Skin So Soft

1. It's a great insect repellent for your pet. (as recommended in "Outdoor Life" and "Field and Stream")

2. Mix 5 parts water, 1 part SSS and mist on animals. Brushing it in makes their coats gleam and keeps insects off so the animals don't fidget in the show ring.

3. Mix in your pet's bath water. It takes the fleas off of them, and in between spray them with the same mixture as in #2 to help keep them off.

4. Rub on your hands before and after working with your pets and farm animals. It will remove the strong smells.

Sue, QVC was very honest about the claims of the electronic pest control device (the one they are selling now is made by Riddex and it's about $48 dollars). When these first came on the market they did claim that they killed small insects--like flies, fleas, ants, spiders, etc. But, when I called to place my order two days ago and asked the representative about which type of pests it controls, she read off long lists of pests it would effect and pests for which they do not promise effectiveness. It is most effective on pests like mice and other rodents, and large insects (like scorpions) but they make no claims for small insects like spiders, ants, mosquitoes, fleas, silverfish, etc. So, I saved myself $150 because I was going to buy three of them.

I will have to find some other method of dealing with the jumping spiders.

JoJo Avon's Skin So Soft is a very good insect repellent (I use it all the time), but it is not an insecticide--it won't kill fleas (or any other type of insect). So, if an animal is already flea infested, you have to get rid of the fleas first.

As good as it is, the SSS is not 100% effective in protecting against mosquito bites in humans (I have still been getting bitten occasionally). Because of the West Nile Virus problem in my area--and the disease is transmitted by mosquito bites--I am trying varying methods of repelling mosquitoes (short of using a product with DEET). I have been using the spray-on SSS Bug Guard but I am about to start using the SSS Bug Guard Plus body lotion which I just received--hopefully the lotion may provide better and more complete skin coverage. In addition this product also has an SPF of 30, so you get sun protection (and a moisturizer as well) in a single product.

Avon's Skin So Soft's line of products is so very good, I am more than willing to give their Web site a plug. You can purchase the Skin So Soft Products at:
http://Avon.com

YUUUUUUK spiders? Chels, ya afraid of snakes? Alot of those critters are insectavors, maybe one of them would love to have jumping spiders on the menu.

My mental plane is flooded due to a severe brainstorm!

Can you rent a snake?

Actually the jumping spiders are rather fascinating to watch--they move like grasshoppers or daddy longlegs, and they can jump impressive distances.

I'm trying to tell myself that they are like having hyperactive little exterminators in my basement and garage--since they will eat other insects if any are around.

But I'd really rather get rid of them. Because they move around so quickly and don't spin webs, many of the spider controls I've seen wouldn't do the trick.

I understand that jumping spiders (although not this type) are common in Australia. Maybe one of my Aussie friends knows a good remedy I could use indoors.