How To Repel Mosquitoes From Your Yard
Learning how to repel mosquitoes with homemade mosquito spray or professional mosquito control is key to making your yard the comfortable, at-home retreat you deserve. Below, our team of experienced mosquito exterminators shares the most effective ways to get rid of mosquitoes and keep them from spoiling the rest of your summer.
How To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes
We know hiring professional mosquito control isn’t an option for everyone. Fortunately, mosquito problems don’t always require expert intervention and can be managed with some DIY mosquito control:
- Eliminate standing water sources and regularly clean out bird baths and pet bowls.
- Keep a well-mown lawn with regular lawn maintenance. This includes removing any debris, such as fallen branches or leaves.
- Apply mosquito spray to tree-lined perimeters and tall grassy areas that can’t be mown.
- Plant lavender, catnip, or lemongrass—known to naturally repel mosquitoes—in your garden.
How To Keep Mosquitoes Away
The trick to keeping mosquitoes away is to make your yard as unappealing as possible to these pests. As luck would have it, many of the odors mosquitoes cannot tolerate are quite pleasant to us, including cedar and lavender.
Keep Mosquitoes Away From Your Yard With:
- Cedar mulch in your beds
- Citronella plant
- Lavender
- Eucalyptus
- Lemongrass
- Catnip
- Marigolds
- Tiki torches
Keep Mosquitoes Away From You With:
- EPA-registered insect repellent
- Long-sleeved shirts and long pants
- Lemon eucalyptus oil
- Crushed lavender rubbed on your skin
- Vinegar homemade mosquito spray
- DIY mosquito repellent (find recipes below!)
- Vapor rub on your knees, neck, elbows, wrists, and behind your ears.
Homemade Mosquito Repellent
Homemade mosquito repellent can be made by mixing water with essential oils, apple cider vinegar, or white vinegar. To make your own mosquito spray, you’ll need:
- Small spray bottle
- Water
- Proper essential oil or vinegar
- Vodka (if using oils)
How To Make DIY Mosquito Spray With Essential Oils
- Fill ½ of your small spray bottle with distilled or boiled water
- Mix with ¼ cup of vodka
- Add 4-6 drops of your chosen essential oil
Some Essential Oils that Repel Mosquitoes:
- Lemon eucalyptus oil
- Soybean oil
- Cinnamon oil
- Neem oil
- Cedar leaf oil
- Greek catmint oil
- Tea tree oil
- Thyme oil
How to Make DIY Mosquito Spray With Vinegar
- ½ cup vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup water
- Add 20 drops of essential oil if desired
- Mix well and transfer to a small spray bottle
Do Dryer Sheets Repel Mosquitoes?
No. Some dryer sheets have traits that repel certain insects, but they do very little to repel mosquitoes.
Does Vapor Rub Repel Mosquitoes?
Vapor rub is an effective DIY mosquito repellent because it reeks of eucalyptus and menthol—two odors mosquitoes hate. Dab it onto your neck, knees, elbows, and other vulnerable places to keep mosquitoes away while you’re enjoying an evening outside.
Call Professional Mosquito Exterminators
Homemade mosquito sprays and DIY mosquito repellent can keep mosquitoes away for a short amount of time before the insects either adapt to it or you have to reapply. If you have a serious mosquito control problem, you need professional mosquito exterminators who are just as serious about saving your property from their biting, buzzing grip.
Here are some common questions when it comes to repelling mosquitoes.
How Do I Keep Mosquitoes From Biting Me?
- Cover yourself with EPA-registered insect repellents, such as Off! or DEET, or any of the homemade mosquito repellents suggested above.
- Wear clothes that cover your arms and legs.
- Treat clothing with mosquito spray.
- Generously dab apple cider vinegar or vapor rub onto your skin.
- Avoid going outside after dusk without mosquito spray.
Are Mosquitoes Dangerous?
Preventing mosquitoes does more than help you dodge itchy bites over the summer. Mosquitoes are very dangerous and can transfer a variety of serious diseases to humans, pets, and horses, including:
- West Nile Virus
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis
- Zika
- Malaria
- Dengue Fever
- Heartworms in pets
What Smell Do Mosquitoes Hate?
There are several herbs and grasses that mosquitoes can’t tolerate because of their strong smell. Mosquitoes generally avoid areas heavy with:
- Lavender
- Lemon or citronella grass
- Lemon balm
- Rosemary
- Catnip
- Basil
- Marigolds
- Eucalyptus
- Menthol
- Vinegar (apple cider vinegar)
What Foods Should You Eat So Mosquitoes Don’t Bite You?
Whether they alter your natural scent or conceal it, making certain foods a regular part of your diet can give you mosquito-repelling superpowers.
- Onions
- Tomatoes
- Beans and lentils
- Lemongrass
- Oranges, lemons, and limes
- Hot peppers
- Apple cider vinegar
What Time Of Day Are Mosquitoes Most Active?
Mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn when the sun goes down and the temperature cools. Mosquito season in Sacramento occurs from May to October.