# Is there anything thing that actually works to ward off mosquitoes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 30, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416 "2017-07-30T01:36:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/1 "2017-07-30T01:36:16Z")
This summer our yard has been infested with mosquitoes that attack you even in the daytime. I have tried buying a bug zapper and a citronella candle and it has had no effect at all. I would rather not spray myself with DEET bug spray everyday. I have made sure to remove any standing water around our yard. Is there anything thing that actually works to ward off mosquitoes? ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/2 "2017-07-30T01:43:08Z")
My brother pays a service to spray his property during the summer. The impact has been amazing. Before his yard was unbearable now we can sit outside and not be bitten at all. I think it costs him $200-$300 a year. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/3 "2017-07-30T02:26:13Z")
Avon Skin So Soft. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/4 "2017-07-30T02:30:36Z")
It’s common to try bug zappers for mosquitoes, but they won’t work for them. They seek out CO2, not light. A bug zapper only works if the mosquito happens to randomly fly through it on it’s way to you. I’m not sure how to clear your backyard, but if you do get bit, you can greatly reduce the welt by holding a hot spoon on it. The heat breaks the venom down. Put a spoon in a cup of hot water to heat it up and then hold it against the bite. You want it hot, but not hot enough to burn you. Tap hot water is usually hot enough. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/5 "2017-07-30T04:05:50Z")
Picaridin and IR3535 work pretty well- comparable to DEET, but without most of the side-effects. In particular, Picaridin is pretty awesome stuff. Doesn’t smell, doesn’t bother your skin, doesn’t melt your clothes, keeps bugs off for hours. Repel Tick Defense is a brand-name formulation that they have at Wal-Mart that works very well. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/6 "2017-07-30T06:24:29Z")
Smoldering mosquito coils work just fine. I lived in an unscreened house in Indonesia for months, and was never bothered by mosquitoes at night. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/7 "2017-07-30T11:04:28Z")
If you are stationary (sitting on a deck or patio, for example), bring out a couple of big oscillating fans. This works pretty well for us. mmm ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/8 "2017-07-30T11:40:42Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > My brother pays a service to spray his property during the summer. The impact has been amazing. Before his yard was unbearable now we can sit outside and not be bitten at all. I think it costs him $200-$300 a year. Might not matter to the you or the OP, but those services introduce some very toxic chemicals into the the outdoors that you are, supposedly, outside to enjoy. Horrible for birds. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/9 "2017-07-30T14:28:02Z")
Have you tried Smidge? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/10 "2017-07-30T14:39:32Z")
If you are a chemophobe you won’t like my answer. Spray your yard with bug killer you get from the hardware store…the kind that screws into a garden hose. These use a type of permethrin based chemical. Next…suck it up and use deet. Picaridin is very good, and is my second choice, but I find it isn’t as good as deet. It’s well known and proven no other “non” chemical treatment ( like skin so soft) works as well if at all. Deet is exceedingly safe to use, and after I got Lymes disease and had to suffer the EXTREMELY toxic effects of a tick borne spirochete AND the much more dangerous chemical antibiotic, It makes no sense to be afraid of deet. Also in bad situations I spray my clothes with permethrin, the only insecticide that i know of that is safe enough to be allowed for use in restaurants. I suspect you may not want to use chemicals…but I tell ya…it really is better than the alternative. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/11 "2017-07-30T14:58:02Z")
I’ve actually found a combination of essential oils (peppermint, lemongrass, and eucalyptus) added to some lotion to be pretty effective against bugs of all kinds. Much nicer than DEET. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/12 "2017-07-30T15:38:48Z")
The best thing to do with a bug zapper is give it to your neighbor and hope he hangs it in his yard to attract the bugs away from your property. One citronella candle may provide some benefit if there is no wind and you stay very close to the candle. Try lighting several candles and sitting between them, or get a few of those big Tiki torches and fill them with citronella oil. Also note that citronella candles have various amounts of citronella oil – at my local hardware store I found 0.5%, 1.0% and 3.0% all on the same shelf at the same price. Permethrin works; you can buy spray bottles to spray on your clothes or buy the liquid and soak clothes in it so it will last through several washes (instructions available on youtube – search for 'treating clothes with permethrin). There are also clothes with Insect Shield built in that lasts a long time (Insect Shield is permethrin.) ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/13 "2017-07-30T23:00:05Z")
Not that it would be a reason to start, but does smoking repel mosquitoes? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/14 "2017-07-30T23:59:20Z")
Move to Southern California. Very few to no mosquitos. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/15 "2017-07-31T00:48:18Z")
I have no idea about the availability of this product anywhere in the world besides the Edmonton and Leduc area, but here is [one product](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/garlic-spray-tested-on-mosquitoes-in-leduc-1.2716647) that seems safe (unless you are a vampire that can’t stand garlic). Maybe that will give you something to search for. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/16 "2017-07-31T01:01:53Z")
There are [mosquito traps](http://www.mosquito.org/traps) that are designed to lure in and kill females (the males don’t bite.) The link gives quite a bit of information on how they work and some of the challenges. Small yards might emphasize one of their problems since they limit you to putting the trap nearby. The traps work by attracting mosquitoes from the surrounding area. Sitting near one isn’t necessarily the best tactic. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/17 "2017-07-31T01:22:34Z")
In addition to traps for catching live mosquitoes, there are also traps which encourage mosquitoes to lay their eggs in them but the hatched mosquitoes can’t get out and they die. Anyone have any experience with those? The thought is that you create enticing places for them to lay their eggs which will die so they won’t lay them somewhere else. Here’s one, but there are many others with different designs: > **[Welcome malarianimby.org - BlueHost.com](http://www.malarianimby.org/mosquito-larvae-trap-bitebackllc-com-bite-back-llc/index.php)** > > Bluehost - Top rated web hosting provider - Free 1 click installs For blogs, shopping carts, and more. Get a free domain name, real NON-outsourced 24/7 support, and superior speed. web hosting provider php hosting cheap web hosting, Web hosting,... ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/18 "2017-07-31T03:28:30Z")
> [@bump](#): > > In particular, Picaridin is pretty awesome stuff. Doesn’t smell, doesn’t bother your skin, doesn’t melt your clothes, keeps bugs off for hours. It is, however, a neurotoxin [to cats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin#Domestic_animals), which is especially bad considering their love of lying on people’s clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/19 "2017-07-31T04:57:57Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > It is, however, a neurotoxin [to cats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin#Domestic_animals), which is especially bad considering their love of lying on people’s clothes. Your link is to info on **permethrin** , which is not the same thing as **picaridin**. The only [cite](http://fleascience.com/flea-control/flea-control-for-humans/flea-repellent-for-humans/picaridin-insect-repellent/) I could find said > [@](#): > > Limited information exists on picaridin’s adverse effects to domestic pets. There was one laboratory study with beagle dogs, and no adverse side effects were seen. There’s no data on toxicity to cats. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416/20 "2017-07-31T05:07:38Z")
Become mildly anemic? I hadn’t had a mosquito bite in so many years I can’t count, until this summer when it was discovered I was anemic. I started taking prescription iron tablets. About two weeks in, I started getting mosquito bites. Since I felt fine before discovering I was anemic, I stopped taking the iron and I stopped being bit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-thing-that-actually-works-to-ward-off-mosquitoes/792416.md?page=2)