parafine liquid as fly repellent

[crazycoloured]

I was told today that parafine liquid can be used as a fly repellent if you put it on a cloth and rub it on there skin. Has anyone else tried this method and has it worked for you. My only worry is that if we had hot weather would they not burn there skin??

 

[gothdolly]

I think it woud be a skin irritant surely?

 

[Guinness]

I know someone that uses it and never has any problems, I wouldnt personally though. Does keep the flies away!

 

[DiggerandWill]

I used to use liquid parafin a lot to keep biting flies from my horse's sheath area as he always got bitten to bits 'down there'. In the 'old days' it was used on horses with sweetitch.
It works really well - the flies don't seem to like the stickiness when they land. But - it is hard to get hold of these days. I used to be able to buy in half or full litre bottles from Boots but now they will only sell a very small bottle and you get the Spanish Inquisition about how what you are going to do with it as it apparently carcinogenic if you breath it into lungs (I think that's their concern anyway).

 

[PapaFrita]

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I think it woud be a skin irritant surely?

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Nope, it's just runny vaseline

I've never heard of it used as a fly repellent though

 

[PapaFrita]

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I used to be able to buy in half or full litre bottles from Boots but now they will only sell a very small bottle and you get the Spanish Inquisition about how what you are going to do with it as it apparently carcinogenic if you breath it into lungs (I think that's their concern anyway).

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Really? Why would you breathe it into your lungs? Do you mean if it's heated up?
People out here still take it as a laxative. I've tried it and it's revolting... all sort of warm and tasteless... bleurgh!

 

[PapaFrita]

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My only worry is that if we had hot weather would they not burn their skin??

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Yes, that would be my concern as well.

 

[DiggerandWill]

I don't think it could burn. Liquid parafin is an ingredient in many human lotions and potions (including the Crabtree and Evelyn Aloe Vera Body Lotion I have here on table). As PapaFrita says it is like runny vaseline - a clear rather slimy liquid. No smell. It's only about a pound for a small bottle if you can buy it.

 

[Fransurrey]

Not paraffin, but I have started using vaseline as an experiment. I wanted something to cover Chloe's baldy bits as they healed and keep flies off. I have to say, she had no rub marks whatsoever on her, yesterday and so I'm going to see how it goes. I simply applied little blobs here and there and then massaged it all in. Fingers crossed!