Guide to Keeping Mosquitoes Away Naturally

If you’re looking for natural mosquito repellents to wear or to place around your house, this guide will be helpful as you look for options that might work for you. 

It’s important to remember that natural repellents are not 100 percent effective for keeping mosquitoes away. Wearing repellents that contain DEET will work best when enjoying the outdoors, and professional mosquito control services will be the best way to keep mosquitoes away from your yard. 

How to Use this Guide

If you are wondering whether a certain plant or natural product repels mosquitoes effectively, find it on our list and read the section. We will say whether it works or does not work for repelling mosquitoes. 

Aloe Vera – Does Not Work

When aloe vera and mosquito are used in the same sentence, it’s usually about using the gel as a remedy for soothing itchy bites. Though aloe vera is great for soothing itchy mosquito bites, it unfortunately is NOT a good option for preventing mosquitoes from biting you. 

Bug Zappers – Do Not Work

Though bug zappers are great at reducing the amount of insects buzzing around your porch or patio at night, they are not effective at killing mosquitoes. This is because mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide and other emissions from people more than they are to bright lights. 

It’s true that some mosquitoes will get caught by bug zappers, but it is not enough to limit the number of bites you get from sitting outside or to control the population of mosquitoes around your home. 

Catnip – Works

Growing catnip as a potted plant on your porch or patio is a good way to repel mosquitoes naturally. Catnip is also an ideal natural mosquito repellent for pet owners since it is generally non-toxic for furry friends. 

Cinnamon Oil – Works

If you’re making natural mosquito repellent, you can include cinnamon essential oil since it is known to ward off mosquitoes. Cinnamon oil also contains compounds including eugenol, cinnamyl acetate, anethole, and cinnamaldehyde that can kill eggs of certain mosquito species. 

Cinnamon Basil – Works

Like Catnip, cinnamon basil is a good plant to grow in a pot on your porch or patio to help keep mosquitoes away naturally. Cinnamon basil is an ideal plant to use as a natural mosquito repellent around the home since it is generally non-toxic to pets and because it doesn’t require a frequent watering to stay alive!  

Citronella – Works

If you’ve been fighting the war against mosquitoes, then you’ve probably heard about citronella. It’s effective in repelling mosquitoes both as a live plant and as a refined substance. Products such as candles, torches, and diffusers that emit citronella are great for keeping mosquitoes away from a small area outdoors. It’s important to note that citronella should be used sparingly and must be diluted if applying it to the skin. 

Dryer Sheets – Maybe!

There’s a wives’ tale claiming that keeping dryer sheets in your pocket will repel mosquitoes along with other pesky insects. Although some dryer sheets contain Linalool, which is an effective repellent for mosquitoes, there’s no science that proves this myth right. If you want to conduct an experiment of your own, you can give dryer sheets a try and see how it goes!

Eating Certain Foods – Does Not Work

In addition to using dryer sheets as a mosquito repellent, there is a myth that eating certain foods such as garlic, onions, and bananas is a natural and effective way to keep mosquitoes away from you. There are no studies proving that this method works, and none of the foods contain compounds that are known to repel mosquitoes. There is evidence, however, showing that drinking alcohol like beer and wine actually attracts mosquitoes! 

Eucalyptus Oil – Works

A good scent you can use to hide yourself from mosquitoes is eucalyptus! Regular eucalyptus oil, often in the form of essential oil, contains a compound called PMD which masks the scents mosquitoes use to find us. It’s important to note that you should not apply eucalyptus essential oil directly to your skin as it can be an irritant. To safely wear eucalyptus oil, you will need to dilute it in a carrier oil such as coconut oil or mix it into a lotion. 

Lavender – Works

As a live plant and as a refined oil, lavender can serve as a natural repellent against mosquitoes. Lavender contains a compound called Linalool that mosquitoes avoid. Lavender is a good plant to grow around your home because it grows back each year and can be grown in pots which can be placed near patios and porches. 

Lemongrass – Works

Just like lavender, lemongrass is an effective, natural mosquito repellent as a live plant and as an oil. Lemongrass grows well in shaded areas which is ideal since mosquitoes are attracted to shady spots. Lemongrass can be planted directly in the ground or in pots around your patio or porch. If using lemongrass oil, make sure to dilute it in a carrier oil such as coconut oil since it can irritate your skin if it is not diluted. 

Lemon Eucalyptus Oil – Works

Known as Oil of Lemon of Eucalyptus (OLE), lemon eucalyptus oil is recognized by the CDC as one of the most effective repellents for mosquitoes alongside DEET. Lemon eucalyptus oil is often an active ingredient in natural mosquito repellents that you can buy in stores. It’s important to note that lemon eucalyptus oil does not offer protection that lasts as long as DEET, so you will most likely need to reapply your natural repellent more frequently. 

Mint – Works

Plants in the mint family have several uses, and keeping mosquitoes away is one of them! Though mint doesn’t offer as strong of protection as other natural repellents, it is still known to work. Mint works as a mosquito deterrent in plant form and in the form of an oil. You can grow mint in pots in shaded areas which makes it a perfect plant to grow on your porch or patio.  

Orange – Works

The strong fragrance of orange oil is known to be a natural mosquito deterrent. Orange oil can be purchased in the form of an essential oil, but you can also get the oils straight from an orange peel by squeezing the peel and rubbing it directly on your skin.  

Tea Tree Oil – Maybe!

Tea tree oil has many uses, but its use as a natural mosquito deterrent is still in question. There is no evidence that suggests that it’s effective at keeping mosquitoes away. Tea tree oil can also be a skin irritant if applied directly to the skin or worn on the skin for long periods of time. 

Thyme Oil – Works

Though thyme isn’t a super effective mosquito repellent as a plant, it is a strong mosquito deterrent as an oil. Thyme essential oil can be diluted using a carrier oil such as coconut oil, then applied to the skin for protection against mosquitoes. 

About Simply Green’s Mosquito Control Service

We offer different outdoor mosquito control treatments to help rid your yard of these pests and keep them from coming back. Our backyard mosquito control products are safe for use around pets and children, and they work quickly to get rid of mosquitoes.

To control adult mosquitoes, our product is a synthetic version of the Pyrethrum extract found in Chrysanthemum flowers. In areas of standing water in your yard, we use Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti). Bti is a naturally occurring bacterium found in soils that specifically targets and only affects mosquito larvae. Bti interrupts the mosquito lifecycle by eliminating larvae before they mature into adults. It does not affect other insects, including honeybees. All of our EPA registered products are safe for kids and pets and do not pose a risk to your family.

If you’re looking for an easy way to keep mosquitoes out of your yard, our outdoor mosquito control treatments are a great option. Contact us today to learn more about our products and how we can help you get rid of mosquitoes for good!