The right outdoor living furniture and accessories allow you and yours to enjoy each other and the great outdoors — whether you’re dealing with rain, heat, cold, or bugs. And when it comes to bugs, there’s nothing better than a bug blanket to keep the pesky visitors away.
A bug blanket offers odorless, safe protection from all sorts of bugs so you, your family, and your guests can relish in your outdoor living space without worrying about annoying insects.
In this article, we’ll go into more detail about what bug blankets are and discuss why you need one.
What Are Bug Blankets?
A bug blanket is a throw blanket with special technology designed to repel bugs.
But the big advantage with bug blankets like Outer Bug Shield Blankets is that the invisible, odorless bug repellent is bound into the fabric and safe for everyone — pregnant women, children, and pets included.
To continue exploring the characteristics of a bug blanket and the benefits it offers, let’s jump straight into why you need one for your outdoor living area.
Why You Need A Bug Blanket
Make Outdoor Experiences More Enjoyable
Swatting at bugs or worrying about bites can quickly take the joy out of an outdoor gathering. Simply put, using a bug blanket can make outdoor experiences more enjoyable.
A bug blanket is ready and waiting for you and perfect to use when you curl up on your outdoor couch, go camping, or have a picnic. That allows you to spend more time focusing on enjoying your space and less time keeping the bugs away.
At Outer, we want to make life outside easy, fun, and comfortable so you can disconnect from your screens and connect to nature and people instead. Our bug blankets are a simple but profound way to contribute to that vision.
Avoid Bug Spray
Another advantage of using a bug blanket is that it helps you avoid covering yourself with bug spray. The Outer Bug Shield Blanket is treated with invisible, odorless Insect Shield®️ technology that bonds tightly to fabric fibers even after washing.
This permethrin (insecticide) technology was developed after years of research and field study and is based off of an insect repellent found in plants, such as chrysanthemum flowers.
Insect Shield®️ puts the insect repellency near your skin instead of on it. And, since it provides long-lasting protection, you can forget about applying and reapplying bug spray. You don’t have to worry about overusing harmful chemicals, swallowing it, or getting it in your eyes.
The Insect Shield® technology has been rated a category IV — the most favorable and lowest-risk rating — by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Insect Shield® technology was developed in 1996 in response to a U.S military request. Permethrin had been recognized by the EPA as a safe and effective insect repellent since 1979, but the military sought a durable, long-lasting method to adhere it to uniforms without the need for reapplication.
Plus, extensive allergy and skin sensitivity tests have been conducted by the Hohenstein Institute, an accredited test laboratory and research institute specializing in the testing and certification of textiles.
Rest assured that these blankets are hypoallergenic, posing no allergy potential. As we mentioned briefly above, the Bug Shield Blanket can be used by the entire family, including infants, children, pets, and women who are pregnant or nursing.
Repel All Kinds Of Bugs
All sorts of bugs can get in the way of relaxing outside with friends and family or enjoying a moment alone on your porch or in nature — mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, flies, ants, no-see-ums, and more. A perfect summer night can quickly become not-so-perfect when the insects strike.
And some bugs, like ticks, can survive throughout the winter, making year-round bug protection a necessity. The good news is that a Bug Shield Blanket helps keep all kinds of pesky bugs away.
Provide Lightweight Protection
When you hear the word “blanket,” you might think of staying warm in the cold months. But a bug blanket is not necessarily for warmth. Instead, it provides lightweight coverage so you can reap the bug-protection benefits all year long.
Add A Stylish Touch
Besides being functional, a bug blanket can also add a stylish touch to your outdoor decor. With the right pattern, your guests won’t even know it’s a bug blanket until you tell them about its benefits.
If you like the idea of outdoor decor but aren’t sure what your style is or how to go about creating it, let us help through a complimentary virtual consult. Our team of professional exterior design experts is ready to help you unlock your vision for your outdoor living space!
We’ve touched on the benefits of these insect-repellent blankets, but before we wrap up, we’ll leave you with some additional information about the patterns we have available and how to care for your Bug Shield Blanket.
The Outer Bug Shield Blanket
Now that you know you want a bug blanket, all that’s left to do is choose the pattern that jives with your space.
These blankets are designed to repel bugs as well as add richness and comfort to your outdoor space. They come in three timeless patterns: Pinstripe, Houndstooth, and Striped Plaid. And they’re so luxurious that you would never guess they’re made from 100% recycled fibers.
By repurposing fabric, we give the material a second life, diverting waste from landfills and slowing down the need to continue extracting resources from our planet.
How should you wash these bug blankets? Simply hand or machine-wash your Bug Shield Blanket with a mild detergent. Avoid dry-cleaning, which can strip some of the Insect Shield® protection from the fabric.
When cleaned properly, they maintain their bug-repellant properties throughout their expected life (and 25 launderings).
Additional Outdoor Living Options
Add a bug blanket to your outdoor dining, movie nights, or fire pit evenings. But when it comes to outdoor living accessories and furniture, don’t stop there!
If you already have your outdoor living space set up, add the finishing touch with a soft, durable, and eco-friendly rug. Or, if you’re starting from scratch, build your space with the following options.
Fire Pit Table
Our multifunctional Fire Pit Table can be used as a table, cooking device, or flat surface with the cover on.
In addition, the reversible cast iron griddle and stand serve as both a cooking surface and a heat source by redirecting heat outward, not upward. That means your friends and family don’t have to lean in to warm up.
This fire table is CSA-approved for safe fuel burning, and we’ve lightened our carbon footprint by using Glassfibre Reinforced Concrete cement, which requires less energy to produce and results in less off-gassing.
Charcoal Aluminum Outdoor Loveseat
If you love the sturdy but lightweight functionality of aluminum for outdoor furniture, the Charcoal Aluminum Outdoor Loveseat is for you. Made from extruded aluminum tubing, it’s lightweight enough for a single person to handle, but not so light that it will blow away in inclement weather.
This loveseat is weather-resistant and will never rust, decay, or loosen. And aluminum is one of the easiest materials to recycle at the end of its long lifespan.
Keep in mind that our modular design makes rearranging for any outdoor occasion easy. Your individual pieces can be arranged and rearranged for an unlimited number of configurations.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the luxurious comfort of this loveseat and its multi-layer memory foam cushions.
Teak Outdoor Coffee Table
For a place to put your glass and prop your feet, add a Teak Outdoor Coffee Table. With natural oils that protect it from rot, it’s no surprise that craftspeople use teak to make boat decks and outdoor furniture, and we use it to make outdoor furniture.
Plus, our teak collection is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council®, the international authority on sustainable forest management.
This certification is for wood harvested from forests that are responsibly managed, socially beneficial, environmentally conscious, and economically viable.
Teak And Aluminum Outdoor Dining Table
We’ve designed this Teak & Aluminum Outdoor Dining Table with temperature-controlled materials for your comfort, regardless of whether you’re working, drinking, or dining.
The teak tabletop stays at an ambient temperature in all weather, and the aluminum won’t overheat on hot summer days. These sturdy materials are long-lasting, too, requiring little maintenance and standing the test of time.
Bug Blankets For Care-Free Outdoor Living
As you’ve probably experienced first-hand, bugs like mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, flies, ants, and others can quickly sabotage your outdoor experience. A bug blanket provides convenient bug repellent for care-free enjoyment of your outdoor living space.
A Bug Shield Blanket repels all kinds of bugs and allows you to avoid bug spray through its lightweight, stylish protection. Remember that it’s safe for everyone, too — children and pregnant women included!
Choose between three patterns (Pinstripe, Houndstooth, and Striped Plaid) to match your outdoor decor, and you’re all set. Bug-free outdoor fun is at your fingertips.