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Long lazy summer days.

On the beach. By the lake. In the woods. It’s glorious isn’t it? Perfect peace.

Disturbed only by the buzz, buzz, buzz of the mosquitoes. And the wasps.

And the silent intrusions of their friends the fruit flies AND the ants. Aaaaarrrgggh!!!

Paradise lost. And before you know it, the kids are whining and you’re yelling.

But don’t stress, these super simple, brilliant summer hacks will keep the pests away.

And the kids entertained. Good, huh?

DIY Summer Hacks

1. Mosquito Repellent

First off, keep mosquitoes away with these easy candles from The Country Chic Cottage:

Or this similar recipe from Bunch of Posies …

 

2. Mosquito Repellent Spray

Or if you’re going out in the woods and want to keep the mosquitos off try this simple home made spray – free from chemical nasties – from One Essential Community …

3. Natural Bug Balm

Or if you prefer a balm to a spray, keep mosquitoes and other bugs off your family with this home made balm from Wendy Polisi …

4. Mosquito Free Gardens

And if you struggle with mosquitoes at home, Chasing Foxes has got this handy list of plants that will keep your garden mosquito free.

5. Treat Mosquito Bites

But if you get bitten, check out my tips to treat mosquito bites effectively but naturally.

Now most of us don’t get stung by wasps as often as we get bitten by mosquitoes do we?

But wasp stings can be nasty, can’t they? And wasps send most kids into a blind panic.

So it helps to keep them out of the garden.

6. Keep Wasps Out Of Garden

This handy list from Five Spot Green Living covers a bunch of plants you can quickly shove in pots that will deter the wasps …

7. Wasp Repellent Spray

And Vicki at Fivespot Green Living also has a handy recipe for a DIY wasp repellent spray …

8. DIY Wasp Trap

But if you are struggling with wasps in the garden, this simple trap from Prairie Story will help to get rid of them …

9. Keep Ants Out Naturally

Now nothing, I tell you, can ruin a summer morning more than coming down to an army of ants marching through your kitchen.

I still have nightmares about it years later!

But I have found these really simple tips get rid of ants naturally …

10. Treat Sunburn Naturally

Another summer challenge is sun burn isn’t it?

We’re real peely-wally celts in my house and even with sun cream and hats and t-shirts and being careful it CAN still happen.

Particularly on hazy days.

Aloe vera gel is a reliable natural remedy for sun burn. But a good old fashioned DIY oatmilk bath is a must-know hack for the summer.

For quick, you can just grind some oats in your blender or processor and chuck a couple of table spoons into a tepid bath.

It truly helps, I promise.

And you can add lavender and chamomile with this simple recipe from Shaken Together Life.

So there you go, a bunch of summer hacks for dealing with summer pests and problems.

But whilst you’re here DO also check out my fave summer hacks for fun with the kids.

11. DIY Garden Hose Sprinkler

This DIY garden hose sprinkler from Housing A Forest is guaranteed to entertain the whole family but can be chucked together in a few minutes without any prior planning …

12. Bubble Snakes

And these bubble snakes are another ridiculously simple hack for summer fun.

We make them every year.

All you need is a plastic bottle, an old sock, an elastic band and dish liquid bubble mixture.

Just cut off the bottom of the bottle, pull the sock up over the cut end of the bottle and attach in place with an elastic band.  Then dip the sock covered, cut end of the bottle in your bubble mixture and blow through to create enormous bubble snakes. It’s as simple as that.

13. Tic Tac Toe Stones

Another summer hack I love are these tic tac toe stones from Taryn Whiteaker.

Again they’re super simple and a fab way to use that mountain of stones from the beach.

But also give kids a chance to make something the whole family can play with all summer.

14. Natural Paint Brushes

My final summer hack are these lovely natural paintbrushes from Messy Little Monster.

Again, they’re something simple, kids can make for themselves in their own way and then use.

Love it!

I really hope these simple hacks help you this summer as much as they have us.

AND you have a laugh fun with the last few.

Photo: A sunflower / Sonnenblume by Marco Verch under Creative Commons 2.0