Natural ways to repel mosquitoes include using essential oils like citronella, Thai citronella, and lemon eucalyptus oil. Wearing long sleeves and using a fan can also help. Essential oils like lemongrass, cedar, pine, cinnamon, rosemary, garlic, and peppermint can function as insecticides and repellents. Citronella and lemon eucalyptus oil are effective, while lemongrass is not as potent. Mosquitoes also struggle to fly in windy conditions, so using a fan can help.
There are several natural ways to repel mosquitoes. While repellents containing N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) are some of the most effective products on the market, some people may experience side effects such as itching and swelling after applying these repellents. Natural approaches can provide a good alternative and repel mosquitoes effectively. Some natural ways to repel mosquitoes include using essential oils such as citronella, Thai citronella and lemon eucalyptus oil. Other natural methods, such as wearing long sleeves and using a fan, can also help.
A number of essential oils can function as insecticides and repellents. Essential oils with reported repellent activity included lemongrass, cedar, pine, cinnamon, rosemary, garlic, and peppermint, among others. However, the effectiveness of some of these essential oils against mosquito bites is still being tested.
Since 1882, citronella in candles and sprays has been used as a method of repelling mosquitoes. While this oil is effective, lemongrass is not as potent as the other ingredients. Some studies have found that citronella repels mosquitoes for only about 20 minutes. Lemongrass can be used for shorter exposure times and can be an effective “first defence,” used in conjunction with other natural methods.
In addition to citronella-scented candles and other commercial products, citronella extracted from Thai citronella (Cymbopogon Citratus) can help repel mosquitoes. Placing plants around your porch or patio can keep mosquitoes away from the area. Citronella oil can be extracted through the stem to the base of the leaves. Rubbing the pulpy stalk on exposed skin can repel mosquitoes for a short time.
Lemon eucalyptus oil is also recommended by some experts as an alternative to repellents containing small concentrations of DEET. This oil can also be effective as a deterrent against tick bites. Studies have found that using eucalyptus oil at a 30% concentration protects the skin from mosquito bites for about 120 minutes. Eucalyptus oil in commercial products should contain at least 70% cineole. Children under the age of 3 should not use lemon eucalyptus oil as a repellent.
These natural repellents work well when applied to all exposed skin. However, mosquitoes can still bite bare skin near repellant-coated areas. Wearing long sleeves, pants, and socks is an easy way to keep mosquitoes away. Although mosquitoes may be able to bite through thin, transparent material through skin, they generally cannot bite through stronger fabrics. In the summer, wearing blue jeans and a long-sleeved cotton T-shirt usually prevents any mosquito bites on your arms and legs.
Mosquitoes also struggle to fly in very windy conditions. Clipping a miniature fan to a belt loop or placing a small electronic fan adjacent to the seating area can disrupt the flight of mosquitoes, making them less likely to bite your skin. These measures, along with the use of essential oils, can repel mosquitoes and prevent future mosquito bites.
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