Ahh, summer. The season of long days, warm nights, and backyard barbecues. What better place to spend your time than outside? But unfortunately, mosquitoes are a part of the outdoor experience and they’re not just an annoyance: they can spread diseases like West Nile virus, malaria, and dengue fever.
Luckily for us (and them), there are plenty of ways to keep mosquitoes away naturally without resorting to chemicals or other harmful methods.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Using natural mosquito repellents, such as essential oils or plants, can be effective in keeping mosquitoes away. |
| Wearing appropriate clothing and installing mosquito netting can also help prevent mosquito bites. |
| Creating a mosquito-free zone around your home can be achieved by removing standing water sources and by keeping your yard well-maintained. |
| Mosquitoes are attracted to certain scents, so avoid using heavily-scented products that may attract them. |
| Prevention is key in avoiding mosquito bites, so try to avoid being outside when mosquitoes are most active, and use mosquito repellent when necessary. |
Here’s everything you need to know about natural mosquito repellents:
Basil
Basil is a very popular herb that has many benefits. It can be used in cooking, as well as for medicinal purposes, and it also makes an excellent mosquito repellent. There are a variety of ways in which you can use basil to keep mosquitoes away from you and your family during the summer months.
Grow Basil Plants: If you have the space, grow some basil plants along the perimeter of your property. The strong scent will deter mosquitoes from approaching within about a 4-foot radius of where the plant is growing.
You don’t need to buy new seeds every year—if they haven’t died over winter (as long as they were sheltered), just take cuttings from one of your existing plants before spring so that there are plenty of new ones ready when summer comes around again!
Add Basil To Your Food: A simple way to incorporate more herbs into your diet is by adding them into recipes whenever possible! One easy way would be by making pesto with walnuts instead of pine nuts (which tend not be as nutritious).
Another option would be using fresh basil leaves instead of dried ones when making homemade spaghetti sauce or tomato soup – not only does this add flavor but it helps prevent insect bites too because basil contains properties called pyrones which repel insects like mosquitos away from gardens where its grown outdoors near homes.
Lavender
Lavender is one of the best natural repellents out there. If you’re looking to keep mosquitoes away, start by using lavender oil in a diffuser or scenting your clothing and bedding with it.
You can also make a spray by filling a spray bottle with water and adding 10 drops of lavender oil. Lavender has a calming effect, so it will help you relax while also keeping those pests at bay!
Peppermint
Peppermint is a natural mosquito repellent, and it works especially well if you’re trying to keep mosquitoes away from yourself.
Peppermint oil can be used in a variety of ways to ward off pesky bugs:
Spray your skin with peppermint oil before heading outside. It’s important that you dilute the peppermint with water first, though—you don’t want it to burn your skin or eyes!
If you have candles around the house, try adding some peppermint essential oil to them. This will help keep mosquitos away from those areas where you use these candles frequently (like on an outdoor patio).
If you have an electric diffuser at home—or are thinking about getting one—consider putting some peppermint essential oil in there as well; this will provide both scented air freshener and insect repellent!
Rosemary
Rosemary is another great herb to use for repelling mosquitoes, and you can use it in a few different ways. You can put a few sprigs of rosemary in your diffuser or make a spray with water and essential oil.
This works well for outdoor parties where you want to prevent people from being bitten by bugs and also smells pretty good! If you’re looking to get rid of mosquitoes indoors, however, try using witch hazel instead of water: It’s more effective at keeping the pests away.
You may have noticed that these natural solutions all contain rosemary in some form or another! That isn’t by accident:
Not only does this herb help keep away mosquitoes and other insects from biting you (it has an antibacterial effect), but it also offers antibacterial properties on its own as well–so if you do get bitten anyway, chances are that the bite will heal much faster than normal thanks to having used rosemary repellent beforehand.”
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a natural insect repellent, and the smell is not very strong. It can be used to repel fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.
The oil is an antiseptic that has been shown to have many uses including treating acne and sunburns as well as scalp infections such as dandruff or seborrhea.
Tea tree oil does not cause any skin irritation when used topically in small amounts on humans or animals unlike most chemical compounds such as DEET which are commonly found in commercial insect repellents.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a perennial herb in the mint family. It’s native to Europe and Asia, but has been naturalized in many parts of North America.
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) grows wild as a common weed throughout much of the U.S., so it’s easy to grow your own!
Lemon balm has many uses—you can use it for cooking, teas, and more:
- Inhale the scent for headaches and stress relief
- Rub on mosquito bites to reduce itching and irritation
- Rub on insect bites for pain relief
If you’re looking for a way to keep mosquitoes away naturally, try planting some lemon balm in your garden this summer!
Sage
Sage is a great way to keep mosquitoes away. It can be used as a mosquito repellent, or in a homemade mosquito repellent spray that’s easy to make and works well. Sage can also be used fresh or dried for cooking!
Sage has many other benefits besides its ability to repel mosquitoes; it’s also known for its antibacterial properties, which make it useful in treating skin rashes and insect bites.
Garlic
Garlic is a natural mosquito repellent. It contains allicin, which masks your scent and makes you unappealing to mosquitoes.
Crush up some garlic cloves with a mortar and pestle or in a food processor, then place them in a bowl out on your porch or in the yard (or put them into an old sock). The smell of garlic can also be rubbed onto your skin before going outside.
| Benefits | How to Use |
|---|---|
| Repels mosquitoes due to its strong odor | Crush a few garlic cloves and boil them in water, then mix the water with other natural repellents or apply it directly to the skin. |
| Can be planted in gardens to keep mosquitoes away | Plant garlic around your garden or in pots on your patio or balcony to keep mosquitoes away naturally. |
| Has natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties | Incorporate garlic into your diet by adding it to your meals, either raw or cooked, to reap the many health benefits it offers. |
Catnip
Catnip is an herb that has been used throughout history to repel mosquitoes. It’s also known as catmint. The minty scent of the herb can be used in a variety of ways, including as a tea or spray. You can help keep mosquitoes away by making your own catnip spray and applying it to your skin before going outside.
Clove Oil
Clove oil is a natural insect repellent that can be used to keep mosquitoes away. Clove oil can be applied directly to your skin or clothing, and it’s safe to use on children and pets (though it may cause irritation if used too frequently).
To use clove oil as an insect repellent, put 2–4 drops of clove essential oil into a small spray bottle.
Add 2 tablespoons of witch hazel or rubbing alcohol and shake well to combine. Spray this mixture onto exposed areas of your skin when you’re outside for about two hours before you go back inside; repeat this process every two hours while outdoors or until the sun goes down.
Cinnamon Oil
Cinnamon oil is a natural insect repellent that can be used to keep mosquitoes away. It can be mixed with other essential oils, such as citronella and eucalyptus, to make your own mosquito spray.
Cinnamon oil is safe for children and pets and won’t hurt humans when applied properly. However, it should not be ingested in large amounts or used by pregnant women due to its high concentration of camphor oil.
If you want to make your own cinnamon-based repellent at home, mix two tablespoons of cinnamon oil with four ounces of water in a spray bottle. Apply liberally on exposed skin before going out into mosquito territory; this will prevent bites from occurring!
Thyme oil
Thyme oil is a natural mosquito repellent that can be used in candles, sprays and lotions. You can use thyme oil on its own or combine it with other essential oils like citronella or eucalyptus.
To make your own homemade mosquito repellent spray from thyme oil:
Fill a 1-liter bottle with water and add 20 drops of thyme oil or about 10 ml (2 tsp). Shake well before each use and apply to exposed skin by spraying or rubbing in gently with your hands.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, skip this step (or at least avoid inhaling the vapors) while using this spray as they may cause irritation in some people.
The mixture should last for several weeks if kept tightly capped out of direct sunlight in a cool place away from children’s reach
Conclusion
The next time you’re searching for ways to keep mosquitoes away naturally, remember how many different options there are out there.
We recommend trying a few of these natural solutions and seeing which ones work best for your own personal tastes (and how well they work against those pesky bugs).
In any case, we hope that this article has given you some ideas on how best to protect yourself from unwanted bites.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
