5 natural bug sprays to help you stay bite-free this summer

The struggle against insects this summer is real. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported infections from mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks are on the rise—so much so that the rate of insect-borne diseases has increased from 27,000 a year in 2004 to 96,000 in 2016. In other words: If you haven’t stocked up on bug repellent in the past, now’s the time.

While there are plenty of products available on the market to fight off these annoying—and potentially dangerous!—pests, many of them are stock-full of chemicals like DEET that you might not want seeping into your skin all day, every day. But to protect yourself from on-the-rise tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, Heartland virus, and mosquito-borne dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, you can ditch those formulas and play it safe by using better-for-you products for a more non-toxic summer.

Below, click through for 5 natural insect repellents to keep the creepy crawlers (and fliers… and jumpers…) away this season.

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Burt's Bees Herbal Insect Repellent, $8

This spray wards off bugs with lemongrass, citronella, and rosemary oils.

Here’s how to use vinegar to keep your living space bug-free. Or, find out how tea tree oil can work as an insect repellent.