Mosquito Repellent

About Mosquito Repellents

Mosquito repellents actually work by interrupting the sensors that detect hosts, so the mosquitoes are unable to locate people to feed on. They do not kill mosquitoes, but will offer protection from mosquito bites. They can be used on skin and clothing, and as an outdoor fog or mist treatment. There are many formulas and active ingredients in products available today, including a mix of repellents and killing ingredients. It will be helpful to understand what is in your mosquito repellent and how well it will work.

• DEET is still the best and most effective active ingredient in mosquito repellents. It has been used for many years and can last anywhere from two to eight hours per application. You can find a wide range of percentages of DEET in any given DEET product. A product with 10 to 30 percent DEET is effective, although when applying to children, the lower percentage the safer it is. DEET is safe when applied according to the label directions.
• Picaridin is another conventional active ingredient in mosquito repellents, and has become more widely used. It is similar to DEET, but unlike DEET, will not stain or ruin certain materials and fabric.
• There are also botanically derived insect repellents, like oil of lemon eucalyptus and IR3535, which have been found to have significant repellent properties, though not as much as DEET and picaridin.
• Essential oils, like cedar oil, clove oil, etc., are often included as active ingredients in natural mosquito repellent products. These can be effective against mosquitoes, but may have to be reapplied much more often than a conventional product. Certain essential oils should not be used on children or pets. You will find essential oils in a range of mosquito repellent products, from candles to outdoor misting sprays.
• In an outdoor mist or fog product, synthetic pyrethrins are very effective in keeping mosquitoes away for a significant period of time.

How To Use Insect Repellents

The most important thing to do when using mosquito repellents is to follow the label instructions very carefully. Over-application is dangerous and can lead to health problems like skin irritation and respiratory issues. Here are some important tips to keep in mind when using and choosing mosquito repellents.

• When spending time outdoors, consider whether the area you are in is known to have mosquito borne diseases, the general mosquito population in the area, how long you will be outdoors, if it is a heavily vegetated and humid area, and what activities you will be doing. All of these can help you choose the best repellent level for you. For example, the more active you are and the longer you spend outdoors, a more powerful repellent, like a 10-30% DEET product, would be most useful.
• Consider spraying the area you are going to spend long periods of time with a fogging or misting product, like Mosquito Barrier or Bonide Mosquito Beater, which will repel mosquitoes and reduce the need for skin-applied repellents.
• Never apply more than the label directs, to your skin or in your environment.
• Rinse off repellents before sleeping, and do not re-wear clothing that has repellent on it before laundering.
• Do not use repellents marketed for people on pets. There are special repellents made for dogs and cats like Pet Peeve Insect Spray, that are safe and carry a far lower risk than conventional mosquito repellents.
• Also very helpful when enjoying time outdoors is the Thermacell mosquito repellent system, which uses a repellent soaked pad in a lantern container, where a butane cartridge heats up the pad and distributes the repellent, giving you a 15 by 15 foot, or 225 square foot, area of repellency. This allows you to sit on a deck, porch, or campsite in mosquito-free relaxation.