Sentry Page Protection
How to MOO a Citronella Tiki Torch
I've noticed the last few nights that the insects have been around while we're barbecuing dinner. It's that time of year and I shouldn't be surprised. But how to keep the bugs at bay, safely and cheaply can be a problem.
This MOO citronella torch designed and contributed by Cheapskater Maxine Sharpe works beautifully and it is so easy to put together.
Maxine moved recently and her new house is plagued with mosquitoes at night. She didn’t have any citronella candles but did have the citronella oil. Using the citronella oil and some creativity, Maxine created our own ‘tiki torches’ using a screw top metal lidded bottle, water, citronella oil and an old crepe bandage to plait into a wick.
They work fantastically well and didn’t cost us anything other than time.
You will need:
A glass jar with a metal lid
10cm of crepe bandage
Water
Citronella oil (available from some supermarkets and hardware stores)
A saucer to sit the jar on
Step 1. Cut a cross (carefully!) into the centre of the lid.
Step 2. Cut a 10cm length from the bandage and rip into three.
Step 3. Plait the three bandage strands together, knotted at either end, to form the wick.
Step 4. Thread the wick through the lid – we poked the knot only through, which seemed to be long enough.
Step 5. Half fill the bottle with water and add citronella oil to a desired amount, leaving an inch or so gap from the top for/of air.
Step 6. Screw the lid back on tightly.
Step 7. Upturn the bottle momentarily (and whilst outside!) to saturate the wick and then place the jar onto the saucer. Light the wick.
Remember to be very careful – keep the torch away from little fingers and make sure it is placed on a stable surface. Be sure to put the wick out completely before leaving the torch when you go inside.
This MOO citronella torch designed and contributed by Cheapskater Maxine Sharpe works beautifully and it is so easy to put together.
Maxine moved recently and her new house is plagued with mosquitoes at night. She didn’t have any citronella candles but did have the citronella oil. Using the citronella oil and some creativity, Maxine created our own ‘tiki torches’ using a screw top metal lidded bottle, water, citronella oil and an old crepe bandage to plait into a wick.
They work fantastically well and didn’t cost us anything other than time.
You will need:
A glass jar with a metal lid
10cm of crepe bandage
Water
Citronella oil (available from some supermarkets and hardware stores)
A saucer to sit the jar on
Step 1. Cut a cross (carefully!) into the centre of the lid.
Step 2. Cut a 10cm length from the bandage and rip into three.
Step 3. Plait the three bandage strands together, knotted at either end, to form the wick.
Step 4. Thread the wick through the lid – we poked the knot only through, which seemed to be long enough.
Step 5. Half fill the bottle with water and add citronella oil to a desired amount, leaving an inch or so gap from the top for/of air.
Step 6. Screw the lid back on tightly.
Step 7. Upturn the bottle momentarily (and whilst outside!) to saturate the wick and then place the jar onto the saucer. Light the wick.
Remember to be very careful – keep the torch away from little fingers and make sure it is placed on a stable surface. Be sure to put the wick out completely before leaving the torch when you go inside.