some people experience a severe allergic reaction to mosquitoes. Symptoms can include lesions, fever symptoms, joint swelling and in extreme cases anaphylaxis. On a less serious note, mosquitoes can ruin the outdoor gatherings and force people indoors.

What can we do to ensure outdoor time can be enjoyed mosquito free?

For stationary protection, Thermacell mosquito repellers provide the most effective solution. All Thermacell repellers use heat to activate a powerful repellent, creating a 15-foot zone of protection. Thermacell works great for your backyard, patio, camping, fishing, hunting and more. However, if you’re going to be moving around a lot, such as a hike, we suggest DEET as an effective personal topical solution. Thermacell is not intended for mobile use, as it takes time to create and maintain the zone of protection. Other solutions include long sleeves and pants, screens over doors and windows, zipping up your tent and removing all standing water from your property.

Are there any mosquito-busting myths (i.e., around how to keep them away) that you can debunk for us?

Citronella candles and torches have little to no effect on repelling mosquitoes—in fact, some of them print "not intended to repel mosquitoes" on the packaging. DEET is an effective repellent but has downsides. Many people don’t like putting chemicals on their skin. We hear people say they feel the need to shower after spraying themselves. Some folks dislike the odour. DEET can damage fabrics and plastics, so be careful to keep it away from your tents, fishing lines and outdoor gear. Companies that offer yard-spray services use chemicals that kill insects indiscriminately, including bees and other pollinators. Bug zappers do kill mosquitoes, but the majority of what they catch is other beneficial insects like moths and beetles. Unfortunately, many common products in the insect control aisle are not effective. Wristbands and sonic repellents were found ineffective by consumer reports testing and manufacturers have faced legal repercussions for deceptive marketing. Finally, natural repellents are usually not regulated by a government body since the chemicals they contain are deemed harmless. Therefore, these products are not evaluated for effectiveness by regulators. As a result, the companies don’t need to prove their products actually work, and many don’t.

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Win! A $250 Thermacell Repellents Prize Pack!

We have a winner! Congratulatons Anthony S. of Calgary, who won a Thermacell Repellents prize pack valued at more than $250, including everything needed to create a cosy summer patio date night at home: a compact, portable Bluetooth speaker; 10 feet of twinkling fairy lights to set the mood; a gift card valued at $50 for a local food delivery service; a Thermacell Patio Shield + 48 hour refill pack; and a Thermacell Radius + 40 hour refill pack!