Every summer, mosquitoes drive me inside more than anything else. Even if I’ve been having a great time outside all day long, as soon as the mosquitoes start to bite, I know it’s time to head for home. I could easily spray on a chemical-based repellent, but I can’t stand wearing something so fumey. Besides – I’d rather not expose myself or my loved ones to DEET, especially since it’s toxic and easily absorbed by the skin.
The great news is there are many natural repellents for mosquitoes. Since all of these are natural – and actually pretty healthy remedies – pick one to try before you head outside again:
Basil
You might want to consider planting herb gardens by the doors of your house (container gardening would work well) because many herbs ward off mosquitoes. Basil is one of the herbs that acts as a natural mosquito repellent.
Bats
Even if you’re not too keen on the idea of bats flying around your yard every night, one bat eats hundreds of mosquitoes each night. Consider investing in a bat house to hang from a tree and see if the small addition makes a dent in your mosquito problem.
Catnip
Catnip is an especially handy mosquito deterrent – it’s about ten times more effective than DEET. Mosquitoes can’t stand nepetalactone, the essential oil found in catnip. By planting catnip around your patio and yard, you’ll keep mosquitoes away – then dry the catnip and entertain your favorite cat.
Citronella
There’s a reason citronella candles are popular mosquito repellents – mosquitoes hate citronella. Instead of the candles, though, you can try rubbing citronella oil on exposed area (make sure you’re not allergic to the oil, first) or grow your own citronella plants.
Garlic
One effective natural repellent that deserves to be tried is garlic. Depending on how much you enjoy garlic, you can take a garlic supplement (no-odor varieties are available), eat lots of foods with garlic (I’m thinking of a big loaf of fresh garlic bread along with a spaghetti dinner – including sauce made with basil and garlic). You can even rub a cut clove of garlic over your exposed skin – you should be able to ward off both mosquitoes and Dracula.
Lemongrass
If you’re looking for another anti-mosquito plant to try, you should invest in lemongrass. Simply break off a stalk, peel off the outer leaves and rub the juicy pulp over your exposed skin. (Personally, I think it’s more pleasant smelling than raw garlic.) You’ll also be able to use the lemongrass when you cook.
Marigolds and mums
You don’t have to stick to planting herbs when you’re avoiding mosquitoes. Try planting marigolds. They have a scent that repels most bugs, including pesky skeeters.
While not all insects are repelled by the scent of mums, mosquitoes are. Plant a bunch and reap mosquito-free living.
Rosemary
Grow rosemary in your garden this summer (like all of these plants, it’s another plant perfect for container gardening) to keep the mosquitoes away. You can cook with rosemary, and if you’re looking for a way to repel mosquitoes while you’re grilling, throw a few sprigs on your charcoal. It should do the trick.
Tea tree oil
If you don’t mind the scent, apply tea tree oil to your skin. Mosquitoes will mind the smell and stay away.
Vitamin B-1
Take one vitamin B-1 tablet a day to repel mosquitoes, as well as flies and gnats.
Make-your-own sprays
If you’d rather repel the bugs by wearing a spray, here are several recipes to choose from:
- Cut the leaves and stems of catmint and rosemary, then place in a container and cover with a cup of boiling water. Steep for an hour, cool and use the herbal tea as a repellent spray.
- Mix ten drops of eucalyptus oil, ten drops of cedarwood oil, five drops of tea tree oil, five drops of geranium oil and one ounce of jojoba oil. Apply to your skin (be sure to test a small area, first). Avoid your eyes, and keep out of the reach of children.
- Crush parsley and mix with apple cider vinegar. Rub the mixture on your skin.
- If you’re feeling confident and experimental, try creating your own combinations out of these naturally repelling oils: castor oil, cedar oil, cinnamon oil, citronella oil, clove oil, geranium oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, lemongrass oil, peppermint oil and rosemary oil.
It also helps to prevent mosquitoes. Make sure you:
- Eliminate standing water. Check your bird baths, buckets, gutters, kids’ toys, old tires, pet bowls, planter saucers, recycling bins, swimming pool covers, tarps, and wheelbarrows.
- Whack your weeds and keep your grass trimmed.
- Wear light-colored clothing; mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors.
- Avoid incandescent lights and candlelight – both attract mosquitoes.
- Try to stay in a breeze or close to a fan, if possible.
- Try to be as artificially unscented as possible – mosquitoes are attracted to the scent of perfume, sunscreens and fabric softener.
- They’re attracted to carbon dioxide and you produce more carbon dioxide when you’re hot or when you’re exercising.
- They’re attracted to lactic acid and you release more lactic acid when you exercise.
- They’re attracted to the chemicals in your perspiration.
Talk back
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If you're searching for ways to live a healthier life that honors God, yet you're not incredibly environmentally conscious, then you're in the right place. While I try to glorify God and use my ten years of journalistic experience to create a healthy home for my family, most of my choices just tend to be green ... quite accidentally. – Hilary
Great post! Could you explain why vitamin B-1 helps?
And to add to the mosquito attraction list: pregnant women. I read that because they typically breathe in and out more (from the extra weight, I’m sure), more carbon dioxide is produced, just like when you exercise.
You’re right on about pregnant women producing more carbon dioxide and attracting more mosquitoes, Andrea!
I just did more research on Vitamin B1 and mosquitoes, and found conflicting opinions. Old wives’ tales swear by it (I have no idea why), but there is no scientific evidence. Unfortunately, all the scientists seem to swear by DEET.
OF COARSE the scientists swear by Deet! they also see no problem with genetically modified foods or high fructose corn syrup LOL!!!!
Thanks for this info, Hilary! We’re going camping in a couple weeks and I’m looking forward to trying tea tree or citronella oil. There’s nothing worse than coating yourself with Off then having to sleep with it on your skin. :P
Denise K.
I’m going to try some of these. Thanks for all the tips! I am usually not bothered by mosquitos, but this year in our area, they are worse than they have been in more than 50 years apparently and they are vicious. They are even biting through clothes. These are great ideas to try as I don’t like the idea of chemical bug sprays for my kids.
Usually, I’m using citronella oil.
It’s the first time I hear about lemongrass- I’ll try it next summer.
Great post with great tips. Thank you for sharing it.
crazy question but r any of these safe for a child under 2 my nephew gets bitten all the time and most say that you cant use on child under 2 we r at a loss on what to do
While you wouldn’t want any child to consume any of the homemade sprays, they should all be safe for children of any age since they’re all-natural. (I used the vodka and basil concoction on my 18-month-old daughter all summer long, and she was fine.)
As a clarification, don’t let your child eat or drink any of the repellents. But they can be applied to a child’s skin.
Thanks.
Last spring we started using soapnuts for laundry and we barely noticed any mosquito bites all summer long. It works so much better than Deet and it’s so simple because you don’t have to do anything at all other than regular laundry.
~Tennille~
Tennille,
I’ve been wanting to try soapnuts for the past year, but haven’t bought any yet. Now I definitely want to try them this summer when the mosquitoes are out!
Hello, can we get these plants and oils in Nigeria?
I’m sorry, but I have no idea if you can get the plants in Nigeria. You should be able to order the oils online, though. (If you click on the Amazon ad at the top of this page and search for the oils, hopefully you’ll find what you’re looking for.)
A year later and I wonder back onto this article wondering if you’ve tried soapnuts yet… They are amazing in so many ways! If you haven’t tried them yet, go out and get some. You’ll love them!
~Tennille~
vinegar
listerine
beer
shake up, spray around yard….no mosquitoes
I use 1/2 cup wintergreen isopropyl alcohol, 10 drops geranium oil, 8 drops citronella oil, 10 drops rose oil and 5 drops tea tree oil. Mix with water in a spray bottle. Repels mosquitoes, flys, gnats and especially ticks!
Ok Help me out here. What on earth are soap nuts? Is this something only avail in the US? Are they natural or man made?
Rose,
Soap nuts are berries from the sapindus tree that are used as natural cleansers. Here’s my explanation from August 2012: http://www.accidentallygreen.com/what-in-the-world-is-a-soap-nut/. (I hadn’t heard of them until last year.) They’re native to tropical regions and shipped to the US; I’m guessing they’re available anywhere. I have never noticed them in an actual store, though – just online.
Hi, Just wondering how long these spary concoctions are good for? would you need to be making them up daily, weekly, or do they keep doing their job for a while? thanks!
I’m sorry that I don’t know for sure, Molly. They’re effective for longer than a day. I’ve made fairly small batches before, so we’ve used them up within a week or so. I do still have some spray that I made last summer, and I’m looking forward to trying it out to see exactly how effective it still is.
I made some of the basil and vodka spray last summer and had some left over. It still works! I was surprised and very happy! Happy spraying!