One of the most effective DIY repellents calls for just coconut oil and peppermint, says Harlow-Ellis. "While this combination of scents is delightful to humans, it will chase away mosquitoes," she says. To make it, mix 1/3 cup coconut oil and 15 drops of peppermint essential oil in a jar.
Mosquitoes dislike the scent of certain liquids, such as vinegar, garlic water, or essential oils like citronella, eucalyptus, or lavender. Using these liquids can help repel mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender, citronella, clove, peppermint, basil, cedarwood, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass and rosemary. They also hate smells such as smoke, for further insight, see our exploration on, does smoke keep mosquitoes away?
Mouthwash, Vinegar, and Stale Beer
One calls for mixing mint mouthwash, Epsom salt, and stale beer and spraying it around your yard. Another uses apple cider vinegar, water, and an oil made up of citronella, peppermint, lemongrass, cedar wood, and geranium.
Use 0.5% permethrin to treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) or buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear. Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes. Permethrin-treated clothing provides protection after multiple washings.
Other university studies demonstrate the effectiveness of dryer sheets to repel certain insects, including mites, food-infesting beetles, German cockroaches and weevils. These studies, however, do not show any significant impact as a mosquito repellent.
Deter Insects
We may be fans of Vicks, but insects decidedly are not. Dab a bit on your arms, legs, neck, or other areas of exposed skin to keep bugs (including mosquitoes) at bay, however, it is not as effective at preventing bites as a commercial insect repellant.
Light candles or lanterns.
Help keep mosquitoes away from your patio and porch by lighting candles or lanterns that contain one or more essential oils known to repel mosquitoes. These oils include: Citronella. Clove.
The two main culprits I'm referring to are mosquitoes and sand fleas. Fortunately, I have learned two things that keep these critters away and you only need 4 simple items: 2 Spray Bottles, a bottle of Listerine Mint Mouthwash, and bottle of Pine-sol (or eucalyptus oil for a more natural spray).
There is evidence that drinking apple cider vinegar does help repel mosquitoes. It works by slightly altering the scent given off by the human body. This small change in smell is less enticing to mosquitoes, but it is not enough for other people to notice.
Vinegar: Mosquitoes tend to dislike the intense scent and bitter taste of white vinegar. An easy DIY way to repel mosquitoes is to mix 2 parts water to one part vinegar and treatment around your yard.
Mosquitoes hate peppermint much like wasps and other common pests. Lavender – Lavender is not only an effective mosquito repellent, it's also touted as a powerful ointment to relieve itchy mosquito bites. This oil has a pleasant floral scent and is the safest choice for children.
One of the most effective DIY repellents calls for just coconut oil and peppermint, says Harlow-Ellis. "While this combination of scents is delightful to humans, it will chase away mosquitoes," she says. To make it, mix 1/3 cup coconut oil and 15 drops of peppermint essential oil in a jar.
Dish soap is so effective that only one milliliter is needed to treat a gallon of water. If you have standing water outside, a squirt of liquid soap will keep it mosquito-free until it evaporates. It is a good idea to always use environmental-friendly dish soaps like Dawn.
Use an indoor insect fogger or indoor insect spray to kill mosquitoes and treat areas where they rest. These products work immediately, and may need to be reapplied.
You can also apply insect repellent, use specialty candles, and pretreat the garden with a backyard repellent. If nighttime mosquitoes are bothering you indoors, install fly screens to keep them at bay, and sleep under a mosquito net for extra protection.
The repellants that worked were DEET and, in a bit of good news for those of us who prefer a more natural approach, oil of lemon eucalyptus sprays, which comes from the gum eucalyptus tree, reduced mosquito attraction by 60 percent.
“Covering up as much as possible during the summer is really important, and applying an EPA-registered insect repellent, with ingredients such as DEET and picaridin,” McMeniman said. For people who prefer botanical products, he recommends oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Figure out how much liquid your spray bottle will hold. Then, create a 50/50 mixture by combining 1 part original scent Pine-Sol with 1 water. THAT'S IT!
Hydrogen peroxide mixed with water is a great mosquito deterrent that is effective for all seasons. By keeping a spray bottle of this solution on your patio, you can keep mosquitoes away without having to install any extra equipment.
Since coffee grounds have such a pungent and intense smell, mosquitoes do not like to come near it. Mosquitoes are repulsed by all types of coffee, whether it is fresh, used, or burnt. The most effective way to use coffee grounds for mosquito control is by burning them, as it creates a stronger aroma.
Another quick and affordable hack is to use hydrogen peroxide as a bug repellent. Spraying your patio furniture and outdoor plants with hydrogen peroxide keeps adult bugs away and can also eliminate any insect eggs before they hatch.
Most deodorants have scents or perfumes added to them, and many of these also attract mosquitoes. Unscented deodorant will be more effective at keeping them away, and some recent studies have shown that the deodorant compound isopropyl tetradecanoate reduces the number of mosquito attacks.
Researchers say coconut-scented soaps were among the most effective at repelling mosquitoes.