Everyone in the CSRA knows all too well the struggle of fighting off mosquitoes and no-see-ums while exploring the outdoors in the warmer months. Unfortunately, the difficulty of finding a natural bug spray that works effectively is also ever-present. For Diana Shea and her family, they know both issues too familiarly.
Ten years ago, while enjoying a fun family evening swimming in their backyard, a mosquito bit Diana’s daughter, Katie, and she experienced a painful allergic reaction that caused large welts. Diana was determined to keep Katie from experiencing that kind of pain again. “I turned first to natural alternatives. I bought sprays, bracelets, stickers, and yard treatments—anything that promised relief,” Diana shares. “None delivered the protection we needed.”
Even more determined to find a solution, Diana used her knowledge of several home remedies to create something that would finally work. “I already spent time creating natural remedies to help soothe my son’s eczema, so I returned to what I knew best: experimenting in my kitchen,” Diana says. “I’m a real estate broker turned stay-at-home mom who simply wanted her children to enjoy the outdoors comfortably again.” Miraculously, her first formula worked. Katie could now enjoy the outdoors without fearing painful reactions.
Soon, many of Diana’s friends and family were using her product. “Their encouragement inspired me to launch Buzz Blocker Mosquito & No-See-Um Repellent under the company name Katie's Clean Creations,” Diana says. The company is named after Katie, who was not only the inspiration but also the one who proudly selected the name.
As more people bought and used Buzz Blocker, Katie’s Clean Creations gained faithful customers who discovered that the repellent was effective against more than just mosquitoes and no-see-ums. “Many customers report success against horseflies, ticks, and even fire ants,” Diana explains. She’s proud to have created something that has gone so far and helped so many. “Sometimes the most meaningful innovations don’t come from laboratories or large corporations,” she says. “They come from ordinary families, a little determination, and the belief that children should be able to enjoy the outdoors comfortably and confidently.”
Buzz Blocker is now sold in three forms—spray, roll-on, and tallow-based cream—online at KatiesCleanCreations.com and in select stores, including Good Earth Produce and Garden Center in Augusta. Even after growing in popularity, Buzz Blocker is still made with organic ingredients and a nontoxic formula like when it was first created in Diana’s kitchen.
“I’m a mom who wanted her children to enjoy the outdoors comfortably.”