Have your best sprıng yet!

There's lots to love about spring. Now, you can enjoy it even more with tricks that help you dodge common bothers

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Outsmart ticks with kitchen spices

To outsmart spring ticks while also avoiding harsh chemicals like DEET, use a repellent spray made with clove or cinnamon oil. New Mexico State University scientists say the scents repel ticks for more than 90 minutes after application. While most of us enjoy these aromas, ticks can’t stand them. Bonus: The aromas also ward off mosquitoes! Try: Nantucket Spider Extra Strength Tick Repellent Spray (Amazon.com).

AND CLEAR YARD ‘EDGES’!

When raking leaves or grass clippings, avoid making an “edge” of debris where your yard meets a wooded area. Research from New Jersey’s Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division found this leads to a three-fold increase in ticks by giving them a cozy place to live. Keeping your yard clear (including the perimeter) spurs ticks to move on.

Vanilla keeps you safer on the road

Spring is often the wettest time of year, and it can be harder to drive when clouds and rain make it difficult to see. An easy trick: Add a few drops of vanilla extract to a cotton ball, then tuck it in your car’s air vent. Japanese scientists say the scent enables you to detect motion (like a car veering into your lane) faster by improving how the brain processes movement.