Fighting Off Flying Bloodsuckers

[Today's title indicates I'm in drama queen mode.]

I love my patio, but I don't get to use it as often as I like because of the mosquitoes. I can tell you what we tried that didn't work well -- a little lantern that you light and it puts out fumes that supposedly repel the mosquitoes. We were happily eating dinner outside with this in the middle of the table when we read the instructions: don't use near food. Oh, boy. Apparently it's putting toxic fumes out.

I've rubbed a fabric softener sheet all over me. It didn't seem to work.

Dear Hubby likes lighting the tiki torches that are filled with citronella oil. That's not practical when I just want to sit out there and read for a little while.

This summer I've been so busy, I didn't have much time to lolligag around on the patio anyway.

Here's what I'll try next year:

1) Put regular Listerine in a spray bottle and spray the area you're going to be sitting in. Obviously this won't work if you're working in the yard. But maybe when lounging on the patio.

2) Plant rosemary in the patio area. I just read that it will repel the little critters. I hope it works. I've just put a note on my Yahoo calendar to plant rosemary in the spring. Basil is supposed to repel flies, and we have that near our patio, but we've never had a problem with flies, so I don't know if it works.

Have you tried anything that's actually worked??

On a related note, my friend Nancy recommends that after you get a bite, dab it with white vinegar. Do that as often as needed until it quits stinging altogether. I love good, natural, cheap solutions to a problem!