Natural DIY Recipes And Hacks To Repel Mosquitos And Take Your Yard Back!

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When you live in the south, you’re plagued with some of the meanest mosquitoes in the country. And these little demons can be extremely active well into the month of December—which is no fun if you’re trying to enjoy the crisp outdoor air with some hot cocoa in the evening.

Aside from being a nuisance, mosquitoes can carry deadly viruses like West Nile, Zika, Malaria and Dengue. Mosquito bites can also spark allergic reactions in both children and adults called Skeeter Syndrome, which is similar in appearance to cellulitis. The bitten area can swell to a concerning size and cause intense itching.

With that said, it’s very important to protect yourself from mosquitoes—whether you’re outside or in your home. I can’t tell you how many times my children have woken up with mosquito bites in the past, because these pesky bugs have somehow made their way into our house. Needless to say, I did a lot of research to find preventable solutions.

Fortunately, there are several ways to deter mosquitoes naturally without having to resort to store bought products (like sprays), which may be effective in repelling these bugs, but aren’t so great for your health because they contain harmful chemicals like DEET, which has unfortunately been linked to neurotoxicity.

Hence, in this article, I’m going to share some natural tips, tricks and DIY recipes with you that will help repel mosquitoes safely, and allow you to enjoy the outdoors—because you shouldn’t have to be bullied by a bug.

Homemade Mosquito Repellants And Hacks!

1. Repel Mosquitoes With Catnip

That’s right, catnip! Catnip happens to be 10 times more powerful than any store bought mosquito solution because it contains nepetalactone, an essential oil that’s more effective than DEET! Apparently catnip triggers a pain receptor in mosquitoes and they flee.

Simply place several catnip sachets around your home (especially near entryways and windows) to deter them from entering your home.

You can also make catnip tea, pour it into a spray bottle, and unleash this powerful solution anywhere in your home or even on your clothing and camping tent. More on that below!

Catnip Essential Oil For Mosquito Sprays

2. DIY Mosquito Sprays

You can create your own homemade mosquito sprays using Witch Hazel, alcohol, vinegar and essential oils that mosquitoes absolutely hate—like catnip, citronella, or peppermint. Here are a couple of different recipe combinations that you can try out:

Combo #1

1 Cup of witch hazel, 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar and 20 drops of lemongrass, tea tree, or cat nip essential oil.

Combo #2

1 cup of isopropyl alcohol, 1 cup of water, 1/2 tsp of catnip essentia l oil or any other essential oil such as lemongrass, lavender, or tea tree.

3. Bounce Dryer Sheets

Bounce dryer sheets are a staple mosquito repellant here in Florida. Wether you’re outdoors working on your garden, or out in the woods camping, stick a Bounce dryer sheet or two into your pockets (exposing them a little) and watch how mosquitoes steer clear.

4. Burn Some Sage & Rosemary

The next time you’re out on the patio BBQing, remember to throw some fresh sage or rosemary onto the coals (or metal grill if using a gas grill) and watch the mosquitoes steer clear of the area. They just hate the smell.

5. DIY Anti-Mosquito Lotion

You can create your own mosquito repelling lotion with one simple pantry ingredient and an essential oil. Simply mix the ingredients together in a small bowl and rub onto exposed body parts.

This mosquito repellant is an all-natural recipe and can be used on children, but please do a small test area first to make sure that no irritation occurs. For this recipe, you will need:

1/3 cup coconut oil
15 drops peppermint, eucalyptus, lavendar, lemongrass or tea tree essential oil

6. Hang Some Herbs Up

Hang some herbs around your home and patio in cheese cloths or muslin bags. Flying insects absolutely hate the smell of basil and will avoid the area.

You can hang either fresh basil leaves, or crush some dried ones which will also emit a strong scent. Roaches cannot stand basil as well!

7. Spray Listerine

Believe it or not, mosquitos absolutely hate mouthwash. I’ve only tried this with Listerine, but I encourage you to try any mouthwash that has a strong mint/peppermint scent.

Just fill up a spray bottle with as much Listerine as you’d like (DO NOT DILUTE IT), and spray your entire yard with it—I’m talking picnic table, playground equipment and even grass. Mosquitos will flee immediately! It’s even great for keeping ticks away!

More Interesting Mosquito Prevention Hacks

Avoid Leaving Out Water

Avoid having water sitting around anywhere on your property (pet bowls, birdbaths, etc). Mosquitoes need water in order to reproduce, and even as little as 1 pint is sufficient to nurture as many as five-hundred larvae.

Break Open Some Egg Yolks

If you happen to have a small pond in your yard, you can break open a few egg yolks and let them spread over the surface of the water. This solution suffocates the mosquito larvae and can be repeated every few days.

Stock Your Pond With Mosquito Eating Fish!

You can even stock your pond with mosquito-eating fish called Gambusia Affinis! These mosquito eating fish love to feast on mosquito larvae and are an excellent mosquito prevention source. If you can’t find them in your local fish store, you can surprisingly find a few retailers selling them on Amazon for a reasonable price!

Citronella Plants

Grow some citronella plants in your garden, or in plant pots around your front porch and patio. Mosquitoes despise citronella plants, and will stay away from the area. You can purchase citronella plants at your local nursery, or grow your own from seeds.

Dragonflies

Attract some dragonflies to your property by growing bamboo plants. Dragonflies love to live among bamboo and enjoy feasting on mosquitoes! In fact, they can eat around 100 mosquitoes in as little as 30 minutes!