How Do You Keep Mosquitoes Away Naturally?

Before using chemical sprays, there are several natural methods you can try to help reduce mosquito activity around your home. These approaches focus on making your yard less attractive to mosquitoes while avoiding harsh chemicals for you and your family.

There are many online suggestions for repelling mosquitoes, but not all are equally effective. In general, the most reliable natural options include the following:

Should these solutions fall short, a professional mosquito exterminator can help resolve the problem.

Reducing what draws mosquitoes to your yard is an important part of natural prevention. Standing water is one of the biggest issues, since it provides a perfect place for mosquitoes to lay eggs and multiply. It often gathers in areas such as:

Make sure to regularly empty or cover any containers holding standing water. Because mosquitoes struggle in windy conditions, placing a fan in your backyard can help naturally keep them away.

Essential oils are widely used, but their ability to act as natural mosquito repellents can be questionable. Always combine them with a carrier oil and perform a patch test before applying. The following are some of the most commonly used mosquito-fighting oils:

Citronella oil is extracted from the leaves and grass of certain plants and has a yellow-brown hue with a citrus-floral scent. It’s commonly used as a natural insect repellent, but also appears in perfumes, food products, and traditional remedies for antifungal and wound-healing purposes. Citronella candles are widely used to help deter mosquitoes and other insects.

Often sold as lemon-scented geraniums, citronella plants alone are not effective at keeping mosquitoes away. The repelling properties come from oils inside the leaves that must be crushed or rubbed to be released. Even then, it’s best to depend on tested and approved mosquito control methods for consistent results.

The main way citronella repels insects is by covering up the smells that draw them in. Its strong scent can interfere with mosquitoes’ ability to locate people, which is why it is often marketed in candles, sprays, and lotions as a deterrent.

A citronella candle placed outside in warm weather may help reduce mosquito activity temporarily. That said, the effect is short-lived, with research showing it may only last a few hours at most.

In Athens, GA, some people believe vitamin B works as a natural mosquito repellent, but studies have found no evidence to support this. Coconut oil alone is also ineffective, though it may provide slight repellent effects when blended with essential oils and applied topically.

At American Pest Control, Inc., we take a realistic approach to mosquito control. We encourage speaking with a healthcare professional before using homemade repellents to make sure they are both appropriate and effective.