We can all agree that mosquitos are party-crashing pests. However, they’re an essential part of the food chain, feeding larger animals like birds, spiders, bats, and frogs. Eliminating the mosquito population entirely would upset the natural ecosystem, and that's not good for our planet.
So we need to find mosquito-repelling approaches that are safe, economical, and ecological. Seem like a tall order? It's actually pretty easy. Take a look at our suggested solutions below and get ready to enjoy a mosquito-free space.
Use Homemade Mosquito Repellent
If you're not a fan of store-bought sprays, take a DIY approach and make your own mosquito repellent using natural ingredients. A quick online search will reveal a variety of mosquito-repellent recipes you can try—many that use ingredients you might already have at home, such as lavender oil, coffee grounds, peppermint, basil, and apple cider vinegar.
Before mixing up a batch, choose a recipe that’s safe for everyone in your home. As a Healthline article points out, some essential oils can cause allergic reactions. If someone in your household is allergic to peppermint, for example, steer clear of recipes that include it. Or, if you’re a pet parent, skip recipes that call for cinnamon oil, which is toxic to dogs and cats.
Attract Natural Predators
The easiest way to get rid of mosquitos is to let animals higher up on the food chain do the work for you, such as:
- Bluebirds
- Swallows
- Purple martins
- Cardinals
- Spiders
- Dragonflies
- Damselflies
- Goldfish
- Koi
- Turtles
- Frogs
To bring these animals to your backyard, you’ll need to make your space appealing to them. Build feeders and houses for birds, entice spiders with tall hollyhocks and sunflowers, and install a pond to attract dragonflies and other aquatic-loving mosquito hunters.
Get Rid of Standing Water
Mosquitos lay their eggs in standing water, so follow the advice from this Family Handyman post and regularly drain gutters, buckets, birdbaths, and pet bowls to remove potential breeding grounds.
But how do you handle permanent water fixtures such as swimming pools and ponds?
- Keep water moving with a fountain or an electric aeration pump.
- Cover your swimming pool when it's not in use.
- Tidy up the vegetation around ponds where mosquitos breed so they have no place to hide.
- Apply Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) to ponds, birdbaths, and swimming pools (and run your filter regularly).
Set Up Patio Screens
If you see many mosquitos in your yard during the warmer months, consider installing retractable screens on your covered porch or patio. Manual versions you can raise and lower with a pull string are available, or you can spring for electric screens that move up and down with the press of a button.
You could also try pop-up screen houses and gazebos. These screened-in structures offer top-to-bottom coverage that keeps mosquitos and other critters out while letting the fresh air in.
Another idea is running a few outdoor fans to simply blow mosquitos away. The added breeze is pleasant for you, and makes flying and landing a challenge for them.
Clean Your Yard
Regular lawn maintenance not only increases your home’s curb appeal, but it also helps keep mosquitos away. Mowing the grass, cleaning up debris and standing water, and trimming back overgrown bushes and plants are simple ways to reduce mosquito problems.
Beware of Mosquito-Attracting Plants
Try to avoid using these plants in your landscaping. Pesky winged pests prefer them because of their nectar, scents, or breeding ground potential.
- Bamboo
- Water lettuce
- Water lilies
- Water hyacinths
- Taro
- Papyrus
- Bromelaids
- English ivy
Keep in mind that there are some nuances. For example, water lilies also attract dragonflies, which love to snack on mosquitos. And papyrus might attract mosquitos, but since it grows along the edges of lakes and ponds, it also brings in hungry fish and frogs.
Are There Mosquito-Repelling Plants?
Unfortunately, plants alone won’t repel mosquitos. While some contain chemical compounds that stop mosquitos from feeding on them, they’re not released into the air, which means no protection for you. According to Consumer Reports, to gain any benefit, you’d have to apply the plants’ oils directly to your body.
IMPORTANT: Do not apply essential oils directly to your skin. Instead, dilute them with a carrier oil or use products where the oils are the active ingredients.
The Truth About Citronella
For years, we’ve been told citronella oil repels mosquitos. But a 2017 study published in the Journal of Insect Science refutes that idea.
In the study, researchers compared a variety of wearable and spray-on mosquito repellents to see which products were the most effective in keeping the bugs at bay. DEET and lemon eucalyptus oil sprays worked, and so did a wearable device containing metofluthrin. However, none of the items containing citronella oil had any effect in repelling mosquitos.
FAQs
What do mosquitos hate most?
Here are some scents that mosquitos find offensive (but fortunately, most humans find to be quite lovely):
- Catnip
- Cedar
- Cinnamon
- Coffee
- Garlic
- Geranium
- Lavender
- Lemongrass
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus
- Patchouli
- Peppermint
- Pine
- Rosemary
How do you keep mosquitos away permanently?
The best way to get rid of mosquitos permanently is to stop the problem before it starts. This means making your property uninhabitable for these pests. Regular landscaping, removing standing water, setting up feeders and houses for natural predators like purple martins and bluebirds will go a long way in creating a mosquito-free space.
Do coffee grounds repel mosquitos?
Coffee grounds can effectively repel mosquitos, especially when burned. The strong scent deters mosquitos and other pests. Additionally, adding coffee grounds to standing water can kill mosquito larvae.