5 of The Best Backyard Mosquito Repellent

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Regardless of whether you’re enjoying a barbecue in your own backyard, or vacationing somewhere beautiful under the stars, you will find yourself needing a good mosquito repellent.

The purpose of this article is to review the top five most effective types of mosquito repellers for you and to help you understand about the various types of repellers and their effectiveness.

Radius Zone Mosquito Repeller No Spray Mosquito Repellent

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Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Radius Zone, Gen 2.0, Rechargeable; Includes 12-Hour Mosquito...
  • EFFECTIVE MOSQUITO PROTECTION: Thermacell Radius Mosquito Repellent creates a 10-foot zone of protection against mosquitoes. Easy to use, one...
  • HEAT-ACTIVATED TECHNOLOGY: Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with up to 6.5 hours of continuous mosquito protection per charge. No...
  • EFFECTIVELY REPEL WITHOUT SPRAY OR SCENT: Repel mosquitoes without DEET sprays or lotions on your skin. No smoke, flames, or harsh odors like...
  • ADVANCED REPELLENT: Independently tested and EPA reviewed for safety & effectiveness. Repels tough mosquitoes, including those that may transmit...
  • THERMACELL GUARANTEE: Extend warranty to 3 years with registration (automatic 2-year warranty included). Backed by Thermacell Guarantee. See...

Last update on 2023-09-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Extremely effective, the New Radius Gen 2.0 Radius Zone Mosquito Repeller, won’t quite working even during a major mosquito attack. No matter where you are, when those mosquitos hit, this repeller will operate even at high elevations to protect you; no scent, spray and mess-free with a high level of endurance. With a push button to make use easy it works to keep mosquitos at bay with only one touch of a button. One refill lasts 40 hours.

This lightweight mosquito repeller is excellent for travelers being TSA-compliant for airline travel. Furthermore, it comes with a built in Li-Ion rechargeable battery, a USB battery charger, and one 12 hour refill repellent cartridge. It even works while it’s charging up. Plus, it will not harm pets or wildlife.


Thermacell Armored Portable Mosquito Repellent

Thermacell Mosquito Portable Adventure MR450 Repeller;Includes 12-Hour Refill & Belt Clip; 15 Foot...
  • TURN IT ON… MOSQUITOES GONE: Thermacell MR450 Portable Mosquito Repellent creates a 15-foot zone of protection against mosquitos. Portable,...
  • HEAT-ACTIVATED: No cords or hassle. Powered by a safe and compact 12-hour fuel cartridge (included), repel without smoke, flames, or citronella....
  • LONG-LASTING DEFENSE: Unscented repellent mats (3 included) last up to 4 hours each and change color when time to refill. No mess, no DEET, no...
  • NATURE-INSPIRED REPELLENT: Our active ingredient is based on naturally occurring repellents found in plants. We've harnessed its power to fight...
  • THERMACELL GUARANTEE: Extend your warranty to two years with registration (automatic 1-year warranty included). Developed and Tested at our New...

Last update on 2023-09-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Thermacell MR450 Armored Portable Mosquito Repellent provides a 15 feet area of invisible protection that will hold mosquitos off for up to 12 hours. Comes with fuel cartridge and repellent mats. Hate, loathe and despise those chemicals sprays that you have to apply to your bare skin; find the smell repugnant? Well, using this portable mosquito repellent eliminates all that. Besides which, it’s efficient, and simple to use, providing top of the line mosquito protection for campers, gardeners, hunters, and anyone else who enjoys spending time in the great outdoors.

This lightweight device comes with a belt clip to make transporting and storing it easy, and it further has a blue LED ZoneCheck feature that warns you when the fuel has run out. The grill design has been improved and it comes with long lasting rubber grips that are able to tolerate many kinds of use.


REPEL Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent

Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent 4 Ounces, Repels Mosquitoes Up To 6 Hours,...
  • MADE WITH OIL OF LEMON EUCALYPTUS: This DEET-free insect repellent provides you with protection during adventures in the backyard and on the go.
  • REPELS MOSQUITOES FOR UP TO 6 HOURS: This repellent keeps you and your family protected for hours, so the fun doesn't have to end.
  • REFRESHING SCENT: This DEET-free personal repellent leaves you with a cool, refreshing scent so you don't have to put up with the usual bug spray...
  • REPELS: Create a barrier against mosquitoes, including those that may transmit the Zika, West Nile, Dengue and Chikungunya viruses.
  • NOT GREASY OR STICKY: Formulated with oil of lemon eucalyptus to provide protection without leaving your skin feeling sticky or greasy.

Last update on 2024-01-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

No matter where you choose to go, the DEET-free Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent supplies you with continuous protection for as long as 6 hours. This personal repellent is different from others like it in that it emits a cool, refreshing scent, instead of the usual bug spray odor that you have to grimly tolerate. It is made from a non-greasy formula containing oil of lemon eucalyptus, and will repel all mosquitoes.

Moreover, oil of lemon eucalyptus is the one and only active ingredient with a plant-base recommended by the CDC. Composed from oil that comes from the leaves of the Eucalyptus citriodora tree, this ingredient will steadily continue to repel mosquitoes as well as deer ticks for as long as six hours.


Off! Deep Woods Insect & Mosquito Repellent

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OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent Aerosol, Dry, Non-Greasy Formula, Bug Spray with Long Lasting...
  • Two 4 oz cans of OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent Aerosol protect against mosquitoes
  • Outdoor bug repellent is formulated with 25% DEET and provides long lasting protection from mosquitoes, making it an ideal bug spray for camping,...
  • OFF! mosquito spray offers effective protection from mosquitoes that may carry the Zika, Dengue, or West Nile viruses plus ticks that may cause...
  • OFF! bug spray with DEET comes in a convenient aerosol spray bottle for easy application
  • Mosquito repellent goes on powder-dry, not oily or greasy, so you don't know you're wearing it and it doesn't stain

Last update on 2024-01-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This is a bug spray created with 25% DEET. Off! Deep Woods Insect & Mosquito Repellent effectively repels mosquitoes that can be carrying any one of several viruses such as the Zika or West Nile viruses. Besides this it also provides the same enduring protection from ticks, gnats, biting flies, and chiggers. Aerosol spray with powder-dry formula, so it won’t be greasy or oily. Excellent for use during any outdoor activities including fishing, camping, hiking, and hunting. Helps prevent Lyme disease by stopping ticks cold.

Now you can relax and enjoy the outdoors without having to worry that you’ll become dinner for predatory mosquitoes, or ending up reeking of some oily bug spray. This product provides all the protection you need to keep those hungry mosquitoes away.


Thermacell Cambridge Mosquito Repellent Patio Shield Lantern

Thermacell Bristol Mosquito Repellent Patio Shield Lantern; Lantern Light Plus Silent, Scent-Free...
  • The Thermacell Bristol Repellent Lantern provides a 15-foot invisible zone of protection so the family can enjoy the great outdoors without...
  • No need for messy sprays, smoky candles or skin irritants, Thermacell uses a repellent that is clean, odorless and silent while effectively...
  • Easy to use with a no-fuss, instant and flameless light, the lantern is ideal for decks, patios and the backyard, making it perfect for...
  • The perfect addition to any outdoor space, Thermacell’s family-friendly lantern is portable, lightweight and durable, ideal for relaxing at...
  • Improve the quality of outdoor experiences like hiking, camping, fishing, BBQing in the backyard, watching outdoor sports, boating or mountain...

Last update on 2023-09-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Thermacell Cambridge Mosquito Repellent Patio Shield Lantern provides 15′ X 15′ feet of protection, eliminating the need for any smelly sprays. The pleasing design makes it an ideal outdoor table piece, supplying plenty of light while doing double duty providing protection from mosquitoes for you and your guests. Easy to handle, lightweight and simple to transport, you can take this lantern anywhere. It’s trusted by families and has been assessed by the EPA for safety and efficiency.

All you have to do is try it and you’ll quickly learn to love this lantern/repellent. Refills come in multiple pack sizes, and the lantern and repellent can be used separately or together. Once you have this lantern, you’ll be glad you bought when you see how well it works to protect you, your family, and your friends.


Types of Repellent

Because there are so many types of mosquito repellents out there it can get confusing when you are looking for just the right one for your needs. You might not even have heard of some of them. That’s why we’ve written this buyer’s guide to help you decide which mosquito repellent you think will serve you best.

Ultrasonic Mosquito Repellent

This device wards off mosquitoes by creating a high-frequency ultrasonic sound. These sound waves are identical to the sonar signals produced by bats or dragonflies. Since both have a fondness for devouring mosquitoes, this should effectively have the pests taking off in another direction.

Theoretically the ultrasonic mosquito repellents should have you mosquito free in no time flat, but unfortunately, they do not work very well. It seems that the ultrasonic sounds don’t in fact drive mosquitoes away, nor do they deter them from biting.

Natural Mosquito Repellent

If you’d prefer to avoid mosquito repellents with chemicals, you can try to keep the mosquitoes away by using a natural mosquito repellent.

It seems that there are natural ingredients that all mosquitoes loathe. This makes natural mosquito repellents quite successful at causing mosquitoes to disperse, but the problem is that their effectiveness is dependent upon the situation they’re operating in and the location. This is because they aren’t as powerful as DEET or Picardin and can only provide short term protection.

This means that you are left with one of two options if you want to use a natural mosquito repellent. Either you can apply it over and over again fairly often, or only use it if you are going to be outdoors for an hour or less.

Clip-On Fans

If you dislike putting mosquito repellent on your skin, perhaps you’ve read about clip-on fans while researching other alternatives. You attach the fan to the waistband, and it then utilizes a fan to circulate the chemical metofluthrin around you in order to keep mosquitoes away.

There is some question as to whether or not clip-on fans really work. If they do any good at all, they certainly provide less protection than other types of more effective repellents, and certainly won’t be capable of repelling swarms of mosquitoes.

Furthermore, there are some health concerns about the use of these devices. This is because the chemical metofluthrin is a known neurotoxin and a possible carcinogen.

Citronella Candles

Citronella is a common ingredient found in natural mosquito repellent. It is an oil made from two kinds of grass that can repel mosquitoes and other types of insects. Citronella is effective at keeping mosquitoes away because it masks our scent, which makes us very appealing to mosquitoes. Moreover, it is EPA approved as safe for people and the environment. While it is true that mosquitoes hate the smell of citronella, can citronella candles really successfully repel them?

The bottom line is that citronella candles do not succeed in repelling mosquitoes. Citronella oil is a big turnoff for mosquitoes, but if it’s present in a candle, it won’t have much effect on mosquitoes. The fact is, that most candles have only 5% or less of concentrated citronella. This means that the most protection they can offer you is around two hours, and because you are burning the candle, the oils swiftly evaporate.

Wristbands or Bracelets

Yet another device that reportedly repels mosquitoes is a mosquito repellent wristband. It’s an acceptable alternative for individuals who dislike putting chemical or natural insect repellent all over themselves. It costs little and is simple to use since you can just put it on your wrist, like a piece of jewelry. Plus, it’s not greasy or sticky on your skin.

In addition, there are no negative health effects because it is free of chemicals. Nearly all wristbands use 100% natural plant oils that are safe for humans but that mosquitoes hate. Although they can repel mosquitoes, wristbands are still not considered an effective way of coping with mosquitoes.

For one thing, they do not provide full body protection. Your wrist will remain mosquito free, but what about the rest of you? Also, these products are not long lasting. If this is your chosen mosquito repellent, you will almost certainly be applying bug spray about 15 minutes later. There are some people who say that they don’t work at all.

Picaridin-Based Products

While DEET has been around for many years, Picaridin-based products have only been available here in the United States since 2005. Products that have Picaridin in them do work quite well at repelling mosquitoes. But some people are concerned about this chemical because compared to DEET, which has been used for decades, Picaridin is relatively new and not enough is known about it.

DEET-Based Products

Using products that contain DEET is one of the most common ways people keep mosquitoes from turning their bodies into dinner. DEET is believed to be the best and most effective mosquito repellent because it works longer than other repellents. It is known as what is called a synthetic product. It also keeps fleas, flies, gnats, ticks, chiggers, and midges away. The chemical itself cannot kill mosquitoes, but it covers your smell so that they can’t find you.

There are a variety of products that contain DEET, from liquids, sprays, lotions, and items such as nets, towelettes, wristbands, and roll on devices.

Summary

Mosquito repellers aren’t all alike, nor are they equally effective. Unless you’ve tried them all, it’s really difficult to pick just one and know with certainty that it’s the one that will work best for you. But if you thoroughly read this article, at least you will have a solid idea of what each type is and how to use it, and some recommendations to go on. It can make all the difference when you have to go shopping for a mosquito repeller. And you certainly will if you intend to spend any time outdoors this summer on your backyard furniture.