17 Best Ways to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Your House and Backyard for Good

 

Avoid Scented Body Products

Although some scents are repellent to mosquitoes, other body lotions or perfumes can attract these pests. “Mosquitoes, like many pests, use olfactory cues to find food or mates. These cues, like body heat, CO₂ output or even floral or fruity perfumes, draw mosquitoes closer to the source,” says Williams.

The best way to get rid of mosquitoes is to stay away from fancy-smelling perfumes, colognes, body washes or lotions if you plan on spending time outside during high mosquito activity hours. These hours are typically dusk to dawn between April and October.

Wear Light-Colored Clothing

Turns out, mosquitoes are attracted to darker-colored materials. If it’s not too hot to cover yourself up, you should do so. Wearing long sleeves and pants will significantly reduce the number of mosquito bites you accumulate by the end of the evening. 

Prune Hedges and Mow the Yard to Reduce Shade

Mosquitoes like shade to escape the midday heat. Hedges, bushes and tall grass provide shade that shelters mosquitoes. They need a place to get out of the heat and sun during the day, so the fewer shaded areas they find, the less they’ll congregate in your yard.

Keep the hedges and bushes trimmed, and mow the yard at least once weekly. Mow or till weedy spots to minimize shade and to keep these marginal areas from becoming overgrown jungles. Encourage your neighbors to do the same. Otherwise, you’ll just drive the mosquitoes next door — and they’ll return often to visit.

Spatial Mosquito Repellent

Spray-on repellents with DEET are still considered the most effective way to keep mosquitoes away, but spatial repellents can create a safe zone on your patio or in your backyard without the smell or sticky skin. These devices work by heating a cartridge that releases a protective barrier, typically covering an area of about 15 to 20 feet.

Switch to Bug Bulbs

Some outdoor light bulbs are designed to repel bugs naturally. Installing these bulbs in outdoor fixtures can help keep insects at bay. String lights with similar properties are also available if that suits your decor style.

While spatial repellents like this can be effective, Williams points out that, “since mosquitoes develop in water, reducing standing water sources will remove potential breeding sites. This is the most effective long-term approach to fighting mosquitoes because it targets them before adulthood,” he says.

Remove Standing Water

Having accessible water sources around your home will draw in mosquitoes. Why? Because mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing or slow-moving water. By cutting these water sources, you reduce the number of mosquitoes laying eggs around your home, and in return, you will have fewer mosquitoes around the house.

Some of the biggest culprits of water sources include unused tires, cans, pools and pool covers. Any empty plastic containers or ceramic pots for planting that collect water should be removed. Make sure to clean your gutters as much as possible, and always watch for water build-up around the house. Birdbaths are also an easy target for mosquitoes!

Treat Water Features

Sometimes it’s nearly impossible to get rid of standing water. And sometimes, like if you have a small pond in your backyard, you just don’t want to. The good news is that it’s possible to treat pools of water you can’t drain with substances that kill mosquito larvae.

Pour a tiny amount of Agnique MMF mosquito larvicide into the water so that a thin layer covers the surface. It’ll suffocate the larvae (and any other insects in the water) without harming fish. You can also use mosquito dunk in the water. These doughnut-shaped briquettes produce a toxic bacterial spore that kills mosquito larvae but won’t harm fish or animals. One briquette lasts 30 days, and large bodies of water may require more briquettes.

Keep Fish Ponds Stocked

Goldfish, koi, minnows and guppies will all eat mosquito larvae in pools. If you have a pond and want to keep it, keeping it stocked is the best way to get rid of mosquitoes that will try to use it as a breeding ground.

You don’t want to drain water when it is part of your landscaping or used for recreation. But that doesn’t mean you have to surrender it to mosquitoes. Add some koi, a few goldfish or minnows from a pet store or bait store to your water garden.

Chlorinate Swimming Pools

Be sure to chlorinate water that remains standing for an extended period, such as the water in swimming pools and hot tubs. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the safe use of chlorine. Keep pools covered when not in use.

If you don’t want to chlorinate small fountains, birdbaths and wading pools, simply change the water once a week to dispose of mosquito larvae. Sweep surfaces with a brush to knock off eggs before refilling the container.

Call in the Authorities for Large Infestations

Large wooded areas, ponds and lakes are havens for mosquitoes. It’s almost impossible to treat these areas yourself. So, the best way to get rid of mosquitoes here is to call in the big guns — your local Mosquito Control District. Local policies vary and services are localized, but often, when the number of mosquitoes reaches a certain level, Mosquito Control will spray for them.

This is also a good idea if mosquitoes are swarming your yard in unusually high numbers. The last thing you want is to get covered in bites while enjoying your yard.

Have Your Yard Professionally Treated

Professional exterminators will treat your yard with insecticide.

If Mosquito Control won’t spray your property, hire an exterminator to spray the foliage. This ensures a swat-free party by wiping out mosquitoes and other insects for at least a few days. Have this done one to three days before your party. Expect to pay $135 for a yard of less than half an acre and $225 for a yard up to an acre. For a (nearly) mosquito-free summer, have the foliage sprayed monthly (about $350 for the summer for a small yard).

Although you can buy sprays yourself, we recommend leaving the application of insecticides to the pros. They can buy more effective treatments that are restricted to licensed exterminators. They also know what to use and how much to use to kill mosquitoes without harming other critters. When used according to the label, the insecticides pose minimal risk to humans and pets.

Run Fans at Ground Level

Mosquitoes are particularly attracted to body odors and the carbon dioxide we exhale when breathing. The chemicals our bodies put off hang in the air around us, allowing mosquitoes to hone in on us — and that’s when the biting starts. Rapid air movement confuses mosquitoes, and dissipating these telltale human signs makes us harder to find.

So set fans on the ground and turn them on to break up the scent patterns. This simple solution is surprisingly effective for spur-of-the-moment events or gatherings in your yard. Because they are so light, mosquitoes are weak flyers. The breeze from the fans makes it difficult for them to fly, keeping them out of your entertainment area. If you don’t have repellent on hand, this is the best way to get rid of mosquitoes.

Try Lemon Eucalyptus

This may seem like a myth, but multiple government sources recommend oil from lemon eucalyptus as an insect repellent. If you’re looking for a rather natural mosquito repellent, this oil is the best way to eliminate mosquitoes.

Lemon eucalyptus is an effective natural oil for mosquito repellent. Its sharp-scented compounds have been proven to drive mosquitoes away, though it doesn’t last as long as other sprays.

Note: This is a potent home bug repellent and is not child or pet-friendly.

Try Lavender Oil for a Nicer Scent

Lavender oil is a very common ingredient in homemade bug repellents. If a recipe calls for citrus oils, neem oil, lemon eucalyptus, clove or cedarwood oils, you can also add a little lavender oil. This will help improve the fragrance.

However, you can also use lavender oil in a mixture similar to the citrus oil recipe for a home bug repellent. It won’t be quite as effective as other options, but if you can’t stand the smell of other oils, it’s certainly worth trying as an alternative.

DIY Neem Spray

It is derived from evergreen neem trees, which are native to India and known for their potent fruits and seeds. Add a couple of tablespoons of the oil to your witch hazel spray and try it out. If the spray isn’t mixing well even when you shake it, add a little vegetable glycerin (aka glycerol, a clear, odorless liquid typically made from palm, soy or coconut oil) to help the ingredients combine.

Neem oil works best when combined with more fragrant oils.

Try Cloves Spray

You can also use clove oil (or even add a few whole cloves to your spray bottle) for an enhanced repellent that can better deter insects. Clove oil is quite potent, so don’t apply it directly to your hands or leave it on your skin overnight.

Try a Peppermint and Castor Oil Combo

Peppermint and castor oil are also both well-regarded as repellents. Plus, the peppermint smells great. But go easy on the peppermint oil at first, as it can be surprisingly potent compared to other essential oils.

FAQ

Why are there so many mosquitoes in my yard?

If your yard has lots of standing water in or near it, you’ll likely have high mosquito populations as these are their preferred breeding grounds. They also like shady areas with dense vegetation.

Is professional mosquito control worth it?

Professional mosquito control can effectively lower mosquito populations in your yard, especially if DIY solutions have yielded few results.

About the Expert

Ian Williams is a board-certified entomologist who specializes in urban entomology and is a technical services manager for Rollins Inc.