I Tried (and Failed) to Keep Mosquitoes Away for Years — Then I Found 3 Products That Really Work

I hate mosquitoes with a passion; there’s nothing like a few itchy bites to really kill the mood of a backyard hangout. This unusual mosquito balm helps, but the best defense is a good offense. In my quest to get this hostile enemy population in check, I found three highly effective mosquito repellants and treatments that work amazingly well. Here’s what I use and why they work.

It’s a mosquito spray for your bushes. Did you know that mosquitoes love to breed and hang out in foliage and bushes? No? Well, they do. And this spray is a fraction of the cost of a treatment company.

Simply spray your yard’s garden beds, shrubs and bushes with this (non-toxic to humans) aerosol spray. The mosquitoes ingest it and within a few days their populations collapse as the breeders die.

Thermacell makes what I call the “magic wand” of mosquito repellants. It’s what’s known as a spatial mosquito repellant and it’s also odorless, non-toxic, and rechargeable.

If we’re going to be outside for a long time (like camping out) or eating a meal outdoors, which can attract insects, I place one of these devices nearby. It gently warms a mosquito repellant creating what feels like a bulletproof barrier around the entire area.

I’m not the only one who loves the Thermacell. We’ve written about it before, and a few of our writers are also fans! Here’s what they say:

My husband is an avid outdoorsman and grew up spending time in the deep woods of Wisconsin. He swears by the Thermacell rechargeable mosquito repeller. He takes it out in the woods, and then we also use it on our patio at home for outdoor entertaining. It works great and I haven’t had a bite yet this year! —Kristina Vänni, Kitchn and Cubby contributor

We got one on the recommendation of a friend who said it made it possible to sit outside unmolested by mosquitoes in her Brooklyn backyard. We only used it a couple times, but it seems to work pretty well in the area right near the device. —Laura Fenton, Apartment Therapy and Cubby contributor

These amazingly fragrant and effective sticks go directly in the ground, making them ideal for bigger parties where the full yard is used (and people are outside the boundaries of what a Thermacell can cover).

Once you light them, they smolder and give off an incense-like smoke, banishing the last little bloodsuckers who may have wandered into your yard. (And, honestly, I love the way they smell.)